Is TULU a Micro Market?
No. TULU is not a micro market. It's an IoT-enabled unit paired with an app that gives residents and tenants access to shared household items, everyday essentials, printing, e-mobility, and services from one connected platform.
The mix-up makes sense. Both sit in shared spaces and both offer self-service shopping. But a micro market is built to sell food and drinks. TULU is built to give people access to the things they need most, without having to own or store them.
What is a micro market?
A micro market is a self-checkout retail area, usually open shelves and coolers stocked with snacks, drinks, and fresh food, paid for at a kiosk. Micro markets started in office break rooms and are often run by vending operators.
They do one job well: let people grab something to eat or drink without leaving the building.
Do micro markets work in apartment buildings?
They can, for snacks. A 24/7 micro market gives residents a place to grab a drink or a late-night bite without leaving the building.
But residents need more than food. They need a vacuum on a Saturday, a drill for an afternoon, an air mattress for a weekend guest, a printed document before a meeting, or a ride across the neighborhood. A micro market can't cover those needs, and it usually takes a dedicated room to do what it does.
That's the gap TULU fills. It covers everyday essentials, then adds rentals, mobility, printing, and services in one compact unit, with no dedicated room required. Residents notice: 25% rated TULU their absolute favorite building amenity.
What is TULU if it's not a micro market?
TULU is an IoT-enabled amenity platform that combines a smart unit with an app. Shopping is one part of it. The platform includes five categories:
Rent: high-demand household and premium items, from power drills and Dyson vacuums to air mattresses, VR headsets, and gaming systems
Shop: packaged snacks, drinks, ice cream, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and pet treats
Ride: e-scooters for quick trips around the neighborhood
Print: on-demand document printing
Services: dog walking, cleaning, and laundry, booked in the app
One person can borrow a vacuum, grab detergent, print a document, and book a cleaning, all from one account.
How is TULU different from a micro market?
What people get. A micro market sells food and drinks. TULU adds rentals, mobility, printing, and services on top of shopping.
Space. Micro markets usually need a dedicated room for shelving and coolers. TULU doesn't. A TULU unit is a modular column, 20″ W x 20″ D and about 6.5 feet tall, that fits into existing space and runs on a standard 110V outlet.
Who runs it. TULU is fully managed. Installation, restocking, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and 24/7 user support are all handled by TULU, so your team never fields a TULU request.
How inventory works. TULU's AI learns what people buy and use, then manages and reorders inventory automatically, so each building gets the mix it actually needs.
Where it fits. TULU works across multifamily, student housing, office, and hospitality.
Why do property teams call TULU an amenity?
Because people use it as part of everyday life, not just as a snack stop. Residents who use TULU Rent reach for it 2 to 3 times a month.
"TULU has been a strong fit for our portfolio because it solves real, everyday needs for our residents. Expanding the partnership reflects our commitment to delivering an elevated amenity experience across more communities while also advancing our focus on convenience, efficiency, and sustainability. By using AI to tailor the product mix by building, TULU helps ensure residents have access to the items that are most relevant to how they live."
David Gise, SVP, Head of Hospitality, Amenities & AI, RXR
"Residents see a convenience with being able to, at any hour, rent a vacuum cleaner, pick up household items, and actually recapture that space back in their apartment."
Jarrod Whitaker, SVP Residential Ops, RXR
"TULU changes the game! Highly recommend. Really differentiates your community. Looks good on tours and functions great on the day to day."
Courtney Mulligan, SVP Marketing & Communications, Russo Development
So, is TULU a micro market?
No. A micro market sells food and drinks. TULU is a fully managed amenity platform that gives people access to rentals, shopping, mobility, printing, and services through one app, while cutting the cost, clutter, and waste of ownership.
Why does this matter for property managers?
The two solve different problems. A micro market covers a snack run. TULU covers everyday access, the needs people have several times a month. If you're comparing amenity tech, don't ask whether it looks like a market in the lobby. Ask whether people treat it as part of how they live and work.
Additional questions? We have answers.
Does TULU sell snacks and drinks like a micro market?
Yes, through Shop: packaged snacks, drinks, ice cream, and everyday essentials. Shop is one of five categories in the same app, alongside Rent, Ride, Print, and Services.
Does TULU sell fresh food?
No. TULU Shop carries packaged snacks, drinks, ice cream, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and pet treats, not fresh or prepared meals.
Do micro markets work in apartment buildings?
They can cover snacks and drinks, but residents also need rentals, printing, mobility, and services. TULU covers all of that in one unit, without a dedicated room.
Does TULU need a dedicated room like a micro market?
No. A TULU unit fits into existing shared space and runs on a standard 110V outlet. Installation typically takes four to six hours.
Does TULU work in office buildings too?
Yes. TULU brings on-demand equipment, essentials, and e-scooters into commercial office buildings, fully managed, so landlords can attract and keep tenants without any operational lift.
Who restocks and maintains TULU?
TULU does. It's fully managed, with AI-driven restocking, on-site visits, repairs, and 24/7 user support.
How do people pay?
Through the TULU app. Shop items are paid at purchase. For rentals, the first hour is free, then a small hourly fee applies.