on demand apps sharing economy

Softbank’s Billion Dollar Grab, Lyft Scoots, And Uber Goes E-Biking

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This Week In On Demand – Dec. 29, 2018

The holiday season only seems to up the ante in the world of on demand. From food hustles to scooter hauls, here’s your rundown of the latest side hustle happenings.

Delivery Hero Earns $1.1 Billion for Germany Market

Late last week, Delivery Hero announced it reached a $1.1 billion deal with rival Takeaway.com for the former’s entire German operation. The agreement covers all of Delivery Heros direct services as well as their subsidies in the region.

The deal was split between cash remittance and an 18 percent shareholding transfer. Additionally, Delivery Hero will maintain a seat on the Takeaway.com board as long as they own at least 10 percent of the shares.

The move comes as the European food-delivery market becomes increasingly saturated. Some of the biggest competitors include top-performers like UK-based Deliveroo, as well as Uber Eats, which is reportedly pushing to triple its delivery fleet. Despite the sale, however, Delivery Hero is still a powerful force with over 40 markets worldwide.

SoftBank Continues On Demand Spree With Grab

SoftBank has become the go to investment bank for on demand companies around the globe.

Last Thursday, news broke the the company was planning to invest $1 billion in Grab. The Singapore-based ride-sharing company has shown rapid growth in Southeast Asia over the past year, beginning with their defeat of Uber in the market.

Once finalized, Grab joins other Asian-based companies that caught the eye of the Toyko-based investor in 2018.

SoftBank made investments in Coupang, OYO, and Ola this year, the latter of which made their own $100 million backing in Voga Lands last week. On the international level, the company provided funding for Uber and Fair — a deal finalized only a week ago.

Uber Hit With French Fine and Sets Sights on Rapid E-Bike Expansion

A 2016 data breach continues to hit Uber’s pockets. On Thursday, the business was fined $460,000 by the French CNIL agency for the handling and alleged attempted coverup of the incident.

Reportedly, 1.4 million French customers were impacted by the hacking event. In November, Uber was fined $1.17 million by the UK and Netherlands governments following an investigation into the breach. While there were substantially fewer users affected in the U.S., the company settled for a $148 million payout to state municipalities.

While the fines are quickly adding up, the situation doesn’t seem to be phasing Uber. Days after revealing their new Jump e-bike model, news broke that the company had ordered around 8,000 new bikes.

A report from Ocean Audit showcased the on demand company’s U.S.-bound shipments from China all occurred within a two-week period in December. While it’s likely in an effort to avoid the new tariffs that start next year, the news serves to highlight Uber’s e-bike expansion goals in 2019. But the company hasn’t commented on how soon the new fleets will hit the street.

Lyft Hires John Maddox for Self-Driving Division and Chases Uber in E-Scooter Markets

It’s been a busy year for Lyft’s Level 5 self-driving division. The company recently announced the addition of John Maddox as the senior director of autonomous safety and compliance. Maddox offers an impressive resume, including previous work in vehicle safety research at the U.S. Department of Transporation. He also founded the American Center for Mobility.

Maddox’s hiring comes just weeks after the company was granted a U.S. patent for their autonomous vehicle communication system. Other big-name hires include the former senior manager of Tesla’s Autopilot Programs, Sameer Qureshi, and infrastructure engineer Cal Lankton.

They also added a new team of senior designers last week to assist with improving user-experience in various aspects of their expansion efforts, including e-bikes and e-scooters.

Speaking of scooters, Lyft has spent the last week chasing after Uber’s expansion efforts. First, Uber announced the debut of its Jump scooter program in Atlanta and San Diego. Within 24 hours, Lyft shared their own plans to launch dockless scooters in San Diego, and within 48 hours, they were also entering the Atlanta market.

While the companies are known for rideshare services, both Uber and Lyft are quickly working to expand their transportation offerings. The latest push for scooter domination comes as the two brands push toward their 2019 IPOs. The closer they get to the public market, the tighter the race becomes.

That’s it for your last side hustle rundown for 2018. Check back in the new year to find out what excitement 2019 holds for the on demand ecosystem.

 

new years eve uber lyft

Driving Uber Or Lyft On New Year’s Eve – Driver Pro Tips

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Driving for Uber or Lyft on New Year’s Eve 2018 should result in good, but not spectacular money.

In most markets, if you start in the early evening and drive until a few hours after midnight, you’ll probably make more money than you would on a busy weekend night in your market.

Driving Lyft Or Uber On New Year’s Eve Is Not What It Used To Be

However, the days when all of us could go out on New Year’s and make $700 – $1000 are over.

In fact, the last New Year’s Eve when drivers really cleaned up was in 2014.

That year, a lot of Lyft and UberX drivers cleared well over $500 in a few hours, and many of those who started earlier topped $1000.

On the other hand, New Year’s Eve 2015 was a disaster for drivers in most Uber and Lyft markets. Both companies hyped the evening too heavily. In 2014, both companies surged like crazy on New Year’s and a lot of people complained.

