A Quickness courier out for delivery. (Courtesy Quickness)
In response to the emergence of national food-ordering apps like GrubHub and OrderUp in Richmond, a local delivery service is ramping up with an online venture of its own.
Quickness, a local bike courier service, recently launched QuicknessRVA.com, an online delivery platform that has signed on more than 20 local restaurants.
The offering marks a change from Quickness’ original business model. Since launching in 2010, Quickness could only take call-in orders.
“There was no local option for online ordering. You could only call in through us or use a national site,” said Jess Izen, Director of Sales at Quickness. “Now we have our own local Richmond option.”
Izen said the online platform accounts for about a quarter of its delivery orders.
“It’s a significant chunk, considering the national sites we’re competing against. We’re excited about that number. We’re hoping it can continue to be a significant portion for us,” Izen said.
While national online platforms have user fees and take out a percentage of sales from the restaurants, Quickness boasts the opposite.
Quickness has contracts with restaurants, which allows it to avoid delivery fees of its own. Restaurants’ delivery fees still apply.
“We want to keep (our service) free and simple for customers,” Izen said.
Izen said Quickness hopes to expand its offerings in 2017 to deliver items besides food. Its emphasis has been local restaurants and cafes, but Izen said the company hopes to add retail offerings, like clothiers and florists.
Quickness built the online platform with Known, a web development agency based in The Fan. Izen said the company also is considering building a mobile app.
A Quickness courier out for delivery. (Courtesy Quickness)
In response to the emergence of national food-ordering apps like GrubHub and OrderUp in Richmond, a local delivery service is ramping up with an online venture of its own.
Quickness, a local bike courier service, recently launched QuicknessRVA.com, an online delivery platform that has signed on more than 20 local restaurants.
The offering marks a change from Quickness’ original business model. Since launching in 2010, Quickness could only take call-in orders.
“There was no local option for online ordering. You could only call in through us or use a national site,” said Jess Izen, Director of Sales at Quickness. “Now we have our own local Richmond option.”
Izen said the online platform accounts for about a quarter of its delivery orders.
“It’s a significant chunk, considering the national sites we’re competing against. We’re excited about that number. We’re hoping it can continue to be a significant portion for us,” Izen said.
While national online platforms have user fees and take out a percentage of sales from the restaurants, Quickness boasts the opposite.
Quickness has contracts with restaurants, which allows it to avoid delivery fees of its own. Restaurants’ delivery fees still apply.
“We want to keep (our service) free and simple for customers,” Izen said.
Izen said Quickness hopes to expand its offerings in 2017 to deliver items besides food. Its emphasis has been local restaurants and cafes, but Izen said the company hopes to add retail offerings, like clothiers and florists.
Quickness built the online platform with Known, a web development agency based in The Fan. Izen said the company also is considering building a mobile app.