Dash-N-Dine Delivery brings restaurants directly to the customer
Tammy Franklin founded Dash-N-Dine Delivery March 21, 2016.
Dash-N-Dine Delivery gives those who live various lifestyles the ability to enjoy a typical night out in the comforts of their home.
When Tammy Franklin faced unemployment after being laid off from the sales force of a medical device company in October 2015, it offered her an opportunity for a change in scenery.
That change in scenery, which began with a delivery job for Postmates in Pittsburgh, ended a few months later with the realization about what she wanted to accomplish next.
“After going on unemployment, and after completing many job interviews, I thought, ‘I’ve made a lot of money for a lot of big companies. It is time to do something for myself.'”
The South Fayette resident dug into understanding the intricacies of the restaurant delivery service through books, the internet and a mentor who had been in the business for more than 30 years that led her to creating her own service, Dash-N-Dine Delivery, to bring restaurant meals to a customer’s home, office and hotel room.
“There was really nothing like this in the area,” Franklin said about the creation of her business that began a year ago in March. “We have a bunch of great restaurants that really can’t compete with delivery because they don’t really have that opportunity while being worried about the day-to-day operations within their restaurants.”
With 10 different restaurants throughout the South Hills and surrounding area, Franklin is bringing fine dining to people in South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon, Scott Township, Greentree and now Canonsburg.
Dash-N-Dine Delivery takes orders of all sizes – mainly through its website at www.dash-n-dinedelivery.com – with pickup and delivery from the wide variety of restaurants. It usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, with an added delivery fee.
“The way I look at it is I’m building a partnership with these restaurants,” Franklin said. “It was not easy in the beginning. I would go into a restaurant with a presentation and talked about the different companies and services, and how it completed the process for them. They understand what I’m trying to do with a small business because they are living it.
“I told them, ‘You take care of the food. I will take care of getting it to the customers.'”
The three-step process that can be accessed online or through a cell phone app has customers registering their information, picking a restaurant to order from that Dash-N-Dine Delivery partners with and relaxing as they await the delivery of their food to their doorstep.
Franklin also allows the option for the advanced placement of orders for those who want to plan ahead of time.
“I think a lot of the time people don’t feel like cooking and wonder what other options are available to them,” Franklin said. “If people want food they are going to continue to search for it. We are at the point now where people pay for convenience. They are paying for groceries to be delivered. They are paying for prepared meals. It’s just so much easier when they can go online or on their smartphone to order and then go on with whatever else they are doing. It’s about making it more convenient.”
Dash-N-Dine Delivery also keeps customers in the loop by emailing updates when the driver is picking up the food at the restaurant and when they are in route with the delivery.
Located in Bridgeville, near the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center, Franklin puts in up to 70 hours each week perfect her business and bring awareness to all types of customers about her food delivery service.
“I love people and you can never go wrong with food,” Franklin chuckled. “We are trying to build a business here; a long-term business. If people like the service then they are going to continue to be customers and also recommend it. Until I get it running exactly the way I want it, I have to put in the extra work. I’m not in a hurry. I think we are doing a really great thing because people are gravitating toward it and giving them more food delivery options.”