In order to avoid that, Lyft and Uber wanted to have as many drivers on the road as possible for New Years 2015. Unfortunately, it worked. On New Year’s Eve 2015, it seemed like every single Lyft and Uber driver in the world was on the road, and very few drivers made a lot of money.

The next year, both companies learned from their 2015 mistake. In 2016, Lyft and Uber hyped New Year’s, but not as much as the year before.

As a result, most drivers did well, but those that were expecting to make $500 in the hours after midnight were pretty disappointed.

Uber And Lyft Passengers Got Smarter In 2016

In 2016, customers became more patient and waited until the post midnight Surge and Prime Time rush to die down.

Even so, in a lot of the larger markets, many experienced drivers who drove a full shift (8 hour or more) cleared over $500.

In 2017 though, it became clear that making $500 on New Year’s Eve driving Lyft or Uber was not going to happen except in the busiest and most expensive markets. Even then, it was only really possible if you started in the early evening and drove for 8 – 10 hours.

However, as always, drivers who were driving an XL, Black, or Lux vehicle earned more. On New Year’s, people like to live it up, and that often means opting for the fancier ride.

People also go out in large groups on New Year’s Eve, so it’s usually a pretty good night if you drive an Uber or Lyft XL vehicle.

What To Expect Driving For Lyft Or Uber On New Year’s Eve 2018

If you Drive With Lyft and Uber on New Year’s Eve 2018, expect it to be similar to 2017.

In most markets, if you drive a full shift starting in the afternoon around 4pm, you should be able to make in the $250 – $500 range, depending on how late, and where you drive.

Business should be relatively steady, and both Lyft and Uber are offering guarantees and incentives in a number of markets.

However, Keep In Mind New Year’s Eve Has Lulls

Don’t expect it to be too busy between 10pm and 12:30am. Between 8pm and 10, most people are where they want to be at midnight or on their way there. If they’re not, they’ll be close to where they want to be, so expect a lot of quick, short rides.

Uber Lyft Driving New Years Eve

 

If you’re going to drive Uber or Lyft on New Year’s Eve this year, here’s a few tips to help you have a profitable, and relatively stress free evening.

Drive Prepared – What To Have In Your Car

On New Year’s Eve, people will be drunk (especially later in the evening), so be sure to keep the following items in your car:

  • paper towels
  • plastic bags or CareBags
  • Clorox wipes

Now, in all likelihood, you won’t need the items above. However, if by chance someone gets sick (and you’re not able to pull over in time), you’ll want something for them to get sick in.

Normally, I don’t keep CareBags in plain view of riders, but on New Year’s around 9pm, I stick them in the pockets behind the front seats. That way, the riders know that if they’re feeling sick, they can grab the vomit bag sitting right in front of them.

In general, your passengers will be in a pretty festive mood. However, later in the evening, you may run into some passengers who aren’t having a great New Year’s. So, if you want to be realistic, expect a little bit of drama, and maybe an occasional crying passenger later in the evening.

People generally have a really good time, or a really bad time on New Year’s, and you’ll probably run into examples of both. However, the payoff for the drama from people who are having a crappy new year is that you’ll be making good money.

What To Expect Driving For Uber Or Lyft – New Year’s Eve Daytime

I’ve driven during the day on New Year’s Eve multiple times, and it’s generally pretty steady, but nowhere near as busy as the evening. Although I have even done a couple of airport runs on December 31st, you should expect a lot of short trips mostly.

People will be headed to the grocery store, or to their friends, but that’s about it. It’s not a big shopping day, and not a big commuter day. However, traffic will be very light, so it’s easy to get a lot of rides done in a quick and efficient manner.

What To Expect Driving For Uber Or Lyft – New Year’s Eve Late Afternoon And Early Evening (4PM – 10PM)

Starting around 4pm, it should start getting increasingly busy. At this point, it will be like any other weekend evening, although many people will be dressed a lot nicer. Earlier in the evening, you’ll be taking people to friends places for New Year’s Eve pregame. Starting around 5:30pm, you’ll be dropping people off at restaurants and hotels mostly. Business should be brisk until around 10PM. At that point, things will likely slow to a crawl. This is when you take your break. Get a coffee, go to the bathroom, eat a quick bite, and relax for a little bit.

NYE Drama Generally Starts After Midnight

Be prepared for at least one passenger who didn’t have a good New Year’s. In general, these passengers will just be looking for a sympathetic ear, and won’t be very troublesome.

What To Expect – New Year’s – After Midnight

About twenty to thirty minutes after midnight, you should start getting requests. Some drivers actually go offline at midnight, and come back online around 12:15am – 12:30am.

Surge and Prime Time guarantees will likely be in effect at this time. Expect to be busy until about 3:00 – 4:00am in most markets.

Of course, you will very likely have some intoxicated passengers. However, it’s usually not an issue. If a passenger gets sick, take many pictures, submit it for a cleaning fee, and decide whether to call it a night, or get back on the road.

Should You Drive Uber Or Lyft On New Year’s Eve?

It’s your choice. If you do, you’ll make money. However, don’t go out thinking you’re going to be able to pay a month’s rent in one night. Sure, it could happen, but it’s not likely. That being said, your earnings should be higher than a regular weekend evening. And who knows, you may actually have fun and meet some nice people.

