A 21-year-old entrepreneur plans to hire laid-off workers as delivery drivers and help downtrodden businesses in one fell swoop with the launch of a Wagga delivery app.
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Mariam Rehman joined forces with the charity Taster Property to begin crowdfunding for the Your Local delivery app in a bid to resuscitate local jobs, provide a cheaper alternative to conglomerates like Menulog, and stop money from trickling out of Wagga.
"I was seeing a lot of colleagues, friends of mine, small business owners who were really struggling just to break even," Miss Rehman said.
"This is one small thing we could do to rebuild the economy, not just for now but for the long term."
Within a few days the idea received so many expressions of interest from business owners that Miss Rehman decided to expand the scope to cover other retailers in addition to restaurants and cafes.
She plans to make the app free for business owners during the first couple of months, especially as the economy continues to reel from the coronavirus shutdown.
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One business owner who has begun spruiking the idea is Meccanico owner Richard Moffatt, who said he was outraged by Menulog's "phenomenally high" surcharges.
"When Menulog is charging up to 30 per cent for delivery it really affects our industry, but because it's the only service available in Wagga you're beholden to them," Mr Moffatt said.
"It's ridiculously high, and the margins within the food and beverage industry are already so thin."
Mr Moffat only started Meccanico six months ago in October, and he said he never dreamed that take-away and deliveries would become the mainstay of his new business.
Although it has turned out to be the worst possible time to start a new restaurant, Mr Moffatt said they have been able to survive by switching to take-away coffee, wine, and fancy dinner packs.
"We've all had to change and adapt, but we're managing to keep our heads above water," Mr Moffatt said.
"Hopefully other businesses get on board this app; we're big on supporting local and making sure the funds stay here in Wagga."
The startup is still in the funding stages, but so far 300 businesses, drivers, and users have signed onto the idea.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
