Many college students can relate to feeling the agony of a late-night junk food craving — with no means of satisfaction in sight.
As recent University graduates, Viral Trivedi, Rohini Dhand, and Anthony and Norell Hadzimichalis kept that hunger in mind as they created a business offering students a solution.
Snack-Man, the brainchild of these four friends, is a newly-launched snack delivery service that caters to University students during late hours of the night.
“We started Snack-Man because it is a service we all would have wanted as college students,” said Norell Hadzimichalis, a University alumna.
Although the four had different college experiences, Norell Hadzimichalis said they each would have loved a service like Snack-Man to get through marathon study sessions and late night socializing.
“Our delivery service differs from others because we offer convenience store variety,” Norell Hadzimichalis said. “Our prices are comparable to local convenience stores and we do not charge a delivery fee.”
The menu on www.snack-man.com features nearly 200 products ranging from chips to microwavable meals and even condoms.
“Our personal backgrounds have influenced nearly all our product options and services,” Norell Hadzimichalis said.
As a nurse, Dhand was the driving force behind placing condoms and healthier food choices on the menu.
To order, students need to make a list of what they want, and call or text the number on the Web site, Norell Hadzimichalis said. There is a $10 order minimum.
The service now delivers to the Livingston, Busch and College Avenue campuses, and may soon expand to Cook/Douglass campus, Norell Hadzimichalis said.
The four began brainstorming the idea for a snack delivery service last summer but did not start testing the concept until September, Norell Hadzimichalis said. Within one month, inventory doubled based on feedback.
“We went from campus to campus, with Maui, a.k.a, the ‘snack-dog,’ our mascot, talking to students, getting feedback and handing out free promotional products,” Norell Hadzimichalis said. “Students have been very excited about this concept.”
Snack-Man receives most of its orders from students living on Busch and Livingston campuses, Trivedi said.
Unlike the College Avenue campus, a convenience store that is open late at night may be miles away from those campuses, Trivedi said.
Such was the case for Livingston North Tower roommates Alexandra Djokvich and Jessica Ogden, who ordered from Snack-Man when they craved candy long after the student convenience store was closed.
“It was really easy to order and our order got here really quickly, too. It only probably took 15 to 20 minutes for the [delivery] guy to get here, and when he brought it, he kept everything that needed to be kept cold in a cooler,” Djokvich said.
Djokvich and Ogden, School of Arts and Sciences first-year students, said they have ordered twice from Snack-Man and see themselves becoming regular customers in the future.
Aside from convenience, Lisa Steinberg said Snack-Man gave her a very personalized experience when she ordered.
A Rutgers Business School first-year student, Steinberg said she was greeted by name when the deliveryman called to drop off snacks she ordered for her and her floor mates.
Overall, she said she felt her business was deeply appreciated.
“They threw in free rice crispy treats and stuff,” Steinberg said. “The bigger the order, I think they’re really happy about it. I would recommend [Snack-Man], and we’re planning on our next order.”
New delivery service open late
Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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