One Final Tip

While you should always drive defensively, it’s even more important on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, there are many idiots in our world, and some of them are going to drink and drive on New Year’s Eve. So, always be aware of your surroundings, and constantly scan the road ahead, and check your mirrors.

Drive with a little extra caution, and you should be fine.

If you plan on driving for Lyft or Uber this New Year’s Eve, hopefully this guide helps you a bit.

Best of luck out there and have a very Happy New Year and a wonderful 2019.

Stay safe and drive profitably!

 

Choosing The Right Ride-Sharing Service For Your Car

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There may only be two major ride-sharing services in most cities, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to figure them out as a prospective driver. Both Uber and Lyft offer enough different tiers of services to make your head spin, and it sometimes isn’t entirely clear which types of rides you’re eligible to offer with your vehicle. That’s why we’ve put together an infographic to help you make sense of things:


In both cases, Lyft and Uber’s different ride types are based primarily on capacity, luxury, and type of vehicle. They actually have a lot more in common than you might expect. To drive for either, your vehicle must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Not older than 15 years. Note that there is some variation in this depending on what city you’re in.
  • Your vehicle must have four doors, and must be able to safely transport a minimum of four passengers, in addition to the driver.
  • Your vehicle must be in good condition, with no major cosmetic damage or missing parts. In Uber’s case, it also needs to be void of commercial branding, and cannot resemble a taxi.
  • For Uber & Lyft, your vehicle’s title cannot have been salvaged, reconstructed, or rebuilt at any point in the past.

Each tier of the two ride-sharing services also has its own requirements. The highest tier for Lyft is Lyft Lux Black XL, open only to certain brands of SUV capable of comfortably seating up to 6 passengers. Uber has a similar service, UberBlack SUV, with similar requirements.

The infographic, shown below, goes through all of these tiers in a bit more detail.

Food delivery services such as DoorDash – a great way to supplement your income as an Uber or Lyft driver – are a bit of an outlier. They have no real requirements for your vehicle. As long as it’s road-safe and runs properly, it qualifies. You can even use a motorcycle or scooter, and in some markets, you can bike or deliver on foot.

As a driver, it can be a bit confusing sifting through all the different tiers offered by ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber. We hope this infographic helped you better understand them, and we look forward to seeing you on the road.

Dallas Uber & Lyft Driver Guide

Dallas Lyft & Uber Driver Guide

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The Dallas-Fort Worth area is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, and the city of Dallas itself is the ninth most populous city in the country.

With big city living comes plenty of opportunities for people who are comfortable navigating the Dallas area to make some extra cash as a Lyft or Uber driver.

Whether you’re driving to replace your full-time job or just driving Lyft or Uber as a side gig, you’re going to need to know the ins and outs of the city if you want to maximize your time and earnings. Use the tips below as a starting point for making the most of your rideshare driving experience in Dallas.

Best Places to Drive Lyft & Uber in Dallas

During the weekday, Lyft and Uber drivers will get a lot of commuter and airport requests in the Dallas and North Dallas areas.

Here are some of the Dallas Uber & Lyft hotspots that often have the most rideshare traffic during peak times:

  • Dallas Core — This includes American Airlines Center (ACC), the Arts District, Downtown, Lower Greenville, Oak Lawn, Uptown, and University Park.
  • Addison — There’s often demand from Addison to downtown Dallas and back.
  • Grand Prairie — In the Grand Prairie area, there is a lot of rider demand for the Verizon Theatre and Lone Star Park during events.
  • Plano/Frisco — If you’re driving in the Plano or Frisco areas, you’ll find the most traffic near Dr. Pepper Ballpark, Toyota Stadium, and the Shops at Legacy.
  • Universities — There is also high demand in the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University areas.

Many Lyft and Uber drivers in Dallas will often get rides to and from Fort Worth and other mid-sized cities with high weekday rush hour demand.

Weekend nights also have high demand for different popular nightlife spots. Here are some areas with the highest rider traffic:

  • Fort Worth — W 7th Street, Houston Avenue, and Stockyards.
  • Texas Christian University — Near the University and surrounding restaurants, bars, etc.
  • Arlington — AT&T Stadium and UTA area.
  • Denton — Denton Square, Fry Street, and the UNT area.
Lyft & Uber Driver Guide Fort Worth
Image Credit: T photography / Shutterstock.com

 

Best Times to Drive Lyft & Uber in Dallas

If you want to maximize your earnings and get the most out of your experience driving for Lyft or Uber, you’ll want to try to drive during the busiest times of the day. The best times to drive Lyft and Uber in Dallas are very similar to other major metropolitan areas:

  • Weekday Morning Rush Hour: From 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., many people in Dallas are heading to work from the outlying suburbs. Some Dallas commuters prefer to take an Uber or Lyft to avoid high parking fees, especially in the downtown area.
  • Weekday Afternoon Rush Hour: Commuters are heading home from work between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Again, many people want to avoid the stress of driving in Dallas traffic and the parking fees that come along with working downtown.
  • Busiest Weekend Hours: Typically, the best time to drive during the weekend (Friday and Saturday) is from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Most people head to bars and restaurants between 8 and 10 p.m. and return home between 1 and 3 a.m.

