'Room Service' is an online convenience store that delivers necessities like snacks, drinks, toilet paper and cleaning supplies directly to residents of Halifax's peninsula in less than 45 minutes.
The store's online presence enables consumers to browse through a diverse inventory of products that would typically be found at a local corner store, offering items that range from tampons and diapers to chocolate bars. Through this set product list, the business is able to maintain a small inventory, while eliminating the need for a large stockroom. The orders, which are processed through the site, limit at-door interactions, providing consumers with more free time to study, play with their children, or simply enjoy the day.
The company's target demographic is university students, who are privy to a convenient, digitized lifestyle, however the company frequently delivers to parents with young kids, and seniors with limited motor vehicle access. Johnathan Cannon, the company's founder, claims that Room service functions around the philosophy of "selling people their time back."
Online Convenience Stores
Halifax's 'Room Service' Will Bring a Gatorade to Your Front Door
Trend Themes
1. Online Convenience Stores - The rise of online convenience stores offers opportunities for businesses to provide affordable and quick delivery services.
2. On-demand Deliveries - The growth of on-demand delivery services presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the traditional convenience store industry.
3. Inventory Optimization - The use of small inventories and third-party logistics to optimize delivery times presents opportunities for growth in the online convenience store industry.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - The retail industry can benefit from online convenience stores by implementing innovative digital strategies, improving delivery times and optimizing inventory.
2. Logistics - The rise of on-demand delivery services created an opportunity for logistics industry to create innovative and efficient ways to support online convenience stores.
3. E-commerce - The e-commerce industry is set to benefit from the rise of online convenience stores as consumers demand for better and more affordable delivery services continues to grow.