Gregory Junior Sydney is the owner and managing director of Quick Delivery, an inland courier service that has been thrust into the spotlight as Saint Lucia and the rest of the world persevere in the fight against Covid-19. Quick Delivery has literally come to the rescue as citizens continue to navigate lockdowns and quarantine orders with services including meal delivery, medication collection and delivery, grocery shopping, general courier services (bill payments, pick up and drop off of documents and small packages) and trucking services. The VOICE got MD Gregory Sydney to slow down for a bit, to share with us the company’s beginnings and their plans for the future.
How long has Quick Delivery been in operation?
Gregory: From 2017. We were on the market for a short time in 2013, just 6 months. I used that period for market research. We came back in 2017 with a better understanding of the industry and what people wanted. At first, we only did meal delivery, but customers were asking for more, which is why we came back with added services.
How did the company begin, and where did you get the idea to open it up?
Gregory: After being in an office working on a project and not being able to get anything to eat. I was hungry and the only thing being delivered at the time was pizza, and I’m not a pizza fan. They weren’t even delivering to the area where I was at the time. I had never been more aware of the need for a company that delivered quality food. The following week I started talking to people and hearing their views and tried it out a few months later. I would say it was another case of necessity being the mother of all invention.
What makes your company unique?
Gregory: The incredible staff, our unique idea of business, and the increasing demand for our type of business.
What is your driving force?
Gregory: The way the world is moving. In light of the world wide web where everything is online, I want to be ahead with it, hence why I introduced Quick Delivery to our country. I am trying my best to afford our citizens the convenience of anything that can be delivered.
How has Covid-19 affected your business, negatively or positively?
Gregory: On a wide scale I would say it has affected us negatively, because it’s a pandemic which is taking lives and creating a whole set of economic problems. It has however increased our business and created a lot of exposure and awareness for us with regards to us being one of the heroes in the service industry where we provide our customers and the public with grocery shopping and delivery, as well as meal delivery. In that aspect it did tremendously well for us, positively in terms of awareness and generated business.
Before Covid-19 we weren’t doing meal deliveries as we’re working on a state-of-the-art mobile app for our meal deliveries. The app will feature all restaurants and their menus, so customers can purchase their meals through the app. The launch of the app was pushed back because of Covid-19; we had to shift focus to deal with on demand requests for some of our partnered restaurants, to do meal delivery for them, and to cater to grocery shopping as well. We are still trying our best to launch at the end of May.
Do you have any words of wisdom for anyone contemplating starting their own business?
Gregory: My only truthful advice is that it is hard work, and it takes work. You have to be at it, believe in it… It’s not easy so you really have to believe and go after it. Treat it like a child, and you’re the parent. That’s how much time and effort needs to go into it. As much as a child needs parenting supervision, that’s your role. Also, it’s very important to get a full night’s rest to function properly. Some people don’t think they need much sleep, but sleep helps you think better and puts less pressure on your brain and body.
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economies and healthcare systems of the world, Quick Delivery’s man at the helm advises all Saint Lucians to “stay home and stay safe.”
“I don’t think we should get too casual about it, it’s still very risky,” he said. “People should really come out only if they have to but stay home and use the services available. Protect yourself and your family.”