Lyft & Uber Airport Pickups & Drop-offs: What You Need to Know

With almost 900 daily flights, the Dallas Fort Worth Airport is the third busiest airport in the world.

Dallas also has Love Field Airport, which is located northwest of downtown and frequently used by those who fly into Dallas often. With these two prominent airports located in the Dallas city limits, there’s a good chance you’ll be dropping off and picking up riders there often.

Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW)

The DFW Airport requires that rideshare drivers display an airport vehicle decal when picking up and dropping off passengers.

You can get this free airport decal from the Ground Transportation Office at DFW (2444 East 30th St.). When applying for the decal, choose “Pre-Arranged” for the DFW Decal Type and Operating Authority Type.

Both Lyft and Uber drivers can drop off riders at the departures area of the terminal. For pick-ups, both rideshare apps work on a first-in, first-out basis, meaning those who arrive at the staging lot first will be the first to receive ride requests.

Both the Uber and Lyft staging lots are located at Terminal A. This is where you will wait for a ride request. Once you receive a ride request, you’ll proceed to the correct terminal.

Uber Driver Guide Dallas
Image credit: CaseyMartin / Shutterstock.com

 

Uber has two special features important to know about when picking up and dropping off riders at DFW:

  • Pre-Match — Pre-Match prompts drivers in the staging lot to head toward the airport terminal a few minutes before they get a ride request to help minimize idle time.
  • Rematch — The Rematch feature helps drivers who have just dropped off a rider at the airport quickly get a pick-up request without waiting in the airport queue.

Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)

As with DFW, riders who are heading to the Dallas Love Field Airport can be dropped off at the departures area of the airport.

If drivers want to be eligible to pick up another rider at the airport, they will need to keep the Lyft or Uber app open and proceed to the DAL staging area, which is located at the Ground Transportation area near the airport entrance. You can wait in any of the areas on Ansley, Hawes, or Aubrey Avenues.

Pickups at the DAL airport are also on a first-in, first-out basis. Drivers who are first in the queue once in the staging area will be the first to receive ride requests. If there are no drivers in the staging lot, then the pick-up requests will go to other drivers in the area.

Dallas Lyft & Uber Driving Tips and Shortcuts

Getting the most of your rideshare driving experience means knowing how to navigate the Dallas area. Most ride requests come in during the busiest traffic times of the day, so it’s important to know your route ahead of time and check traffic before you leave. Not only will you be able to work more efficiently and pick up more riders, but your riders will appreciate your ability to get them to their destinations promptly.

Here are just a few driving tips and shortcuts for Dallas drivers:

  • Avoid gridlock on the Central Expressway and Dallas North Tollway by taking Preston Road.
  • When traveling northeast from downtown, take Live Oak rather than Gaston or Ross, as it has more lanes and generally less traffic.
  • When I-30 is backed up to downtown, take Elm Street if going west or Commerce Street if going east through the canyons and Deep Ellum.
  • If you’re traveling from East Dallas to Oak Cliff, avoid I-30 by taking Columbia Avenue, which will eventually get you to South Houston Street and the North Zang Boulevard Bridge.
  • When trying to get north from Oak Cliff, you can take the Houston/Jefferson viaducts to downtown or Sylvan to I-30 when 35E and the Mixmaster are congested.
  • To get to DFW quicker, take the Northwest Highway heading west until it ends.

Any Lyft or Uber driver can use the tips above to get the most out of their experience by minimizing idle time and maximizing earnings.

The more efficiently you work and more riders you pick up during a shift, the more money you stand to make. And remember, you can work for both Lyft and Uber. In fact, most Dallas rideshare drivers check both apps to take advantage of higher rider demand and fares throughout the week.

 

Airbnb Booking Tips

Ten Tips For Booking Your Next Airbnb

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Looking to get away?

Wherever you’re booking your next dream trip, the most important element will be your lodging.

Optimize your Airbnb experience with these helpful tips to make sure you get the most out of your Airbnb:

1. Envision Your Ideal Airbnb

If you’re getting the travel bug, start by making a list of the kinds of cities, neighborhoods, and homes you’d like to stay in.

Add details to your list like “walking distance to beach” or “clean and pet-free.” Having an idea of what you’re looking for when it comes to lodging will speed you along your Airbnb search as you narrow down your choices.

Use filters to refine your search to exactly what you’re looking for, such as Entire home, Private room, and Shared room options. Prices will vary for these different options, so be sure to assess your budget.

Airbnb booking tips
Use Airbnb filters to narrow your search.

 

2. Reviews, Reviews, Reviews!

Reviews are the single most helpful tool in making an informed Airbnb decision.

Think about it like any other good or service. If you are looking to make a major online purchase, you want to know what you’re getting before you hit that purchase button.

Take a closer look at how many reviews a place has and check for commentary on the hosts, how well the place was kept, and anything out of the ordinary.

Keep in mind there may be a bad 1-star review or two, as some guests’ expectations may not have fit the host or their home. This isn’t the host’s fault.

