A Leeds electrician was called crazy for making the big leap to running a takeaway delivery service to rival goliaths of the industry Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
Craig Smith, 31, owns Morley Eats which now has about 10,000 users and 77 takeaways on the platform in the surrounding area. The father of two kids aged three and nine began running the service about two years ago.
Craig says the big draw to his company is that it takes a far smaller commission off the takeaway businesses than his competitors. He undercuts them by taking just 7.5 per cent commission off each order, which he says is far lower than his rivals.
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He adds that delivery drivers even get a better a deal, as his service users the same drivers as Just Eat and takes a smaller percentage off them as well.
When Craig, who has been an electrician since he left school at 16, initially told his family and friends he was going into the takeaway business, they thought he was going crazy. He says tradesman are generally expected to stick to their trade rather than branching out.
Craig said: “I saw the opportunity online to start up another business, as I’ve been an electrician for 15 years. I needed something else. It was a big jump, to be fair, but I just went for it. It’s been good, it’s working really well.”
Asked how his family felt about the business gamble, he said: “They thought I was mental. When you’re a tradesman, you’re set for life, aren’t you? They were very surprised. They have been supportive though, so it’s been great.”
Morley Eats is part of the LocalEats franchise, which has services all over the UK - there's also a Headingley Eats. Craig “didn’t have a clue” about how to use all the up-to-date technology involved in running the delivery platform before starting the business but quickly got up to speed.
His greatest challenge has been going out to takeaways and selling his business to them, as he finds speaking to people and pitching his business quite difficult.
“My words don’t come out right,” Craig admits. “Do you know what I mean? Over time it’s just progressed and I’ve worked towards being able to speak to people and tell them what they’re getting with my business.”
Craig, who’s born and bred in Morley, says he’s “really enjoyed” speaking to takeaway owners and workers and getting to know them.
“It’s been amazing, totally different,” said Craig.
