For $5, Ann Arbor startup Gimme Delivery promises to deliver almost anything straight to your door
At home sick and in need of cough medicine? Craving a burger from Blue Tractor or Frita Batidos? Running low on toothpaste?
Ann Arborites can now get these items delivered straight to their homes via a new business called Gimme Delivery.
Harbor Springs native Joe Dart - who moved to Ann Arbor a few years ago to attend the University of Michigan - launched Gimme Delivery last week after realizing delivery food is in high demand around campus.
“You know, you stand on any street corner in town at 2 a.m. and every other car is a pizza guy or Jimmy John’s,” Dart said. “I really think the demand is there, and plus, a lot of students don’t have cars.”
Gimme Delivery operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, according to its website.
The concept is simple, Dart explained.
Gimme Delivery will deliver almost anything within the Ann Arbor city boundaries.
Courtesy photo
People call Gimme Delivery and say what they’d like. That can include food from any restaurant in the Ann Arbor city boundaries, or any item from a convenience or grocery store, barring alcohol. For a $5 delivery fee, Gimme Delivery will deliver the items anywhere in Ann Arbor.
“This is sort of anything goes, very open-ended,” Dart said. “We don’t want to put constraints on it. We don’t want to have a minimum ordering amount or where we’ll order from or when we’ll deliver it.”
This delivery model, Dart said, sets Gimme Delivery apart from similar services, such as Straight 2 Your Door.
Dart, who is also a local musician, said he’s always dreamed of launching his own business, and the idea for Gimme Delivery grew out of his own delivery cravings.
“I had the idea years ago of a service that would deliver food besides pizza and sandwiches and Chinese,” he said. “I really love the convenience of delivery and if you can get takeout from pretty much any place, you should be able to get delivery, too.”
While he’s been focusing his attention on the student population first, Dart doesn’t want to only make late night Taco Bell runs.
“We’re certainly in the market for that,” he said, “But we also want to be able to deliver coffee and bagels in the morning to people’s offices or houses.”
Down the road, Dart hopes to get a license to deliver alcohol, and also to partner with local restaurants and businesses so they can post information on the Gimme Delivery website and vise versa.
“They can have their menu, their information and their hours on our website,” he said. “They can have delivery-only specials on our site as well. And then they can advertise that they deliver via Gimme Delivery.”
For updates on the business, check out Gimme Delivery's Facebook and Twitter.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Ben
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.
The website, facebook page, and twitter account for this business are all gone.
EightySeven
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
Free advertisement...since Mark's Cart's are closed up for the season great to see A2.com promoting the heck out of a new business. I'm wondering why this story is on the headline section??
Soothslayer
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 10:24 a.m.
"why this story is on the headline": Because it creates ad impressons. Just wait till my AMAZING $2 anything goes* crazy delivery service launches! *Note: Addressed and stamped envelopes only. We drop them in the mailbox.
james
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
Is this a sign of a bubble? Here is a documentary on this exact type of business: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Joseph-Park/dp/B0001EQIFQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_2" rel='nofollow'>http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Joseph-Park/dp/B0001EQIFQ/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_2</a> Started in 1997. They hired couriers to hand-deliver items to your door.
Soothslayer
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 10:20 a.m.
BINGO! We have a winner!
bhall
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:38 a.m.
Kozmo.com was awesome, but also a story of a company that spoiled its customers. I mean you can't make money by delivering movies and convenience store items for free. Even if you think you'll undercut stores by buying in bulk and storing the goods in wharehouses. The savings to the company just didn't cover the cost of paying bike couriers and drivers to deliver. Then, when Kozmo tried to move to a service charge, people dumped them instantly!
Manya
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
Kozmo.com! I used them all the time when I lived in NYC. They were great - 1 hour to get a movie and some ice cream delivered directly to my door for free. It was wonderful...while it lasted.
Doctor Fang
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
"...from any restaurant in the Ann Arbor city boundaries, or any item from a convenience or grocery store, barring alcohol. For a $5 delivery fee, Gimme Delivery will deliver the items anywhere in Ann Arbor." Not quite "anywhere" in Ann Arbor. I live within Ann Arbor city limits (near Newport & Warrington), but my area of the city is excluded from Gimme Delivery's delivery range, according to the map of their website. Sigh.
f4phantomII
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Sounds a lot like Food by Phone that came and went about 15 years ago. I hope they succeed. I'll almost certainly give them a try. But I don't know how they're going to do it at $5 a shot.
Joe_Citizen
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:27 p.m.
This business has been tried many times and it never stuck yet. For Five dollars a delivery will not even pay for the gas, yet a keep business in A2 going.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
All I can say is been there, done that, Food by Phone and a host of other companies have tried to deliver for other entities with the ability to get the food at a discounted price, and they have all fallen by the wayside. That being said, good luck in your venture. You will learn something regardless of whether it succeeds or not.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
Yes...I remember that outfit! I was trying to recall the name but couldn't... Did they take a percentage cut with a minimum rather than a flat fee? That's what I recall anyway, but it was a good number of years ago now...
Rick Neubig
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
Great idea. Thanks A2.com for telling us about an innovative new Ann Arbor business.
Ron Granger
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
"Hello, Gimme Delivery? I need you to pick something up from the guy in the alley and bring it to me. Yeah, the usual. The mushrooms for my stuffing. You guys are the best!"
Ron Granger
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
"Hello, Gimme Delivery? I'd like you deliver something for me. I'd like you to deliver 2 tons of manure to my neighbor. That will only be $5, right?"
Susan Montgomery
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.
@EyeHeartA2: "At home sick and in need of cough medicine? Craving a burger from Blue Tractor or Frita Batidos? Running low on toothpaste?" Not just food...
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
I think it was clear this is a food delivery service. Where exactly do you eat?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
Surprised he can make a go of it for $5. For that price, it really isn't worth it to hop in my car and drive. He will need to be good at logistics etc. and combine trips. Seems like there are some bad combos though - like I want a wings from Guy Hollerians and I want them delivered to my house in the Miller/Maple area. I don't think you can hardly run a car for that, much less your time. Certainly will keep it in mind though.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
At $5 per delivery, I don't see how they can turn a profit without enormous volume and a more limited delivery area. I'm also skeptical about the timing, since this service cannot coordinate its own delivery schedule with food preparation and pickup. I hate to be a nay-sayer, but I don't see this lasting very long.
Manya
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
"Hi, I'd like you to pick up these 26 grocery items." "Ok, that will be $5." How the heck are they going to afford to pay for gas or employees, let alone turn a profit? That being said, this is the best thing since Kozmo.com folded and I'm going to use the heck out of it.
xmo
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
I hope he doesn't have UNION drivers?
ThaKillaBee
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
Is this news or an advertisement?
ThaKillaBee
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
This is an article about a convenience service. It's not going into the positives and negatives, the business model (how is $5 going to turn a profit), and whether anything like this exists or has existed. Are there competitors? Are there even customers? Everything in this article is positive. PR piece = advertising. This is not news, it is a review at best. I'm not against pieces like this--but put it where it belongs. In short, I expect that when I launch a business, whatever it is, A2.com will be right there to write up a nice, feel good article about it and place it under the NEWS heading.
DBH
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
It's news and (unless they paid for the story, which I doubt) it also is a good PR piece for this fledgling business. I wish them luck. If the need is there, they will do well if they are conscientious about providing good service. I think a $5 surcharge for delivery is a bargain.
tdw
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
So......anytime A2.com reports on a new business it's advertising ?
ummsw
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Great idea...will definitely use this service!!
leezee
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
This rocks the house! I can't wait to try it!