By Steve Hubrecht
The dreaded Costco run is familiar to many Columbia Valley residents. Wholesale prices on bulk quantities of frozen and canned goods, toilet paper and more are certainly appealing. But what’s not appealing is wasting a whole day (not to mention a full tank of gas or two) on the round-trip drive to Calgary and back.
Where many see a pain in the neck, part-time Invermere residents Jeff and Angela Wiles see a business opportunity. The couple recently launched Calgary2Valley Delivery, making their first delivery run in early December.
The business is straightforward: valley residents who want some bulk items from Costco can place orders with the Calgary2Valley crew. They’ll do the shopping, then bring the goods out to the valley every other weekend (delivery is between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays). Delivery charges are $1 per item for most items; and $2 per items for goods that require refrigeration and freezing in a dedicated refrigerator and freezer (which Jeff and Angela have in their truck). Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before a delivery weekend.
“I’m not a shill for Costco, but they do offer good quality and good value on a lot of things that can often be expensive in smaller or more remote communities,” Jeff explained to the Pioneer. “I shop there often myself. So I thought, if I do a bit of shopping for people in the valley while I’m at Costco, I’ll be keeping some cars off Highway 93, they’ll save the gas, they’ll save the time, and it can hopefully be a nice side business for me.”
Jeff has worked as civil enforcement bailiff for three decades in Calgary, and outlined that if Calgary2Valley Delivery does well enough it may become his retirement business.
The couple have owned a home in Invermere for the past 15 years, and their now-grown kids and their long-haired Weimaraner Ember love the outdoor lifestyle of the Columbia Valley. In the summer they get out on the lake; in the winter they ski at Panorama Mountain Resort; and in the shoulder seasons they walk Ember in the Ray Brydon Dog Park in Athalmer.
For more information email [email protected] or call or text 403-607- 3582.
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