However, be warned: if the spot has multiple 1-star reviews with negative comments, it may be time to move on to the next search.

3. Check for Deal Breakers

It can be tempting to book a place after seeing a beautiful photo of a rustic old brick building just steps from the River Thames, but hold up!

Get a closer look at the fine print. If a listing only has a few photos, proceed with caution. Be sure to read through the entire listing during your search. Grab a notepad and jot down any pros and cons.

For example, are you cool with the house rules of being home by 9 p.m.? Are they Wi-Fi accessible? If something doesn’t work for you, keep searching. The more you can learn about a place the better. Leave no stone (or photograph) unturned!

4. Plan Ahead

To decrease your stress levels and save a buck, plan your trip in advance; typically, a month or more is ideal.

However, if you do find yourself in a jam, Airbnb offers an “Instant Book” option that will allow you to book a place the same day, without having to wait for a host approval.

5. Do Your Homework

Location can make or break your dream getaway.

When looking on the map on a profile, you will find a radius of the area. If you’re not sure what this area looks like, drop a pin on Google Maps for a street view. Pay attention to the surrounding shops and conditions of the homes. Remember, it’s not just the inside that matters!

Be on the lookout for metro or bus stations if you plan on traveling by foot, or street parking if you are going by car. Ask yourself if you’d feel safe in the area.

6. Communication Is Key

Before booking, reach out to the host for questions you have about their listing. A good host will respond in under 24 hours. If the host takes too long to respond, that may be a red flag.

Keep the communication channels open by updating the host about when you plan on arriving and if anything changes. Consider asking if the host drinks a certain beverage and pick it up on the way over. Happy host = happy guest!

Airbnb guest booking tips
Image credit: Song_about_summer / Shutterstock.com

 

7. Go Local

If you are traveling internationally, look for a local host who has lived in the area a while.

This can take your stay from run-of-the-mill tourist locale to intimate and authentic getaway. Drop them a line and ask if they are local or have any recommendations.

8. Make a Wish List (And Check It Twice)

To save time and make your search more effective, utilize the Wish List feature. This allows you to click “Save” and assign the listing to a wish list.

You can check back on your favorites at any time and compare all your selections side by side.

Hack: Google other people’s wish lists! Simply type “[YOUR DESTINATION] Airbnb Wish List” into your search engine et voila! Your searching just got a whole lot easier.

9. Additional Fees

Before you click the “Request to Book” button, be sure to review the cost breakdown at check-out.

  • Nightly price: Nightly rate is determined by the host and is non-negotiable.
  • Cleaning fee: Occasionally a host will ask for a one-time fee to cover the cost of keeping up the space. This will be listed under the “Prices” section.
  • Extra guest fee: Some hosts will charge an additional fee per extra person staying. Be sure to enter the amount of people you expect to stay at the beginning of your search to avoid seeing a drastic price increase at check-out.
  • Airbnb service fee: Airbnb charges 5-15% of the subtotal at check-out for all reservations. This price will fluctuate depending on the amount of days you are staying and when.

10. Use Airbnb’s Secure Site

If you’re ready to choose your dream spot, “Request to Book” and proceed to payment through the Airbnb site. Even if you are tempted to pay in cash to avoid fees, this leads to trouble down the line if anything unexpected happens. Payments through the site are secure and will save you hassles. If a host tries to have you pay off the site, think twice before booking with them.

Stay informed and have a safe trip! And be sure to check out our Airbnb Hosting Guide.

 

Join Airbnb

 

 

Stella Dot Stylist Sign Up

Stella & Dot – How Does It Work And Should I Sign Up?

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Stella and Dot is a bit different from other online selling portals like Poshmark in that it requires some upfront capital. Stylists are required to purchase a Starter Kit ($199), not unlike an Avon salesperson would.

Once you enroll as a Stella and Dot Stylist, you’ll earn money by selling its original brand of jewelry, bags, hats, sunglasses, and other accessories. You’ll find that most of the jewelry is not quite fine jewelry, but a grade above costume jewelry.

However, there are a few pieces made from 24- and 14-karat gold, sterling silver, and semi-precious stones.

The brand is tasteful, as well as versatile, making it suitable for a variety of situations. The majority of items are listed below $50 and are popular enough that they have a small celebrity following.

The Stella & Dot Basics

How It Works

Sales are commission-based, earning each stylist 25 to 35 percent on each piece of jewelry sold.

You’ll start off earning a 25 percent commission on pieces sold, which slides up to 30 percent if you sell over $2,500 worth of merchandise, then 32 percent for over $5,000, and 35 percent for $10,000 or more in a single month.

You’ll earn even more from sales made by referrals who become Stella and Dot stylists.

Commission rates will vary depending on your current stylist rank and monthly sales total. The program offers many incentives and bonuses for qualifying performers.

An added perk is that as a stylist, you’ll receive 50 percent off of any jewelry you want to personally purchase, in addition to what was already included in your starter kit.

Who Is Stella & Dot?

The company’s leaders are Jessica Herrin (CEO and Founder) and Blythe Harris (Chief Creative Officer).

