Why I Started Granville Island Delivery Co.
Pivot from Vancouver Foodie Tours
In March of 2020, we were getting ready to celebrate our 10 year anniversary of Vancouver Foodie Tours. With a #1 Rating for Food Tours on Trip Advisor and being ranked in the Top 9 Best Food Tours in the World in Forbes, we had a lot to celebrate! When the pandemic hit, I immediately put our tours on hold to help bend the curve and for the safety of everyone involved. The hardest part was letting go of our very close-knit team and not knowing when I could bring them back.
Fortunately, two days later I decided to pivot to Granville Island Delivery Co. I was saddened to see Granville Island's vibrant community slow to a halt. I knew I wanted to do something that supported the local merchants who we'd work so close with for close to 10 years. I also wanted locals to be able to enjoy Granville Island's bounty safely, and was able to bring back a few team members to help with the pivot.
Initially, Granville Island Delivery Co. focused on delivering Granville Island treats across the Lower Mainland. I loved being able to share my favourites with others and spread joy during a very tough time. In an effort to further support local merchants, we started creating market baskets with a portion of sales donated to a vendor in need. We called it the #GranvilleIslandLuv campaign.
BUSINESS GIFTING
During the holidays, we started to curate more gift baskets. People raved about our gift baskets, and it soon became clear that this would be the future of Granville Island Delivery Co. With the years of experience and relationships we have built in the Granville Island Public Market, we were able to create local artisanal gifts that were known for their quality. Local businesses soon became our biggest source of orders. They loved our attentive and friendly service, and were happy to be able to support a local pandemic pivot business.
As a business owner, I know all the challenges and rewards of being in business. We used gifting regularly for Vancouver Foodie Tours, which helped grow the business over the past decade. Thoughtful and timely gifting made my team feel valued, and created a company culture that attracted amazing people who propelled our mission forward. We also created memorable impressions with key clients that continue to be staunch supporters during these challenging times. I want to help other companies do the same: develop long lasting relationships with their clients, attract and retain talent, and celebrate life's many occasions, all while supporting local makers.