No Time For Errands? This Avon Lake Business is 4 U

Sisters Carol Dean and Brenda Hudson got the idea for their new business while driving through Louisville, KY last fall.

“We were on a girls weekend for my mom’s 75th birthday,” Hudson said. “We do all mom’s errands, including driving.”

They were on a trip to visit their mom’s friend who also doesn’t drive when they saw a sign on the car next to them advertising an errand service and a light bulb went off.

Dean was working in the treasury department for Electrolux at the time and knew the company was relocating.

“I knew I was going to lose my job and was looking for something,” she said.

With that, “Errands 4 U” was born. Dean, an Avon Lake resident is the active partner in the business, also based in Avon Lake.

The ladies mean business. They are fully bonded and insured and for a minimal fee will perform a host of errands within 20 miles. That might include grocery and gift shopping, house sitting and service call waiting, prescription pick up and drop off and business courier service. Dean’s financial background also means effective accounting and secretarial service for businesses.

“We’re trying to specialize in senior citizens or assisting the disabled,” Dean said.

The company charges $15 for one errand in a 20-mile radius. A 40-cent per mile surcharge is added after 20 miles.

Although the company’s focus is on those who might have trouble getting around easy, Errands 4 U is more than willing to take on any errand, from shopping for busy moms, waiting at a person’s house for a delivery, or stopping in to attend to a pet.

Word of the business is spreading and Errands 4 U recently partnered with the Apples grocery chain.

“If someone calls Apples and says, ‘do you deliver,’ they’ll recommend us,’” Dean said.

Dean and Hudson, who maintains other full-time employment, have a network of workers spread around a 20-mile radius.

 “We have people on standby,” Hudson said. “If this goes crazy we have people available.”

They know part of the service’s allure is tied into current gas prices. Having someone run your errands may save you money after gas is figured in.

They’ve had some strange requests, including one potential customer who wanted someone to come to Vermilion to bring in their trashcans the day they went on vacation.

“We were willing to do it,” Dean said.

For more information on Errands 4 U, contact Dean at errandsfouru@aol.com or 440-930-2731. The business is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Visit their Facebook page for more information.