Simplify and support local businesses. This was the vision of Stacy Kazos nearly a year ago when she launched “TheMarketDelivers.com”.

Stacy had been a consumer of delivery services for nearly a year as she self-isolated from March 15, 2020, until early 2021 as a result of the pandemic. “I did not leave the house – not once,” she said.  

As a result, she had everything delivered. While casual users of delivery services may not have noticed, Stacy’s full reliance helped her to identify some ways in which this vital service could be improved. “I noticed that many of the delivery services were acting more like couriers or package delivery, rather than representatives of the businesses for which they were delivering. It didn’t seem like they took the care someone connected to the business would if they were delivering their goods,” she explained.

“As I started to learn more, I became aware that some national delivery services don’t even ask the restaurants they deliver for to participate. They purchase menus from other businesses that scour the web looking for any restaurant that delivers. Then they put those menus on the service app. When people order through those apps, the order is actually going to the delivery service who then places an order at the restaurant.” As Stacy learned this, she became aware of another problem with such services – at times, the restaurant would not even know their food was being delivered.  What they received was a take-out order that was picked up by someone. “So when they would get a call from a customer upset about something on a delivery, they didn’t know what to do because they didn’t provide delivery.”

Seeing an opportunity to simplify the process and provide a service to local restaurants, Stacy tweaked the system. The Market Delivers focuses on local business only – beginning first with restaurants and now including a few unique goods as well.

Before listing a local restaurant on her website, Stacy personally engages with the owner to ask permission to partner with them. She makes sure they approve a menu before it’s posted to have it current and include only items that maintain quality when delivered. She currently partners with 50 businesses.

“I think we all recognize that delivery is more popular now, providing an additional revenue stream for businesses. I wanted to find a way to help them maintain that service while keeping their focus on the food preparation,” Stacy explained. “By partnering with us, they don’t have to hire delivery drivers, buy and insure extra vehicles, etc.  And we provide the service at a low enough cost that they value this tradeoff.”

Kazos focuses on supporting local causes and businesses. Customers can round up to the next dollar with the change directed to Noah’s Hope, a local animal charity. She has also partnered with TAGG Siouxland and provides a donation to the charity of consumer’s choice via their app. She also looks for opportunities to support charities such as delivering Siouxland Humane Society Gourmet Apples during their fundraiser.

“Keeping it local,” is the consistent message throughout her business strategy, and Stacy sees more opportunities on the horizon. “At some point, I’d like people to think of The Market Delivers instead of Amazon when they want to make a purchase. I’m slowly building the platform that features only local options to help people have both the convenience they want and keep the businesses local,” she said.  TheMarketDelivers currently has options for purchases from a dog bakery, a bison ranch, Sioux City Gifts, and the long list of local restaurants.

“I really just wanted to make it simple for people to shop local and for local businesses to provide delivery,” she summarized. Sometimes impactful ideas are not complicated.

To check out the options for delivery, go to The Market Delivers on Facebook, TheMarketDelivers.com, or download their app.

By Dr. Cyndi Hanson