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Wednesday, Jan. 21
The Indiana Daily Student

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Just Deliveries lives up to name

When Edward Hughes opened Just Deliveries last month, his idea to deliver carry-out to his customers' front doors was just beginning.\nWhile delivering food items such as pizza is not a new concept, the idea to deliver other food from restaurants such as Casa Brava or The Trojan Horse, is relatively unique.\n"Especially with the many students who live in Bloomington who do not have vehicles and the elderly, the business is helpful," Hughes said.\nThe business currently averages five deliveries per day, but Hughes hopes business will pick up soon, especially with the lunch crowd. Until Monday, Hughes had not received an order before 3 p.m. However, Hughes had received five orders by 3 p.m. Wednesday, which indicates the idea might be catching on. \nThe process of delivery begins when, instead of calling the restaurant, the customer calls Just Deliveries first. Hughes takes the order and then calls the restaurant himself to order carry-out. From there, he picks up the order and delivers it to a house, dorm, business or even a hotel room.\nHughes charges a $3 delivery fee for orders of less than $40 and a 15 percent fee for orders of more than $40. As a start-up business, Hughes only accepts cash and check.\nHughes hopes to receive discounts from restaurants for people using his service, and he will add those places into a menu to pass out to students on campus and to Bloomington visitors in local hotels. He believes the restaurants will pick up on the idea also, because it doesn't cost them anything until after he makes them money. Once he makes the delivery, he looks to profit a percentage of the price of the food from the restaurant.\nAlthough the business' advertising is minimal at the time, he hopes to begin more when he hires another driver.\n"Right now it's a double-edged sword," Hughes said. "We can't really do more advertising until we get another driver, but we can't hire a driver until we do more advertising."\nHughes hopes business will catch on with smokers who can no longer smoke inside restaurants and bars.\n"People who smoke are not going out to eat (there) because they can't smoke," Hughes said. "This should appeal to them because they can smoke and have their restaurant meal in the comfort of their home."\nWith a Web site coming soon, more drivers and a business that looks to appeal to much of the public, Hughes believes his service will flourish. Beyers Marketing will help out with the Web site where Hughes hopes to have an online menu and secure ordering. \nTo entice students, Hughes hopes he will be able to provide not only discounts, but the ability to use the Campus Access card along with credit cards in the future.\nOne reason the fee for the low delivery is because Hughes' belief that at this time, his base is not large enough and he wants to give it time to grow.\n"I would rather make 100 deliveries for $3 than 25 for $10," Hughes said.\nJunior Paul Reaumond said the $3 charge is appealing because it's fairly cheap, but he probably won't use the service because he has a car.\n"I'm right on Third Street, however, if I didn't have a car I would probably," Reaumond said. "Plus I'm kinda broke right now, so (ordering delivery) wouldn't help."\nFreshman Harry Bramson said the concept of Just Deliveries could work.\n"I enjoy going down Kirkwood and going for a walk (to get food)," Bramson said. "However, when it gets cold in the winter I might use it. It is great to stay at home and be able to get restaurant food delivered to you."\nJust Deliveries is available by phone at 323-0604 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Hughes hopes to eventually start delivering past 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday if customers ask for it.\nScotty's, Trojan Horse, Colorado Steak House and other such restaurants are all the focus of the business and it's an idea he hopes will succeed.\n"If they have take out or pick-up," Hughes said. "We deliver."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Ryne Shadday at rshadday@indiana.edu.

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