Marie Bowen of Bassendean.  Marie has started up a business called Ihaveit where people can find paddle events, paddles for sale, rent or go paddling with fellow paddlers, event support and gear.
Camera IconMarie Bowen of Bassendean. Marie has started up a business called Ihaveit where people can find paddle events, paddles for sale, rent or go paddling with fellow paddlers, event support and gear. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis www.communitypix.com.au d479949

Ihaveit: Bassendean start-up to help WA paddlers connect

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BASSENDEAN resident and recreational paddler Marie Bowen hopes to provide support to fellow paddlers beyond WA through her start-up business, Ihaveit.

Ms Bowen launched her website late last year after graduating from Founders Institute Perth Branch (Silicon Valley San Francisco-based start up incubator program).

Paddlers can find and advertise events, paddles for sale, rent or go paddling with others, event support and gear through the website.

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Ms Bowen, a stand-up paddler for seven years, said there had been an influx of enquiries during the Rottnest Channel Swim and Port to Pub.

“It started with me because I was paddling myself on the river in Bassendean all the time,” she said.

“As with most businesses, when you first launch, you realise there are opportunities that you didn’t realise was there.

“People can do what they love, get paid for it and follow their passion in paddling – that is what I envisaged.

“What inspired me was I wanted to go travelling and paddle with locals with their local knowledge and know how – that is the inspiration, so that people can come and do that.”

Ms Bowen said the website was for Perth locals but her future vision was to expand the services interstate and overseas.

“(In 2018), I hope to get a lot more local people who love what they do and maybe list and take people out to their favourite spots and also utilise their spare gear in their shed,” she said.

For more information, visit https://www.ihaveit.co.

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