Nowadays almost anything can be monetized, as proved by Real Appeal's rental friends. Real Appeal is a service offered by the Japanese company Family Romance in which customers rent out "friends" for social media photoshoots. Rentals start at $71, a cost which gets you a single Real Appeal staff member for two hours. Customers also must pay for travel and other expenses, such as food and drinks. The rental friend can be customized, with options for age, gender and type of clothing.
It makes sense when you realize that a businessman trying to show off to his colleagues would want to be seen with someone of a similar age and appearance. In addition to faking friendship, Real Appeal also advertises itself as a way for jilted lovers to get a measure of revenge against their exes. While Real Appeal's rental friends service is odd it's not entirely unique. Companies in China (and undoubtedly elsewhere as well) have been known to rent stand-ins from Western countries for corporate events. Real Appeal's rental friends has taken that idea and modified it to fit today's social media-obsessed world.
Faux Companion Photoshoot Services
Real Appeal's Rental Friends Let You Show Off on Social Media
Trend Themes
1. Monetized Friend Rental - The trend of renting friends for social media photoshoots presents opportunities for innovative business models in the hospitality and entertainment industries.
2. Customizable Fake Friends - The demand for rental friends with customizable characteristics opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the personal services sector.
3. Revenge-driven Rental Relationships - The emergence of rental friends as a means of seeking revenge suggests potential disruptive opportunities in the emotional support and therapy industries.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - The hospitality industry can explore new revenue streams by incorporating friend rental services into their offerings, catering to customers who desire curated social media experiences.
2. Entertainment - The entertainment industry can leverage the trend of renting friends to create immersive experiences where customers can interact with professional ‘friends’ in various settings.
3. Personal Services - The personal services industry can tap into the market of customizable fake friend rentals by offering tailored experiences and companionship based on individual preferences.