What is your business all about? (What do you offer/what do you do?
Grocery Guy is a personal shopping service serving London and the surrounding communities.
How long have you been in business?
We have been in business since February 2011, the winter of London’s “Snowmageddon”.
How did you get started?
At the time, I was working a job in liquor delivery. I was having a coffee in Cherryhill Mall when I overheard a conversation between a group of seniors. They were discussing how difficult grocery shopping is becoming because of how large the stores are getting and just general mobility issues like getting around in the winter. I took the idea from there and built on it, making adjustments as it grew.
What makes your business unique?
Grocery Guy is unique in that we offer more than just a delivery guy with your stuff. We understand that in a lot of cases, due to mobility challenges, our shopper may be the only human interaction for the client that day. By taking the time to chat with the client even for a few minutes, we can make a world of difference to them.
Addendum: We also offer shopping at ANY store in London, so our clients can follow the sales and shop where they feel their needs will be met best…and not just for groceries; we will shop for just about anything we can fit in our vehicle.
We are also able to take orders over the phone. We realize that our clients may not be computer savvy, so we will take an order over the phone.
How many employees do you have?
We currently have 5 shoppers, most of whom have some culinary background, so we are able to make better choices when it comes to produce and meats. It also helps us to efficiently source niche products when required. Also, for our shoppers, shopping isn’t just a job, it is something they enjoy doing.
What do you love about your company/the people you work with/the clients you serve?
One of my favourite things about running Grocery Guy: I get to interact with so many people from so many walks of life.
Is there anything you (would) like Londoners to know about you, your company, or what you offer?
We specialize in grocery shopping, but we can shop at any store in London. In fact, over the Christmas holidays, we were trying to promote shopping locally (#ShopLocal) by spreading awareness that rather than shopping online, they could order from local businesses and have their products delivered by us…in some cases faster than Amazon Prime. In the less snowy months, we also offer garden centre shopping…spend more time in the garden and less time in the garden centre!
When you’re not working, what do you do to relax? What activities do you enjoy?
During my downtime (what’s that?), I like to enjoy bike rides in the forest and impromptu camping trips.
What are you most proud of?
Besides my three wonderful sons, I am most proud of growing this company to the point where we have been able to provide gainful employment to other Londoners.
What is your greatest achievement?
Our greatest achievement has been bringing personal shopping back to London.
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