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latimes.com |
Los Angeles-based on-demand alcohol delivery startup
Saucey
Drinks has pulled in
$4.5 million in seed funding, led by Blumberg Capital and
including investors the likes of Nick and Joe Jonas.
Saucey’s origins began with three friends who decided to
cash in on the timeless demand for alcohol. Co-founder Chris Vaughn wanted a
glass of wine after work one day but realised that he had run out of the stuff.
This inspired him to start a business with his friends bringing wine and
spirits to anyone’s door in less than an hour, working work nights and weekends
in the back of a bar. ‘You could say that drinking is the oldest and largest
social network in the world,’ says a post on the Saucey blog. ‘If you’ve ever had a
drink and wanted another, you’ve most likely said, “Wouldn’t it be great if
someone just bought me these.”’
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Saucey founders (l-r) Andrew Leck, Chris Vaughn, and Dan Leeb. Source: Forbes
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The founders of Saucey were
not the first to come up with
the idea – Thirstie, a company based in New York that also delivers to LA, basically
does the same thing. Customers select beverages on Saucey’s app, then a courier
picks up the order from a partner retail store and delivers it. There’s no
middle man – Saucey controls the delivery
from start to finish. Boston-based
Drizly and NY-based
Minibar send orders to retailers, who then deliver the alcohol
to customers – a
less reliable method, said Vaughn.
|
chicagotribune.com |
Saucey has expanded to San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago
since it launched. A 12-pack of Bud Light bottles will set you back $18, while
a 750 ml bottle of Skyy vodka costs $24. In July 2014, Saucey delivered
$6K
worth of drinks to a pool party in Hollywood. Later that day, the same customer
ordered an entire recovery pack including over 90 Smart Waters, 45 Vitamin
Waters, and an assortment of other beverages. In September, they teamed up with
MeUndies to deliver ‘sleepover packs’ to customers. Comfy underwear, a
t-shirt/tank top, sunglasses, vodka, wine, or whiskey, and hangover recovery
vitamins – all delivered by
MeUndies models.
|
MeUndies |
Saucey plans to use the seed money to
improve customer
service and
increase sales. ‘Saucey couriers today can run up to 6 deliveries
per hour,’ said Vaughn. ‘We plan on maximising our infrastructure so couriers
can earn more money per hour, delivery times will get even faster for
customers, and the selection will go well beyond where we are today.’
Aaron Waterhouse
Aaron is a recent English graduate from Durham University who is now working as a content writer intern. An enthusiastic traveller, he hopes to become a journalist and report from around the world. Follow him @AaronAtSMF.
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