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Valley Delivered Goods now delivering
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
D’Andrae Rodgers and Kasondra Davis were about to start a new business when happenstance changed their course.
The co-owners of Valley Delivered Goods, a grocery, restaurant and errand-delivery service in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, were on a business trip for a new venture when they heard about a company that delivered meals from area restaurants.
That was in September 2016. Two months later, Valley Delivered Goods was launched.
“It was like, ‘wow, we can have a variety of services,’” Rodgers said. “We can do restaurant delivery and grocery shopping. We just knew that there was a need in the community.”
Rodgers, a 2004 Chaney High School graduate, and Davis, a 2007 Ursuline High School graduate, were friends who always wanted to start a business of their own.
“I always had the mentality of wanting more ... of wanting to have an idea and a vision and putting it to life,” Davis said.
Initially, Davis and Rodgers planned to open a business where customers could come in and break dishes and use a sledgehammer to break things to relieve stress. But then they saw the potential to bring a delivery service to the Mahoning Valley.
“This [business] felt better at the time,” Davis said.
The two read up on other delivery businesses and found a software that would work for what they wanted to do. They marketed the business with social media.
“Social media became our best friend,” Davis said. “Once people tried us out, they kept telling all of their friends.”
Customers can go to their website – valleydeliveredgoods.com – to order. On the website, customers put there order in for a restaurant pickup and pay online. The website has a list of restaurants located in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to order from. There’s a $6 delivery charge for restaurant order pickup.
Customers can also give Valley Delivered Goods their entire grocery list to pickup for a $10 delivery charge, and additional charge that costs 10 percent of the grocery bill.
“We have an errand service that’s picking up big time,” Rodgers said.
Valley Delivered Goods has also done package delivery, post office delivery and errand running for businesses. The cost for errand service varies.
“We pick up parts for businesses,” Rodgers said. “We deliver documents for companies.”
Instead of using the website, customers can call Valley Delivered Goods at 1-888-613-5581.
Android users can also use the Valley Delivered Goods app. An app for iPhone users is coming soon.
Rodgers and Davis have five drivers, and they plan to hire more now that business is picking up.
Soon, they hope to add Columbiana County and the Shenango Valley to their coverage area.
One day, they also hope to get an office with a dispatch center.