Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Duncan.
Hi Toni, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started in 2001, I had gotten laid off from work and just sitting around the house. Friends and family began asking me to do things for them, pick up items, be at their house for delivery, or something needed to be fixed and wanted me to wait for the repair person so they didn’t have to take off of work. I started thinking….. I could make money doing this. I started doing research and found that this type of service was being offered at larger companies for employees as incentives for working long hours on projects, etc. I continued a little more research and realized, I could do this with little overhead and startup cost. I thought about a name and what it is that I really wanted to do for others and came up with Lifting the Burden Errand Service. I wanted to lift people’s burdens. Even though it is a for-profit business; it would still be a business where we served others. Then came the tag line…. “where we make your load a lil bit lighter”. I created a website, pricing structure and I was off. A few months after launching, I got my first corporate client. As the business continued to grow, the services we offered began to expand and it was about 2014 one of my friends/clients said… “your business is not just errands; it’s a concierge business.” I was like you know, you are absolutely correct. So, in 2014 I changed the name to Lifting the Burden Errand & Concierge Service and went through a re-branded. Little did I know that this simple thing would catapult me into a different level of business and attract a totally different clientele. Fast forward to 2022, we now serve the Houston, Dallas, and Tyler areas with boots on the ground and have clients in Los Angeles, New York, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Denver, Atlanta, and a few other cities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. I’ve experienced my fair share of struggles from… not being able to find dependable staff, establishing brand recognition, consistent business and revenue. I have faced the same struggles as most small businesses face. As a small business owner, you shoulder the burden of the entire business. It’s somewhat of an oxymoron – to say that I want to lighten the load of other people and businesses while carrying a relatively heavy load myself. One of the greatest struggles is having a full staff of people and outstanding invoices and having to cover payroll. It is one of the worse feelings you can have and that is to have the livelihood of others in your hand.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lifting the Burden Errand & Concierge Service ?
At Lifting the Burden, our mission is to lighten the load of busy professionals, busy moms and seniors who just need an extra set of hands to get it all done. We allow you to handle the things that need your attention most, like family. We do most things from general errands, grocery shopping, laundry pick-up and drop-off, postal runs, and taking your car to be serviced, you name it, we more than likely can do it. We work with a host of Corporate Housing clients to prepare for their client’s move-in, we offer employee incentive services as a program for businesses.
I believe what sets us apart from others is first our longevity in business. We are approaching our 21st year in business… when people use our service and then call us 3-4 years later and realize we are still in business; not only are they surprised but pleased. Also, our professionalism. We exhibit the highest level of professionalism in how we interact with our clients from the errand runners to billing. Our technology also sets us apart from others. We offer online scheduling, so that clients can schedule what they need from the ease of their iPhone, iPad or laptop. They can also call, and someone will always answer – we have a 24-hour answering service; so they get to speak with a human. Then all of our billing is done online, no having to exchange cash, write a check or wait for a bill in the mail. We offer all of our clients the ease of paying online.
I would like our readers to know that Lifting the Burden is here to make your life easier, so that they can enjoy and have time for the things that matter to them. If you have never used an errand or concierge service, get ready for your life to change. Not only do we lighten your load but we give you a feeling of accomplishment.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Good question… the most important lesson I have learned is that life is short and it’s important to embrace and pursue your dreams and be fierce about it. You will meet all types of people along your journey and remember to treat everyone with respect and kindness. It only takes one person, one connection to position you for success. Remember, your reputation is all that you have.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifting-the-burden.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftingtheburden
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiftingtheBurden
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/liftntheburden.com
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/epTEny3S0pb
- Other: www.instabio.cc/liftingtheburden
Image Credits
Calvin Brown Photography
