ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jeremy Fetters spends his days shopping for other people as a contract worker for Shipt, Target’sThird-party delivery company

A 41-year-old ex-bartender stored a large pack of toilet paper inside his car in the beginning of the pandemic. Customers would get a roll for free if he couldn’t find one at the local store. Fetters will go to great lengths to find a chicken breast pack. He sometimes purchases small plants, flowers, or “get well” balloons for customers who have a cold or cough.

In a crowded delivery landscape, Shipt is using customer relationships to retain both the families who order from the service and the gig workers who shop for it — and ultimately, to increase sales.

Shipt was founded in 2014. It has seen significant growth during the Covid-19 epidemic, when consumers wanted safe, convenient shopping. In the fiscal year that ended on Jan. 30, Shipt’s sales for same-day delivery more than quadrupled compared to the prior year. The company claims that its gig worker pool, also known as shoppers, increased by three times to 300,000. This was between the outbreak and the close of the last year.

We are all important to our customers. “Our shoppers matter.” “They’re our secret sauce,” Kelly Caruso, CEO Shipt. They are what separates us from our competitors.

When placing orders, customers can request that the same shopper picks up their products again since August. Shipt has also included a function that alerts customers of dietary restrictions (e.g., gluten-free). Over time, that shopper gets to know a person’s preferences, too. So shoppers are able to suggest a replacement for an item that is not in stock or to make last-minute additions to their shopping lists.

Shipt can deliver orders to over 130 retailers. This includes regional grocers, such as H-E-B and Publix. Petco CVS HealthThis is a. The service covers approximately 80% of U.S. households and is available in around 5,000 locations. Short stated that it still has plenty to do if it is able to sign more retailers and attract new customers. Shipt’s biggest competitor Instacart has more than 600 customers.

Short estimated Shipt’s value recently at $15 billion. It’s quite a leap from previous estimates. $550 million that Target paidTo acquire the company 2017..Short also doesn’t believe Target’s $112 billion market value is enough to cover Shipt’s entire value. Short has an overweight rating on Target’s stock, with a price target of $280 — more than 20% above where it’s currently trading.

Target says that while the service doesn’t disclose revenue numbers or customer numbers and it isn’t yet profitable, sales continue to increase this year. The service saw a growth of 86% and 20% respectively in its first quarter, compared to the previous year.

Shipt’s Caruso stated that when recruiting delivery staff, the company seeks people who can shop as well as have excellent communication skills. This strategy is unique among Shipt’s competitors, she explained. With her teenage son who transports fast food orders, she can see that clearly. DoorDash

“He’s young and transactional,” she stated. He is able to bring about change. ChipotleFrom point A to B. He can’t navigate a supermarket at the weekend.

Shipt’s ability to shop in a personalized manner can help increase sales both for its retailers partners and Shipt, Caruso stated. Shipt gets a share of all sales. However, this can vary between companies. Advertisements, delivery fees, annual subscriptions and other revenue sources also make it money.

A savvy Shipt shopper can alert a customer if they see a favorite brand of tea on sale — even if it’s not on the shopping list, Caruso said. A shopper can suggest an option to add a product that is unique for the customer. For example, a brand new flavor.

Caruso stressed that online shoppers are able to help with out-of-stock issues. Shoppers are advised to text or call the customer instead of ignoring the product and finding an alternate.

She stated that shoppers are able to find substitutes and save money, which is good for consumers as well as retailers.

In a recent grocery study, consulting firm Bain & Company found out-of-stocks and a poor checkout experience were the two frustrations that are most likely to scare customers away. The consulting company found that retailers and delivery firms can be a win-win situation for customers if they are knowledgeable and can help them find the best alternative.

Bain examined the performance of Shipt in selecting replacements for items out of stock and found it to have one among the highest levels customer satisfaction scores.

This pandemic has led to so many job departures and changes that it has been called “The Great Resignation”. Here is the latest U.S. monthly job report fell far short of expectationsUndoubtedly, this highlights the difficulty of getting Americans back to work, even though some employers raise their wages or offer sweet perks.

A survey of approximately 1,500 employees conducted by Grant Thornton in July and August revealed that flexibility is what most job seekers are looking for. Nearly 80 percent of respondents to the survey said that they desire flexibility when it comes to where and how they work. Slightly more than half — 51% — said they would give up a salary increase for more flexibility, with 40% saying they will look for another job if forced to return to the office full time. A third of those surveyed indicated that they would consider looking for work elsewhere.

If the trend continues, gig economies will attract even more people, according to Tim Glowa of Grant Thornton, who is a principal in market research and conducts research into how employers can engage, retain and attract employees.

He said that gig workers have increased by 15% to 20% per year since the pandemic. If we take into account employees’ desire to have control over their career, then we will be seeing more of it.”

Caruso suggested that Shipt may continue to be attracted to gig work by the flexibility it offers. According to her, some shoppers are only able to work in certain seasons. This includes teachers and parents with extra income during the summer.

It offers bonuses to motivate customers who haven’t ordered in a while. For instance, it sent an email to less active shoppers in the Northeast around Labor Day to dangle $150 in extra pay to those who completed 10 orders between that Thursday and Tuesday.

Shipt shoppers make up 75%, most of whom are between 25 and 54 years of age, according to a survey by the company. Shipt estimates that shoppers earn more than $21 per store, including promo and base pay.

Some gig economy firms have come under fire for employing contract workers in order to not pay fair wages or benefits, and also for manipulating algorithms to make lower salaries. This issue was brought up more by the pandemic, when delivery workers were exposed to greater risk. New York City recently passed billsThis initiative aims to improve work conditions and the pay of gig economy workers.

Fetters stated that he could not imagine anything other than pouring drinks before the global health crisis. For 15 years, he had been a bartender. He was abruptly fired from the nightclub he used to work in February 2020. Fetters applied for Shipt, and began to deliver orders. Each week, he said, he completes about 45 to 50 orders and makes about the same amount of money that he made as a bartender — but without the late-night shifts and weekend hours.

He changed his outlook after the Pandemic of Covid and the loss of his father, who was killed in Covid’s last Fall.

He said, “When I lost my father, I wasn’t able to spend as much with him as I should,” It was either “Oh, it’s working” or “We’ll make it next year” or “We’ll be able to have more time later.” However, we did not get the time.

Fetters explained that Fetters can now take time for vacation and enjoy weekends off with his spouse. He stated that he had become close to customers. He’s helped elderly people with groceries and delivered food to their homes. After his dog’s passing, he once stood beside the customer to console her.

It [the pandemic]It gave them time to ask themselves, “Is that really what I want? Are I truly happy? Are I happy that I work and enjoy going to work each day? Am I fulfilled?'” He said. He said, “When I ask myself, ‘Does it get me excited and motivated to get up each morning to go to work?” Many people will say “no” to this question.