Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello all,

Ok, so I live in a middle income town home community, with well over 100 families. From talking with neighbors, and my wife talking with her friends all we here is "there`s never enough time in the day" Heck, even I myself say that almost daily.

So I got to thinking, whats the one thing I do during the week that I absolutely hate doing because it kills so much time? and the answer came back to me "GROCERY SHOPPING"

So my idea was to start advertising simply in my neighborhood, and seeing who would be interested in giving me their grocery list and I do their grocery shopping for them. Charge a small fee per week of deliveries, or a flat monthly rate.

Obviously I would need a vehicle of some sort to transport. but other than that and some flyers/mailers to begin advertising I couldn`t think what else I would need to get started. Planning on starting as a sole proprietor, applying for a DBA would be another expense.

Aside from what is mentioned above what do you folks think about my idea? feasability? usefulness? etc.

Plus PLEASE add any and all other thoughts and opinoins; they are truly appreciated.

Thank you all,

Shhhh

Hello Shhh,

I think that is a great idea because I was planning on doing the same thing once we relocate to a more populated place. I am a military wife and right now we live in the desert, but I have been researching this business for about 6 months now. It is a newly untapped market and there is a need for this now that we have busy working families, the elderly who can`t drive, or small business owners, busy stay at home moms, etc. My idea is a errand service, which ties grocery shopping and everyday to-do list the capabilities are endless, depending on what you can handle. There is a book that you can get from Barnes and noble, well I got mine used on Amazon, "Enterpreneur Magazine`s Start up-Start Your Own Personal Concierge Service". Well I hope this helps the key to any business is to read and research, research, research.

These is a feasable business. There are peapod and myextrahands that i know of. Peopod works directly with grocery chains for delivery services. You could definately cater to the folks who are low on time, the over 65, the disabled etc. How will you take orders? How will you compile a database with brands? How will you handle substitutes for items? You would have to get across the offset in price verses time etc. You could have a weekly regular service, one time etc. Definatly get a brand concept together, keep it clean and simple, memorable. Build relationships with grocery chains, retirement communities,Assistant housing for folks with disabilities, daycares etc. You could also add a luch service delivery for business.  

Erin

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I am in this business. It is one of the hottest businesses out there due to people having so much to do today.  There has been some press about it on
GMA and other shows also. Gen Liability insurance is a must to cover yourself.  Most concierge/errand companies dont offer transport due to the high cost of livery insurance. There are many  niches to this business and many ways to get into it.  I think the most important one is by networking with a concierge network. You will be able to get all of the information you need to get started. Most is free but some concierges also sell training programs through cds, forms, contracts.Some also offer concierge university around the country. The price is high though. You can really learn at home through books and online. If you want more info please write me offline and I will be more than happy to help. Good Luck
ConciergeLady

Just google "grocery delivery" and you`ll get tons of info on this business model, you`ll even find companies that provide the software you need to do this. 

I think this is a bad idea. You`ve said, in great big letters, that you HATE grocery shopping! To open a business based on that thing you despise is just asking for trouble!

Then there`s PeaPod and other online ordering and delivery systems.

So many posts here and elsewhere talk about the role of passion in starting a business. Without it, you can usually go a fair ways, but when you come to the inevitable major obstacles, anxieties and fear, without the passion, you`ll likely fold and walk away.

Can`t you find something related to this community that you LOVE to do, instead? Something that would fill a need or save time for the people in your community?

Craig, I agree with you. You would have to change your thinking about the idea before committing to it. If you are doing something you hate, your passion is not qualified to cater to the business. In most cases, the vehicle he chooses has to be refrigerated. Once the product is in his hands, he is liable for the condition of the product. Broken eggs, spoiled milk, and bad meat. These are all liabilities. If the market has a recall for bad produce, he could be liable for death or illness of his clients.

Liability and on-site judgement, both really good issues. It seems the way this business would work, would be for people who hate food. You would get a list from people who don`t care, and shop based on your hating to shop. :-D Does that make sense?

100 families are a relative small customer base to operate from.  Too small even for a grocery store.  On the other hand a small town may be very friendly to local help.  Why not spend a day proposing your service to them to see how many want to become your customer.  Say there`re 10 out of 100.  That would be a great percentage by any yardstick but still too small to make anything besides some pocket money.

In America at least, you must think big.


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