What is a personal assistant and concierge service?
Concierges have been around for centuries but the personal concierge came onto the scene in the mid 1990's. Today there are hotel concierges, corporate concierges and personal concierges. With decreased discretionary time, individuals rely on personal assistants for grocery shopping, modified house-sitting and administrative assistance at their home or office.
Who needs a personal concierge?
Small business owners, busy professionals, seniors living independently,
two-career families, recuperating patients, out-of-town visitors, realtors, lawyers, and anyone with too much to do will benefit from this service professional. A personal assistant will take care of the things you HAVE to do while you do the things you WANT to do. Outsourcing routine responsibilities redirects time and energy toward a more fulfilling and less stressful life. Our daily lives pull us in so many directions it is hard to decide which job to handle first. When enlisting the help of a personal concierge, there is no salary to pay and employee benefits are not a concern. The personal concierge is a business owner. Various membership levels (all including complimentary service hours at a reduced rate) are available or you may choose to pay on an a la carte basis ONLY when you require service.
What services are available?
A good relationship and high comfort level are essential elements in any business.
The concierge you choose must be a professional who is dependable, efficient and honest. If you are living out of state away from your aging parents, chances are there is a personal concierge in their city you can call to check on them (senior visits), stock their refrigerator (errand running) and who will follow up with you, the client. Peace of mind is a very valuable gift.
If gift wrapping isn't your favorite activity, call your personal concierge for a power wrap session. No time to shop? Armed with information about the recipient's likes, dislikes, hobbies and favorites as well as your price range, the perfect gift will be purchased, wrapped and even delivered for you. Perhaps you'd like a videotape of your household items for insurance purposes.
Small business owners benefit by hiring a personal concierge for phone calls, office organization, data entry and other jobs which are neglected because of time constraints. Appointment scheduling, computer desktop publishing and help with invitations or special events are part of a personal concierge's everyday life. Is your holiday mailing list on X-cel? Can you print out labels to save time? Do you want your business and personal contacts entered in Microsoft Outlook for quick access?
Some personal assistants offer specialty gift certificates like the "New Mom" gift certificate for an hour or two of help. Consider a Gift of Time certificate for a busy friend or business associate. Certificates can be redeemed for errand running, administrative help, research assistance and much more.
Items to consider when hiring a personal concierge
Your personal concierge should be insured and bonded. This assures you the professional has integrity, is reliable and honest. Contact information should
include mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail address and website information. Find a concierge with a strong career background whose interaction with the community has resulted in long-lasting contacts and relationships. Their network and their associates will also be available to their clients. A serious concierge will be a member of professional groups such as the International Concierge and Errand Association, their local Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations.
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