January 23, 2006
One-stop shop | A chat with Sara Spencer, owner and operator of The Errand Girl in Rockland.
By Erview By Whit Richardson
Founded: March 2005
Employees: One
Startup costs: $410
First year revenues: $12,604
Projected revenues, year two: $25,500
Contact: 590-2040
754 Old County Rd., Rockland 04841
theerrandgirl@verizon.net
Tell me about your business, The Errand Girl.
I run errands ranging from grocery shopping, personal shopping and gift shopping to picking up dry cleaning or laundry at the laundromat. I can pick up and drop off movies or library books, and go to the post office or the bank. I do pet sitting or house sitting, and I do limited clerical services. I do provisioning of boats and vacation homes, so when people arrive their fridges and cabinets will already be stocked with food. When you think of errands, that's me.
Who are your primary customers?
Small-business owners, actually. People who own small businesses can't always get away to go to the post office or the bank, or just to get something to eat because they have to man the shop on their own. They also find that it's more economical for me to do it than to hire an employee to do it, or to have an employee that's already working there go run the errand when they could be more productive at the office. I charge by the errand and they don't ever have to pay benefits.
What was your first day of business like?
I had no business. I started March 7, 2005. That's when I got everything into gear, started making contacts and getting the signs right. There were really no doors to open up for an open house because I work out of my home and van. That's when I joined the Rockland-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce, which really helped me. It opened the doors to meeting lots of other people. You really have to go to the events like their business after hours, because I believe that networking is a really important tool. I also sent out a press release to local newspapers like the Courier-Gazette [in Rockland] and the Camden Herald. I don't think I had my first customer until April.
How do you market your business?
Most of my business comes from word of mouth. I've done a couple of ads here and there, but I really try to get out there and network with other businesses and people. I feel every opportunity could be a good business opportunity, so I always have to be prepared with business cards and brochures. I belong to the two local chambers of commerce [Rockland-Thomaston and Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville], and I also belong to the Midcoast Networking Group. We meet once a week and pass referrals and really help each other get our names out there.
Do you have any competition?
No, there's no competition for me. I think there is a service nearby that does something similar, but I am the only person in the area who focuses solely on errand running.
How far away do you go to run these errands?
I'll go as far as anyone wants to pay me to go. I tell people I'm based in Rockland, but I serve all the surrounding areas. I've gone as far as Freeport for someone. I go to Augusta often to go to Sam's Club for people, that's the only thing I charge a flat rate for. To go to Sam's is a $40 trip, that's it.
What are your plans for growth?
I'd hope to have to hire an employee sometime soon, because that would mean I was really busy. I'd also like to branch out a little bit as to what the company can offer, maybe start offering personal chef services or cleaning services ˆ stuff that I can't personally do. I'd like people to just make one call and see if we can help them.
Since your job is running other peoples' errands, do you find you have time to run your own errands?
I do. When I'm grocery shopping for someone else, if I know that I have to pick up milk or something, I can do that. I'm not charging them by the hour so I don't feel like I'm taking their time and they're not being charged for what I'm getting. But the beauty of owning your own business is that you can make your own schedule, which is what I really wanted when I started this business.
New Entrepreneurs profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestions and contact information to wrichardson@mainebiz.biz.
Employees: One
Startup costs: $410
First year revenues: $12,604
Projected revenues, year two: $25,500
Contact: 590-2040
754 Old County Rd., Rockland 04841
theerrandgirl@verizon.net
Tell me about your business, The Errand Girl.
I run errands ranging from grocery shopping, personal shopping and gift shopping to picking up dry cleaning or laundry at the laundromat. I can pick up and drop off movies or library books, and go to the post office or the bank. I do pet sitting or house sitting, and I do limited clerical services. I do provisioning of boats and vacation homes, so when people arrive their fridges and cabinets will already be stocked with food. When you think of errands, that's me.
Who are your primary customers?
Small-business owners, actually. People who own small businesses can't always get away to go to the post office or the bank, or just to get something to eat because they have to man the shop on their own. They also find that it's more economical for me to do it than to hire an employee to do it, or to have an employee that's already working there go run the errand when they could be more productive at the office. I charge by the errand and they don't ever have to pay benefits.
What was your first day of business like?
I had no business. I started March 7, 2005. That's when I got everything into gear, started making contacts and getting the signs right. There were really no doors to open up for an open house because I work out of my home and van. That's when I joined the Rockland-Thomaston Chamber of Commerce, which really helped me. It opened the doors to meeting lots of other people. You really have to go to the events like their business after hours, because I believe that networking is a really important tool. I also sent out a press release to local newspapers like the Courier-Gazette [in Rockland] and the Camden Herald. I don't think I had my first customer until April.
How do you market your business?
Most of my business comes from word of mouth. I've done a couple of ads here and there, but I really try to get out there and network with other businesses and people. I feel every opportunity could be a good business opportunity, so I always have to be prepared with business cards and brochures. I belong to the two local chambers of commerce [Rockland-Thomaston and Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville], and I also belong to the Midcoast Networking Group. We meet once a week and pass referrals and really help each other get our names out there.
Do you have any competition?
No, there's no competition for me. I think there is a service nearby that does something similar, but I am the only person in the area who focuses solely on errand running.
How far away do you go to run these errands?
I'll go as far as anyone wants to pay me to go. I tell people I'm based in Rockland, but I serve all the surrounding areas. I've gone as far as Freeport for someone. I go to Augusta often to go to Sam's Club for people, that's the only thing I charge a flat rate for. To go to Sam's is a $40 trip, that's it.
What are your plans for growth?
I'd hope to have to hire an employee sometime soon, because that would mean I was really busy. I'd also like to branch out a little bit as to what the company can offer, maybe start offering personal chef services or cleaning services ˆ stuff that I can't personally do. I'd like people to just make one call and see if we can help them.
Since your job is running other peoples' errands, do you find you have time to run your own errands?
I do. When I'm grocery shopping for someone else, if I know that I have to pick up milk or something, I can do that. I'm not charging them by the hour so I don't feel like I'm taking their time and they're not being charged for what I'm getting. But the beauty of owning your own business is that you can make your own schedule, which is what I really wanted when I started this business.
New Entrepreneurs profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestions and contact information to wrichardson@mainebiz.biz.
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