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By GENI LEONARD
Staff writer
Mount Airy Newspaper, Published on Thursday, July 17, 2003
MOUNT AIRY, NC -- Too much to do; too little time. Wouldnt it be nice to spend lunchtime eating instead of going to the dry cleaner? Or to go home and find all the groceries have been bought? Or be a hit with your teens for renting a new movie before theyre home from school?
Instead of racing around town on such errands, Surry and Forsyth county residents can pick up the phone and make one call. Errands by James will handle the day-to-day travels that can stress out a busy professional, retiree, homemaker or anyone else whose life will be easier if they have one less errand to run.
Errands by James will pick up and deliver documents, take Fido to the vet, buy a wedding gift and wrap it and mail it off, pick up cosmetics at the pharmacy and take film to be developed. Licensed and bonded, about the only thing Errands by James wont do is transport people.
The company name belongs to James Lewis, 33, the owner and chief errand runner. He has a degree in business administration and more than 10 years of business and customer service experience. He said his inspiration for the business was a casual observation.
I noticed my co-workers were doing errands on company time, said Lewis. I started thinking, If I wasnt at home, who would take my dogs to the veterinarian or wait for the repairman to arrive?
The service started in mid-June. So far, obtaining documents, shopping for groceries shopping and picking up dry cleaning are the top three errands people need.
When it comes to groceries, Lewis asks about substitutes if a preferred brand is not available. He also takes the clients phone number in case he needs to check something with them.
He said hes learned to listen closely to clients.
What they originally think they need may change once we talk to them, Lewis said. They may say they want you to do the grocery shopping, but what they really want is (for you to track down) certain grocery items.
The most unusual request to date required finding a carpenter who could duplicate a special type of furniture.
I can find any resource within 15 minutes, Lewis declared. His fees start at $15.
I mostly do a lot of grocery shopping, but I also go and help senior citizens who are homebound and need stuff done he continued.
Shut-ins may like to have dinner from a favorite restaurant, but some restaurants that offer takeout dont have a delivery service. Lewis will pick up the order and bring it to his clients door.
People are so grateful for this service, said Lewis, who began the business in June and said he has been busy from the start.
Right now, Lewis only runs Errands by James part-time, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday (he works at Wachovia Bank on Thursday through Sunday). If errands must be run on the weekends, his wife, Tracey, will help.
If the business is successful, they will hire more errand runners. Lewis eventually would like to hang up his car keys to run the business, which the couple believes will happen within two years.
People can contact Lewis at 710-0059 or visit his web site, errandsbyjames.tripod.com. He also has e-mail at errandsbyjames@yahoo.com. His fees start at $15 for simple services.
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