Workday snack inspires entrepreneurs
By Angie Landsverk
Anndi Loken was just about to take an extra shift at work, and she was hungry.
“I wanted mustard-flavored pretzels and pickles to get through the day,” she said.
Loken called her boyfriend, Shi Rohm, and said, “I need you to buy them.”
He was on his way to work but told her would swing by and pick up the items for her.
She then called him back and said, “I have the best idea ever. We should start a business where we do this.”
That was last January, and by the end of June, they started a delivery service called Speedsters.
Their hours are 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., and their delivery service area is Waupaca, Weyauwega, Fremont, Ogdensburg, Scandinavia, Iola, Manawa, Amherst and Wild Rose.
Their slogan is “making convenience mobile.”
People may call or text Speedsters at 920-505-0013, say what they need, and Speedsters takes care of the rest.
If the caller wants something from a restaurant, Speedsters places the order, picks it up and delivers it.
They text their customers with the exact price owed for the food and also what time they will deliver it.
Loken says that is unique for a delivery service.
They accept cash and credit/debit cards and have a base rate of $3 for deliveries under $10 and $5 for deliveries over $10.
The total delivery fee may vary due to how far they travel and the amount of items requested.
They may not purchase and deliver alcohol or tobacco products.
“We have loyal customers,” Loken said. “We have one guy who orders from us every day.”
One of the first calls they received was from a teenaged boy, who was home sick and wanted chicken noodle soup and Sprite.
Their busiest times are between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 4-6 p.m.
They also receive a lot of calls around 1 a.m.
Loken is a certified nursing assistant and typically works Speedsters’ morning shift.
Loken and Rohm work the afternoon shift together.
On the days she works, Rohm then covers the hours until 3 a.m.
When Loken is not working as a CNA, she works that shift with him.
She felt she was overtired and babbling when she initially brought up the idea of a delivery service, but Rohm believed it would work.
“Shortly after, we started putting the pieces together of what we needed to do,” she said.
That included talking to a lawyer and an accountant, developing a pricing structure, figuring out a schedule, purchasing uniforms and advertising.
They started Speedsters on June 28.
The business partners considered a few different names before deciding to go with Speedsters.
“That was the last piece of the puzzle,” Loken said.
Their original thought for the name was “I Want it Now.”
That name was already taken elsewhere, as was another one they had, which was Zoom.
She said they eventually arrived at Speedsters, which they see as playing off the super hero idea.
People may like Speedsters Waupaca on Facebook and Instagram.
Loken said their customers keep calling them back.
“It was my idea,” she said, “but he’s (Rohm) the one who really made it happen.”