 

Their brand message for Stella and Dot is:

“We created Stella & Dot so women can make their own choices, run their own business, and have what matters most. Every purchase supports an independent woman in business, her local community, and Stella and Dot’s greater goal to create flexible income for women around the world. That’s fashion you can feel good about.”

Where?

Stella and Dot’s award-winning design team crafts all of its pieces in New York City and Sausalito, California – the company’s headquarters, where Jessica, Blythe, and the rest of the team can be found obsessing over the meticulous details like “creating custom facets for each stone, beading by hand, and fabricating unique metal components” that are one-of-a-kind.

Company History

After several years of local trunk shows and working out of her home from 2003 to 2005, Jessica grew her jewelry company to bring in $1 million in sales in 2006.

The next year, she decided to assemble a team, which includes esteemed advisor Mike Lohner and sales guru Danielle Redner. Soon after, Blythe Harris joined as partner and Chief Creative Officer. With her dream team in place, Jessica and Blythe re-branded the company as Stella and Dot, named after their beloved grandmothers.

In 2008, The New York Times and InStyle and Lucky magazines raved about Stella and Dot’s style, ingenuity, and rise to success. Over 1,000 flexible careers were created for dynamic women across the U.S. and Canada. Sales soared to $3.8 million.

In 2010, the growing Stylist force earned $50 million in commissions by helping others as they boosted their own careers.

Stella and Dot was then ranked the 67ᵗʰ fastest growing company in America by Inc. 500 and surpassed $100 million in sales.

In 2012, Stella and Dot expanded to the U.K. and Germany.

The company paid out over $100 million in commissions to Stylists and reached $200 million in sales.

CCO Blythe Harris also received the FGI Rising Star Award for Accessories and Stella and Dot won the ACE Award for Retail Innovation.

How to Sign Up

Head to the Stella & Dot website and select “Be A Stylist” along the top menu. From there, enter your first and last name, and your email, before creating a nickname, which is what customers will see on your profile.

Stella Dot Sign Up
Stella & Dot Sign Up Screen

 

Afterward, you will be asked to enter your sponsor’s information (only if you have one). Otherwise, you will be assigned a sponsor, who will be serving as your mentor.

After that, Stella and Dot will ask for your date of birth, Social Security number, and PayPal info — for payment purposes. Lastly, you’ll choose which starter kit you’d prefer.

The price points are $199 for $150 in bestsellers plus $350 of your own chosen jewelry; $499 for $150 in bestsellers plus $1000 of your own chosen jewelry; or $699 for $150 in bestsellers plus $1500 of your own chosen jewelry.

Starting Out

For $199, you can receive catalogs, marketing materials, a training guide, display pieces for the jewelry, and brochures for recruiting new stylists.

Stella and Dot also gives you its business app, Dottie, which lets you share the latest collections, track your business, and finish an order digitally. Plus, the company provides each stylist a personal website where customers can directly place orders.

Stella & Dot Dottie App
Stella & Dot's Dottie App

The Stella & Dot Trunk Shows

A Trunk Show is when a Stella and Dot Stylist comes to a customer’s home and brings over all the hottest new accessories for the entire party to try on. The host of a home jewelry party will earn free accessories and have fun at the same time! The more the host’s guest shop, the more freebies and half-off accessories the hostess earns.

Stella & Dot Trunk Show
Stella & Dot Trunk Show

 

A trunk show is always a nice thing to offer your customers, as long as it makes sense for you. You can also sell Stella and Dot products individually and online.

Social selling is huge right now, so it’s really easy to take parties outside of your home by setting up “events” on Facebook, inviting everyone you’re friends with, and encouraging them to invite their own friends to your event. This is great because it will allow you to sell outside your own social circle and local area.

As an added bonus, hostesses who hold these events for you can get up to 25 percent in your total sales in free Stella and Dot products.

Events

Stella and Dot’s events are meetups for sellers within the Stylist Community. You can use the community page to meet other sellers in your area, to host your own meetup, and to see and try on the latest accessories from the brand.

Stylist Levels

As you hone your selling skills, you can climb the stylist ladder. Everyone starts as a Stylist and has the chance to become an Executive Director if they get more sales.

  • Stylist (which made up 73.9 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $1,400)
  • Lead Stylist (which made up 5.1 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $1,600)
  • Associate Stylist (which made up 10.1 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $3,600)
  • Senior Stylist (which made up 3.6 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $5,700)
  • Star Stylist (which made up 4.6 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $13,700)
  • Associate Director (which made up 1.5 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $24,200)
  • Director (which made up 0.8 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $48,200)
  • Senior Director (which made up 0.2 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $86,800)
  • Star Director (which made up 0.1 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $131,400)
  • Executive Director (which made up 0.1 percent of stylists in 2017 – with an average income of $291,600)

Promoting & Social Community

Stella and Dot Stylists have coined the hashtag #stelladotstyle across many platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. Utilizing this tool to increase online visibility and directing traffic to your website is a no-brainer.

