Behind the Counter: Valley Errands, LLC

If you have a lot of errands to do this holiday season, there's a relatively new business in Granby that can help lighten your load while you're working, on vacation, party planning or when you simply need a helping hand.

Granby resident Deb Reid opened Valley Errands, LLC toward the beginning of 2012 to help bring ease to people's hectic lives.

Reid, who is in her 40s, operates from home and is available to assist with an array of tasks.

Patch checked in with Reid to get the scoop on her new business.

Patch: When did your business open in Granby?
Deb Reid: "My business started in February of this year."

Patch: What services do you offer at Valley Errands, LLC?
Reid: "The services that I offer at Valley Errands, LLC are:

• Personal shopping, returns, gift buying and gift wrapping
• Dry cleaning
• Prescription drop-off/pick-up
• Check on pets
• Check on home (mail, newspapers, deliveries, etc...)
• Post office/courier/banking services
• Grocery shopping
• Stock refrigerator before you return from vacation
• Wait for vehicle repair, home repair, deliveries, utility workers, etc.
• Check in on a loved one
• Organization and/or administrative services for home or office
• Party planning/set-up
• Pick up breakfast/lunch for business meetings
• Pick up office supplies

Clients may also call for other errands or special requests that may not be listed above."

Patch: Can you give us examples of how you are helping others with your business?
Reid: "Some of the errands that I have done to date include:

• Waited for a delivery at someone's home
• Set up for a confirmation party, including warming up all food for hostess' guests for her daughter's confirmation while the family was at the service
• Bought office furniture as well as office supplies for a local small business (researched the best deals and saved my client money)
• Created marketing materials for the Granby Ambulance Association and ran ads for the Granby Ambulance Association announcing upcoming classes
• Created and delivered a gift basket for someone who was ill
• Currently creating gift baskets for someone's Bat Mitzvah
• Checked in on someone's home while they were away on vacation including watering plants, taking in packages, mail and newspapers
• Made and delivered punch and homemade cookies for someone as a thank you gift for one of their clients
• A small business wanted company shirts with their logo on them for their employees (researched the best deals for my client and saved my client $500)"

Patch: What's your main customer base?
Reid: "Right now, I have small business owners, seniors and working moms as my client base."

Patch: How far do you travel for the errand running service?
Reid: "I travel up to 12 miles and then after that I charge $.55 per mile.  I charge $25 per hour with an hour minimum.  After that, I charge by 15-minute increments."

Patch: Why did you decide to open Valley Errands?
Reid: "I decided to start Valley Errands because I felt that there was a need for my services in the Farmington Valley area (seniors who could not get out, working moms who just didn't have the time, small businesses who needed some help but really didn't want to hire someone full time and pay benefits). I also started my business because I felt that it was the right time for me to go back to work.  I have an 11-year-old son and the timing seemed right. I also wanted something that was a little flexible and also something that I could do out of my home."

Patch: Do you have a business mantra you live by?
Reid: "I guess I would say that my business mantra is to help make people's lives a little easier and a little less stressed."

Patch: What sets your business apart from others and are there other errand running businesses you know of in the area?
Reid: "I feel that my business is set apart from others because I offer great personal service and I try to exceed my clients' expectations so that they are always 100 percent satisfied. I only know of one other errand running business in the Greater Hartford area out of West Hartford."

Patch: Can you tell us about your business background?
Reid: "I previously worked for a direct mail marketing company for 10 and a half years in various roles, but mostly in their marketing department. After that, I worked for PaineWebber as a sales assistant and also did marketing for my local branch.  I have also done some freelance marketing work for a small business.  I have a business degree with a major in marketing. Valley Errands is my first time running my own business."

Patch: Finish the sentence. When I'm not working I'm...
Reid:  "When I'm not working, I'm either reading, taking my dance class, taking a zumba class, going to my karate class, doing fun stuff with my 11-year-old son and husband or cooking." 

BASIC INFORMATION

Business Name: Valley Errands, LLC
Owner: Deb Reid
Address: PO Box 513, Granby, CT 06035
Phone: 860-966-8095
Email: deb.valleyerrands@gmail.com
Website: www.valley-errands.com
Bonded and Insured?: Yes

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