Elon University alum Andrew Creech asked himself: Should students have to drive into Burlington late at night for a bottle opener? How about Advil? Gum? He doesn’t think so.
He saw a hole in delivery opportunities at Elon and decided to cash in, creating “Designated Delivery.” Offering items housed in both grocery stores and pharmacies, Creech and his team bring convenience to doorsteps most hours of the night.
“Designated Delivery eliminates the need for students to drop everything they’re doing just to go out and get something as basic as a pack of gum by bringing these items to you,” Creech said. “It’s the only service of its kind, especially around here.”
From beer pong sets to dental floss, Designated Delivery, which launched this semester, operates from 8 P.M. to 3 A.M. from Wednesday to Saturday.
“Basically, we are a convenience store that delivers,” Creech explained.
With four years of Elon experience and a vested interest in the issue, Creech recognized the reality of drinking and driving on college campuses. He wanted to reduce, if not eradicate, the temptation for students to drive under the influence to acquire simple night-out necessities, by providing a service that safely delivers.
“A very close friend of mine passed away while drunk driving when I was a first-year student in college,” Creech said. “Driving while intoxicated is a growing issue, especially on campuses, so it’s important to make sure that students have alternative options to getting the items they need.”
The items, ordered from BJ’s and other online suppliers, are stocked and shelved at Desginated Delivery’s Elon headquarters. After making a purchase online or over the phone, the goods are transported directly to the buyer within fifteen minutes. According to Creech, the products are priced similarly to their convenience store counterparts,’ he just includes a $3 delivery fee.
Matt Overby, a Burlington resident and assistant manager of the delivery operation, said the fee should not dissuade students from the value of the service.
“Why would you pay a delivery fee for a pizza when you can pick it up yourself?” Overby asked. “The real value is convenience.”
While some members of the community expressed concern the service delivers beer pong sets to college students, Creech pointed out that no state law in North Carolina prohibits drinking games.
“The game of pong itself is not banned, merely the excessive consumption of alcohol in a dangerous fashion,” Creech said. “When I was a student, Residence Life sponsored ‘water pong’ or ‘apple juice pong’ on multiple occasions.”
Creech gives credit to the investors who initially funded the project but also prides himself on the time and energy he’s exerted.
“I thought a lot about it during my senior year at Elon,” Creech said. “I spent the summer after I graduated getting the logistics sorted and acquiring a business license.”
First-year Alonzo Cee said he has not used the service but has heard about it from a friend.
“I would probably use it if there was nasty weather outside, or if I didn’t feel so good,” Cee said. “It’s just a pretty handy service to have.”
The group hopes to expand its selections by including fast food items. On the website, under “Fast Food-Coming Soon,” admired names such as McDonalds, Cook-Out and Steak ‘N Shake are listed.
“It’ll take time for students to realize what it is, how it works and that we’re there,” Creech said. “But we hope to become a really big service that helps a lot of students.”