Out-of-warranty repair of small household appliances remains limited due to high labour costs, spare part barriers, and low consumer willingness to pay for repair. This study introduces the Hobby Repair model, a structured approach that enables skilled individuals to repair products for modest compensation. Using a design-based research methodology, three field trials conducted in Belgium between 2022 and 2026 evaluated four operational sub-models ranging from independent repair to reuse store partnerships. Across all trials, 165 products were processed, achieving a 70% repair success rate and €15,550 in revenue. Results show that organisational configuration strongly influences repair viability: institutionally supported models achieved higher stability, success rates, and financial performance than independent pathways. Results indicate that hobby-based repair can expand repair capacity for low-value appliances that are typically excluded from professional repair markets, providing a scalable complementary pathway within circular economy systems.
Bunodiere et al. (Sun,) studied this question.