Pros vs. Cons

The pros of selling for a company like Stella and Dot are that the company remains relatively transparent in its earnings potential with a clear compensation plan. This helps keep expectations realistic as it shows that the majority of stylists make under $5,000 annually.

Stella & Dot Flex Job

 

Another benefit is that there is no sales quota to meet. Even if you begin selling, and sell just one item per year, you will still earn a 25 percent commission.

Lastly, the company is responsive regarding complaints, including 24/7 customer service and free product returns.

The biggest cons would be that the products are a bit pricey considering they carry no brand recognition and are, for the most part, not made with expensive materials. Hosting trunk shows is hard work, as is pushing products with a high price-point.

As for the pros, there is no sales quota to meet. However, this is different if you want to collect commissions on your recruited stylists.

To maintain your status and outside commissions, you must sell at least $500 of product per quarter, otherwise, the commissions from your recruits will go to another lead stylist.

Closing

While Stella and Dot does offer trendy, fun products and attentive customer support, it will still take a fair amount of effort for stylists to make a steady full time income.

Additionally, the products can be a bit pricey and require a certain demographic of customers with sufficient disposable income to afford many of the offered pieces.

That being said, if you have an eye for fashion, Stella and Dot is a great job for single parents, and others looking for flexible work that can be done from anywhere.

 

Become a Stylist!

 

 

Vogo Scooter - The Week In On Demand

Uber Jumps Higher and Instacart Is No Longer Whole

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This Week In On Demand — Dec. 21, 2018

While you prepare for a relaxing holiday break, app companies are trying to get everything crossed off their checklists before Christmas Day. Here’s what happened this week in on demand.

Vogo Lands $100 Million Investment From Ola

Early in the week, Ola announced they were investing $100 million in India scooter startup Vogo. Ola also participated in the Vogo’s Series A, but the individual investor amounts weren’t made public. Vogo’s also backed by Stellaris Venture Partners and Matrix Partners India.

For Ola, the investment is part of an on-going effort to prevent Uber from dominating the on demand transportation market in India. The country is already Uber’s second-highest grossing market in the world. With the latest investment, Ola will be able to offer Vogo scooter rentals through their rideshare app. They’ve already expanded their offerings to include bike rental and motorbike taxi hires.

Uber Unveils New Jump Bike Design, Gets Self-Driving Approval, and Loses UK Drivers’ Rights Appeal

On Tuesday, Uber showcased their new Jump e-bike model to the world. The latest generation bike is designed for increased durability and enhanced user experience, displaying retractable phone mounts and changeable batteries.

Jump Bike Uber
Uber's new Jump Bike

 

Uber acquired the bike-sharing startup in April, but their movements have been minor until recently. In November, the company launched a large fleet of e-bikes in Seattle, and now, they are reportedly preparing for mass expansions across the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.

Also this week, Uber earned approval from the state’s Department of Transportation to relaunch their self-driving program. Uber halted their autonomous vehicle tests after one of their vehicles killed an Arizona pedestrian earlier this year. Going forward, the company hopes to avoid further safety issues by having two employees in the vehicle, similar to Waymo.

While the rideshare company is making progress with their expansion efforts, Uber received a legal hit in the UK. On Wednesday, a UK appeal court upheld the 2016 ruling that Uber drivers are considered employees and not contractors. As a result, the business is required to provide benefits and meet the country’s minimum wage requirements.

It’s the second appeal they’ve lost with this case, but the fight isn’t over, as they’re expected to make an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Lyft Tussles With Keller Lenkner

It was reported last week that Lyft is facing another lawsuit. A petition was filed in San Francisco last Thursday on behalf of over 3,000 Lyft drivers. The complaint claims that the company has refused to cover private arbitration costs. Coincidentally, Uber faces a similar situation after being hit with over 12,500 driver arbitration demands early this month.

The Plaintiffs firm behind both cases, Keller Lenkner, first filed in October after approaching Lyft for settlement talks, which Lyft rebuffed.

The most recent petition comes two months after the first set of demands were filed, which was almost immediately followed by the company filing a civil suit against the plaintiffs’ law firm, Keller Lenkner.

From Reuters:

Lyft alleged that Keller Lenkner lawyer Warren Postman had been privy to confidential Lyft documents in his previous job with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Litigation Center. Postman, on behalf of the Chamber, had sued to block Seattle from adopting an ordinance that would have permitted drivers for ride-sharing companies to engage in collective bargaining with ride-sharing companies that classified them as contractors. Lyft was not a party in the Chamber case but alleged that behind the scenes, it worked closely with Postman on the case

Lyft has also faced other legal battles this year, including two class action lawsuits. A case involving driver pay was launched in May while another focused on driver categorization hit in November.

Instacart Loses Whole Foods Deal

Late last week, Instacart announced the end of its partnership with Whole Foods. The two companies signed a five-year contract in 2016, giving exclusive delivery rights to Instacart.

But Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods in 2017 created tension between the two organizations, as the online retailer has intentions of its own to conquer the grocery delivery industry. Whole Foods’ customers will now have to rely on AmazonFresh for on demand grocery service.

While the news may shock some shoppers and consumers, Instacart has been preparing for the move for months. In fact, the company slashed it’s yearly customer fee in November to become more affordable than Amazon’s Prime membership.

