Jenny and Rachel Underweiser grew tired of receiving food deliveries that were missing essential items or filled with substitutions they didn’t want. Their deliveries were rarely on time and fulfilled by random people who didn’t care much about their specific needs. “We took everything we didn’t like about the current delivery world and made it better,” said Jenny, who together with her daughter Rachel, created “this, this and this,” a food delivery service that offers premier service with a personal touch.
Jenny, who holds a PhD in social work and has a private practice where she teaches wellness and mindful living, and her daughter Rachel, a recent Johns Hopkins graduate where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and a recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Richard Macksey Award for her holistic intellectual pursuit of the liberal arts, have partnered to create a sense of community and connection that will help people during this challenging time.
Here’s how it works. “This, this and this” hires shoppers who are motivated college students or recent graduates eager to work and make connections. Popular professional networks like LinkedIn don’t particularly cater to college students, said Jenny, who added that she and Rachel specifically designed their platform to help these young adults network and develop the leadership and interpersonal skills needed to excel.
The shoppers, better known as Go-Getters or GGs, undergo extensive individual and team training. For those who don’t qualify to be shoppers, Jenny and Rachel have created a variety of internships to help further develop the company.
“We’re a start-up and value the expertise of many of these students and graduates who have valuable skill sets,” said Jenny. For instance, there are a few students who were planning to work at Google this summer and those plans got cancelled. Instead, they built the company’s website and are in the process of developing an app.
Jenny and Rachel interview clients so they can gain a better understanding of who they are and what they are about. They inquire about details that include where they went to school, what they studied, their career and their overall vibe. This allows them to create a profile that can then be used to select a GG who they think would be the perfect fit.
“When you know the person shopping for you and they know you, it becomes an intimate experience,” said Jenny. It also leaves less room for error. All GGs openly communicate with clients they are shopping for so they purchase only what is desired.
What makes this service so unique is the kindness and dedication the GGs demonstrate towards clients. “These kids are smart and trustworthy,” said Rachel. “They know your preferences, your allergies and that new healthy diet you’re on, and they will be in touch with you every step of the way.”
“This, this and this” gives clients the opportunity to talk to their shoppers while they are in the store. If a product is out of stock, the GG will text or call you with other available options, giving you full decision-making ability on what you get, unlike most delivery platforms, which add substitutions at their own discretion.
Especially now when people are experiencing heightened anxiety, there is a certain level of comfort that comes with knowing your food has been selected and handled carefully and cautiously. “People are feeling particularly vulnerable during this tentative time and self-care is one of the few things we really have control of,” said Rachel. The food we collect and consume plays a large part in how we feel.
Besides grocery shopping at any store a client requests, they are happy to do errands for you. Your GG can go to CVS, Home Depot, Petco and even pick up Starbucks and a bagel for you on the way back. Once you receive a picture of your receipt, you can Venmo, Apple Pay or Zelle the amount owed plus any tip, which goes directly to the GG.
All GGs follow strict COVID-19 protocols, which include wearing gloves and masks when shopping. They change their gloves when leaving the store, and put on new ones when bringing your bags out.
According to Jenny and Rachel, the feedback has been outstanding. One satisfied client wrote “Thank you this, this, and this! You have taken the stress out of the delivery service process for me and my family during these challenging times. As a household with immuno-compromised family members, we have become reliant on having our groceries and other items delivered. To have a standing weekly delivery date and the same smart, reliable ‘go-getter’ shopping for us each week has put my mind at ease. Rachel and Jenny are amazing people who are focused on providing personalized service to the families they serve as well as protecting the health and well-being of their GGs.”
The mother-daughter team are constantly recruiting more kids who are enthusiastic and eager to help others. As the company expands throughout the northeast, Jenny and Rachel are grateful for the opportunity to infuse the delivery world with excellent service and some much-needed humanity.
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram at “this, this and this.” For more information, please visit www.thisthisandthis.com, email [email protected] or call 914-309-9532.
By Andrea Nissel
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