Blumenfeld’s ‘Errand Girl’ Tackles Tiresome Tasks

I started out as a teacher and taught for 12 years at Fayetteville High School. I got extremely burned out and the doctor told me I wasn’t very healthy. I had to figure out what I was going to do because I always thought I was going to be a teacher.

I knew I wanted to work for myself. I figured that was the way to deal with the stress. I like to grocery shop, I really do, and most people don’t.

I went online and started researching bigger cities and what they do and I just made it up. It was 10 years ago and I don’t have a clue how I came up with ‘The Errand Girl’ name. It was just there and I love it.

It fits me and I’ve kept adding services over the years – whatever people want. I love my older clients. After two or three years I realized I needed more help and I even have two ‘Errand Boys’ now.

I noticed a lot of the services in bigger cities are also mobile notaries, so I got my license for that reason and have gotten a lot of work from out-of-state mortgage brokers who found me on the Internet.

The first year, I did every kind of advertising you could do except the phone book, because it was after the deadline. I did newspaper ads, passed out flyers and I would park my vehicle in high-traffic areas during the day.

I did go to the Small Business Development Center and they helped me with my pricing and advertising. They said I need three friends: a CPA, an attorney and an insurance agent. I didn’t need any financing to start up because I had saved a year’s salary and I sold my Wal-Mart stock to buy a minivan to replace my two-seat sports car. I drive 40,000 miles a year.

I’ve always managed money well and been very organized, which helped me because I don’t have a business background. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years and it’s been really successful.

I work hard, but I have a good life.