I know that, Jacco Deen, also from experience: as a DJ I play at a lot of parties. During such an evening I accept almost as many lost keys as request plates. Ok, that might be an exaggeration. But you get the point.

Why – I thought years ago – isn’t there a good solution for that yet? My next thought was: why don’t I come up with a solution myself? After all, in addition to being a DJ, I am also an entrepreneur.

So thought, so done: Return Key saw the light.

Key ring with key returning-service

When I came up with Return Key, I saw it like this: a keychain with unique code, which you register online. The finder fills in the code, and the owner receives an email. He can then retrieve his keys.

Simple idea actually…didn’t such a thing already exist? So, no! Great: I got to work.

Ok, I had a very strong (I thought) concept. Now another customer. Fortunately, I was already doing something for an insurance company at the time. I asked if they were interested. And yes: I was allowed to present Return Key at the head office. They ordered 1,000 of them directly, with their own logo. Yes!

More than 200,000 key rings in circulation

I launched Return Key in 2007. Now there are more than 200,000 copies in existence. And keys are found every day thanks to the free return service.

I regularly get reactions from happy people:

“I was walking our dog. Before I knew it I received an email that my keys had been found in the park. Thank you very much!”

“On my bunch of keys hang my medicines. I lost them once in the supermarket. Within an hour I had them with me again. I am very happy with your service, because I can’t do without my medication.”

“Handy such a keychain. Usually I throw them away immediately. What are you going to do with it, but I’m going to use this one for sure!”

Look, that’s what I’m doing it for: not only making money, but also boosting my karma.