 Busy parents, stressed out professionals, relaxing retirees and those just interested in going greener in the Wyoming Valley have a new option when it comes to delivery and transportation – eCoCarts.
The brainchild of James Abrams, eCoCarts is a new, local company with a vision: “to use eco-friendly technology and innovation to connect our customers with the communities they live in by providing delivery of their favorite products through eCoToGo and transportation through eCoCarts.”
Abrams, who was born and raised locally, came up with the concept during a conversation with his grandparents about two years ago. They were discussing the ‘old days’ and how products were delivered. Abrams’s grandparents warmly recalled the milkman and the bread man bringing fresh products to his door. Abrams realized this was an idea for the 21st century, updated, of course. Today Abrams stresses the need for ‘ease of use, accuracy and access’ for product delivery and eCoCarts will be accessible through phone, text, Internet, facebook, and more.
Currently, eCoCarts employs six people who do everything from driving and business development, to marketing and finance.
“We’re hoping to grow the company in a meaningful and sustainable manner,” said Abrams, who would like to see eCoCarts expand to ten different markets, including State College and Scranton in the next few years.
There are two parts to the company –eCoCarts, which provides free transportation using green vehicles; and eCoToGo, a delivery service, also employing environmentally friendly technology.
In zero emission, all-electric vehicles, eCoCarts provides direct transportation from Point A to Point B in Plains, Wilkes-Barre Township, Wilkes-Barre, Hanover Industrial Park, and the entire West Side. Watch for the white, blue and green cars to cruise through your community. Reserve a ride in an Ecocart for free transportation around town, and help the earth and economy in one trip.
“The free rides in eCoCarts are based on the NASCAR model,” quipped Abrams. “Our environmentally-friendly vehicles will provide advertising for interested partners. As they drive throughout the community, the ads will receive a greater number of impressions, while the vehicles provide green technology for the community.”
The delivery arm of eCoCarts, eCoToGo, will allow you to order food from your favorite restaurant and grocery store online. An eCoCart will deliver your order to your door when it’s ready. Current partners include The Bakehouse, Dino’s, Peking Chef, Ollie’s, LaTolteca and The Chicken Coop, but Abrams is working to expand the list.
“We’ve met with many restaurants, however I think the quality and variety of our restaurants is second to none. Not only do we have to find partners whose product meets our expectations, they also have to provide meals in a timely manner.”
The concept is environmental not only in the types of vehicles that are used, but also in the fact that eCotoGo will reduce the number of delivery vehicles on the road.
“This is a great opportunity for small businesses thinking about getting into delivery or that need a courier service. Through our fleet of drivers and vehicles, our internet system and dispatch, we take the headaches out of the delivery business – freeing small business owners from worrying about, ‘Did the driver show up? How high are gas prices? And how do I get the customers’ orders? We offer technology solutions for small businesses.” Abrams explained.
Delivery will cost as little as one dollar per order and is paid online with the order through credit card or check card. Gift cards are a consideration for the future.
A typical lunch delivery may mean that a downtown Wilkes-Barre worker will log onto www.myecocart.com about a half hour before her lunch break. She can peruse the menu and click to order her lunch. About thirty minutes later, her meal will be delivered and she can enjoy a few extra minutes of free time.
eCoToGo is also working with grocers and dry cleaners to meet community needs.
“We want to be able to deliver the products that people have come to know. Our focus is on ‘hyper-local,” Abrams explained.
Law firms, accountants, architects and other professionals can also make use of eCoCarts’ courier service. Abrams states, “Through our closed-loop system we can take care of all the logistics, from dispatch to delivery.”
Abrams credits his community-mindedness to his family and his mentor, Father Ryan, the new president of King’s College.
“They taught us at King’s not just to learn how to make a living, but to learn how to live,” he said.
Abrams hopes that eCoCarts, connecting the community environmentally, helps us all live better.
“At the end of the day, it’s about building meaningful relationships through customer satisfaction. We want to under-
promise and over-deliver, literally.”
|
