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The article ‘At your service’ was featured in Perth Vita’s 2008 Autumn edition, click here to see the article (136KB PDF) or read the full article below...
They have picked up dry cleaning in Milan, walked dogs in Paris and planned holidays in London. Personal concierge services have taken the world by storm and now they’ve arrived here in WA , it’s time to find out what the fuss is really all about.
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It doesn’t take a genius to work out our working week is longer than the standard 38 hours. On top of work, we have to factor in travel time, jobs around the house, cooking and somewhere in between all of that, attempting to socialise and sleep. Finding a healthy balance between work and life is no easy task.Enter the personal concierge. Simply explained, a personal concierge is like a personal assistant. Want to organise a romantic weekend away? They’ll do everything from booking the accommodation to making sure your car is serviced and finding the perfect anniversary gift. Going away on holiday? They’ll collect your mail, water your pot plants and feed and walk the dog. Just too busy? They’ll pick up your dry cleaning and be at your home to let a tradesperson in.
The best part is that these services are not exclusive to the rich and famous, they are accessible to people in Perth – from small businesses and time-poor professionals to seniors and busy parents.
The International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA) was founded in America in 2001, and in response to growing demand, the Australia and New Zealand chapter of the association was formed in 2004.
ICEA Australia and New Zealand chapter president Abbie Martin says any busy person can benefit from personal concierge services by having them take care of a range of tasks. “There’s a huge variety and a lot of businesses offer different areas,” Abbie explains.
“They can range from running errands, doing grocery and personal shopping, organising travel and accommodation, event management and personal birthday parties and functions and then a lot of businesses branch into the business side of things.”
The personal concierge industry in Western Australia is still quite new. Maria Suehrcke, director of Alto Organisers, says her business is trying to be as flexible as possible to suit their clients’ needs.
“We’re really open to people ringing us up and having a discussion about their requests and we’ll see if we can fit the bill,” she says.
These dedicated individuals come from various backgrounds – all with one goal – to make your life less complicated. “One of my staff has been a flight attendant and a dental nurse, one has been in the travel industry, another has been a secretary for many years – we have people who have a good eye for detail,” Maria says.
For Finer Details Personal Concierge Services owner and founder Sara Hall, her entrance into personal concierge was an attempt to achieve her own work/life balance.
“I found I never had enough time to manage my personal affairs, what I call ‘life admin’,” Sara says. “I started to research alternative career opportunities and quickly realised that there were many others like me out there, that there was a real need for support and assistance.”
While the cost varies between businesses, the services of a personal concierge can range between $40 to $100 an hour; a relatively small amount for those who can’t put a price on their quality time. While many clients are regulars, a personal concierge can be hired as a one-off to help organise a specific event.
“I found I never had enough time to manage my personal affairs, what I call ‘life admin.’”
If you’re looking for something for the person who has everything, personal concierge gift certificates are available. “We all know someone who is difficult to buy for as they already have everything, but everyone can always use more free time,” Sara says.
However, it would seem that many of us are so busy because we are reluctant to delegate and the general consensus from the personal concierges is this is the challenge women face.
“I think an issue for a lot of women is they balk at passing on responsibilities as wives and mothers or in business but it would be great if they could let go and have more time for themselves,” Maria says.
Sara agrees. “I’ve heard people say that personal concierge services are for lazy people,” she says. “This is not true – they are for people who either can’t do it, don’t have time to do it, or simply don’t want to do it. Using a personal concierge service doesn’t mean you’re a failure – it means you’re a success!”
It may not come as a surprise then, that Sara reveals overseas companies are increasingly offering personal concierge services as part of staff benefit packages in an effort to retain their top performers. “Given the current marketplace in WA where many companies are struggling to hang on to workers, particularly in the mining industry, this could play an important part in the growth of personal concierge services in WA in the near future,” she predicts. Thinking about hiring a personal concierge? Abbie advises hiring someone you feel comfortable with and who you can trust, who is a member of the ICEA or equivalent association. “The number one thing is finding someone you are comfortable with,” Abbie advises. “I’d definitely ask for a police check. I’d also find out if they would allow you to speak to their clients.”
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