They also closed a $600 million investment round in October followed by a host of big-name team additions. Such steps serve as preparation for both an inevitable Amazon showdown and their anticipated IPO in 2019.

Target Expands Shipt’s Product Offerings

On Tuesday, Target announced expansion plans for its on demand delivery options through Shipt. The retailer acquired the same-day delivery service in 2017, and since then, they’ve slowly broadened their store offerings on the platform to extend outside groceries and include select basics across other departments. But starting in 2019, customers will have the ability to choose products in all major retail categories.

Target Shipt Driveup

 

While Amazon and Instacart have been sidetracked with each other, Shipt has become a more prominent player in the grocery delivery industry. Since last year’s acquisition, the service has expanded to 200 markets across 46 states. In comparison, Instacart is available in 240 markets, which means Shipt is quickly gaining ground in the industry.

That’s the biggest hits and misses from this week in on demand. Check back next week to find out what last-minute moves the top companies are making before the arrival of 2019.

 

driving uber on christmas

Driving Lyft Or Uber Around Christmas – What To Expect

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Driving around Christmas usually results in decent to good money. This year should be a little better because Christmas falls right after a weekend. Overall, business should be steady most of the time this coming weekend, with some periods of really busy ridership.

In most markets, Friday, Saturday will probably be the busiest days overall, although don’t count on the evenings being busier than a normal weekend evening.

Expect a fair number of airport runs throughout the weekend and even on Christmas Eve.

Christmas itself should be okay, but most of the driving money will be made in the days before and after Christmas

Here’s what you can expect, and how to have a successful Christmas if you choose to drive Uber or Lyft this weekend.

Driving Uber Or Lyft Christmas Week – What To Have In Your Car

This weekend you should have in your car whatever you would normally have with the one exception. On Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, keep the following items in your car:

  • paper towels
  • plastic bags
  • Clorox wipes

You’ll need these items because on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, people may be transporting food to other peoples houses. If possible, have the passenger put the food in the trunk.

Just in case, you want some paper towels around (and a plastic bag to put them in) to take care of any inadvertent spills that may occur during transport.

Better safe than sorry.

What To Expect – Driving Uber Or Lyft The Weekend Before Christmas

The whole weekend should be steady, with some busy spikes.

You should expect a fair number of airport rides as people start leaving and coming into town throughout Friday.

Saturday should be steady all day and get increasingly busy towards the evening. The morning and early afternoon should see a pretty good brunch crowd, along with a lot of shoppers.

While Friday and Saturday nights should be busy, don’t expect them to busier than an average weekend night. While a lot of people will be going out, they usually do anyways.

And for every person visiting, someone else probably left town.

Shopping areas should also be busy all weekend as people get their last minute Christmas gifts. Many people will have Monday off, so expect a busier Sunday evening than normal.

Another consequence of many people taking Monday off is that the morning commute that day won’t be super busy.

However, a lot of people will still be headed to the airport. Expect things to start getting busier around noon as even more people catch their Christmas eve flights, and people who did have to go to work, go home early.

Monday night should be steady throughout, but not overwhelming. People who stayed in town will likely be going out. People who flew in, and already need a break from their families will also be going out.

Expect A Lot Of Last Minute Shoppers

driving lyft on christmas

 

What To Expect – Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, expect to be driving around tons of last-minute shoppers. You may also get a couple of airport runs during the day. Towards the late afternoon and early evening, many of your rights will be taking people to other peoples houses for Christmas Eve get togethers.

Don’t Wait At Grocery Stores

If any passengers want you to wait while they pick up just one thing from the grocery store, politely decline.

Starting Sunday, supermarkets are going to get busy, and going in to get one or two items can wind up taking twenty minutes.

So, end the ride, and move on to the next one.

What To Expect – Christmas Day

In most markets, Christmas Day is steady (but not spectacular) in the morning and early afternoon. Business tends to die down a bit from the late afternoon until later in the evening.

In the morning, don’t be surprised if you get at least one airport run.

More and more people fly home on Christmas day, because it’s usually cheaper than flying the couple of days beforehand.

Other than that, you’ll be taking a steady stream of riders to their friends and families places to celebrate Christmas.

If you drive later in the evening, after 7 PM, you’ll have a steady stream of riders going home. Oh, and if it seems slow out, head to a multiplex.

A lot of people actually go to the movies on Christmas Day.

What To Expect – The Day After Christmas

In most markets, the day after Christmas should be decent, but not super busy. However, traffic will be light, and there will be a lot of people going to the airport.

The morning should be steady, and rush hour traffic will be lighter than normal most places. If you plan on driving the day after Christmas, your best bet is to be on the road by 7 or 8am.

One Final Tip

While you should always drive defensively, it’s even more important this week. Unfortunately, there are likely to be a few people drink, and then get behind the wheel this weekend. So, always be aware of your surroundings, and constantly scan the road ahead.

If you plan on driving for Lyft or Uber this Christmas weekend, hopefully this guide helps you drive profitably.

Best of luck out there and have a merry Christmas.

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