Because many of our non-business clients have mobility difficulties either due to age, illness or injury, our job goes beyond simple shopping and/or delivery. Helping put purchases away (particularly refrigerated items), making sure they have everything they need to be comfortable and simply sparing a few moments to chat are just a few aspects that elevate and differentiate our service. In many cases, we are one of the few instances of outside contact for our customer and so provide much needed moments of company, companionship as well as a measure of safety. We take pride in knowing that, in many cases, we have delayed the necessity of customers moving to care facilities. This allows them to enjoy their home and maintain their independence, sometimes for years longer.

Because we enjoy a level of effectiveness and efficiency not available to other delivery/shopping services, our customers can realized very reasonable costs while our riders can enjoy good incomes. We are not as impacted by the high cost of equipment, fuel, maintenance and can shop for multiple customers at once. Our customer wins, we win and the environment wins.

Besides the obvious need for a rider to have a reliable and well maintained bicycle (preferably a Mountain Bike with lower than average gearing), they should be comfortable in making many of the on-road repairs that may occur. We operate in all weather so experience in 4 season riding is an advantage. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing so one can acquire the necessary garments to handle almost everything. Strong organizational and people skills are a must. Riders need to organize their own delivery routes, schedules and handle payments. There is a high degree of independence and the work is suitable for part-time as well as full-time commitments

Fresh Air Delivery has identified three different levels of participation.

1. Riders - Both part-time and full-time

2. Marketing Personal - Both part-time and full-time

3. Territory Administrators

Riders - are the essence of what we are all about and are the front line in our ongoing contact with the customer. They usually handle everything from the order taking through to the delivery. In between is the organizing of their orders to facilitate efficient shopping as well as planning the most effective routes. We do not often have vacancies in established routes but if a person is willing to perform some of their own marketing, then, with the assistance of Fresh Air Delivery, new locations can be started. Riders keep 80% of their income (100% of tips) with the balance paying for equipment rental and Head Office Marketing/Administration Costs. Much of the work can be tailored to a rider’s specific availability and so is ideal for those looking for both part-time and full time work.

Marketing Personal - is a position for those who understand and believe in our mandate, want the rewards of making positive change in the Urban Environment but are not able or want to do a lot of trailer pulling. Compensation comes in the form of a percentage of the new business created. Ideal for those able to work part-time or full time, one can put in as little or as much time as available. Marketers also have the option to further supplement their marketing income with the actual shopping/deliveries if they are so inclined. 5% of the net income produced by any new business created first goes to cover the hard marketing costs - leaflets, flyers . . . with the balance providing the remuneration to the Marketer. This works quite well for a Marketer because the flow of funds, while not large from each individual customer, are ongoing in nature and people typically order food and merchandise week-in week-out for any number of years depending on their situation. As the number of new customers attributable to the Marketer grow this becomes a nice steady income source that carries on long past the initial effort. The actual hard marketing costs of flyers / brochures / leaflets etc. is also quite small for our type of business with the personal touch being much more effective so costs are kept quite small.

Territory Administrators - function much like Fresh Air Delivery Head Office but in a defined geographical area. This is perfect for someone who wants to combine marketing, riding and general administration of a fixed area with the ultimate goal of ‘managing’ a complement of riders. Fresh Air Delivery will provide the equipment and expertise in how to channel marketing efforts and design an efficient operation. Territory Administrators retain 5 % of the net income produced by all riders within their territories as a management fee and up to an additional 5% to cover hard marketing costs. While we are based in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver and surrounding Municipalities of the Province of British Columbia, Canada), this is a tremendous way for a cycling enthusiast and environmental devotee almost anywhere to start up a self-employed business in their area. Even within the Lower Mainland, there are lots of opportunities for Territory Administrators.

Many of these functions overlap as a Marketer may also pull trailers sometimes and Riders are always doing some marketing whether directly or indirectly through their daily activities. Territory Administrators can also be Riders and Marketers, particularly in the early stages of development where they are the only ones in the Territory.

The Riders, Marketers and Territory Administrators are Fresh Air Delivery and they form a group of like-minded, cooperative and enthusiastic people to shape a strong tight-knit community pursuing common goals. We are all doing something we believe in, thoroughly enjoy and benefit from.