Delivery service goPuff, known for its motto of “order in seconds, delivered in minutes,” has launched in Fort Lauderdale and is hiring in Miami.
The company has announced plans to add thousands of jobs nationwide and uses a delivery partner model.
The Philadelphia-based company said it accelerated its launch in Fort Lauderdale because of the pandemic.
“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this service has become critical for many customers who need access to daily essentials. goPuff understands its business is fulfilling a need and has taken the necessary steps to ensure our services can be provided safely for the entire community,” a press release said.
goPuff is active in 170 markets nationally with 3,000 employees and has warehouses filled with products rather than picking them up from a retailer. It has positioned itself as a disrupter of the convenience store business and especially targets millennials.
The company charges a flat $1.95 delivery fee, but also has a 30-day trial for free delivery. After 30 days, it’s $5.95 a month. Service hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. The company’s app is available for iOS and Android phones.
Product categories include munchies, groceries, sweets, drinks, ice cream, quick meals, and health, office, electronic, pet, safety and work-from-home products. Warehouses stock 2,500 plus products, the company says.
Prices may be a bit higher than going to a discount retailer and more like a convenience store. For example, goPuff was charging $5.99 for a 10.7-ounce bag of peanut M&Ms while Wal-Mart was listing it for $2.82. However, goPuff also listed some products that seemed in short supply at other retailers amid the pandemic, such as a 17.9-ounce bottle of Dawn Ultra Original Dishwashing Soap, which was out of stock at Amazon.com.
The company has a warehouse at 1110 NE 8th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The company appears to be preparing a launch in Miami-Dade County with job postings for warehouses at 578 NW 27th St., Miami; 7101 N. Miami Ave., Miami; and 900 Park Centre Blvd., Miami Gardens.
The company’s delivery partners earn a commission on each delivery and keep the tips, the company website says. They also earn a guaranteed hourly minimum that varies by location.
The company was co-founded by Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola in 2013 on the first day of their Business 101 class at Drexel University.
goPuff recently committed $1 million in orders to hospital workers across the U.S., through its new Health Care Support Initiative in response to the pandemic. The company is offering any employee of a participating hospital a free goPuff order, as well as free delivery.
goPuff could face more competition as 7-Eleven rolls out a 7Now program. The 7NOW delivery app is available in nearly 400 cities, including the downtown areas of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It didn’t appear available in downtown West Palm Beach.
