![]() “ Dealing with pandemic, shortagesĮarly on in the pandemic, when stores were routinely out of things like toilet paper, disinfecting spray and wipes, Woldhuis had a plan. "People were more appreciative when tipping just because of what we were doing and where we were going. "The pandemic definitely boosted pay," Woldhuis said. So, all that methodical shopping paid off. "There were days and weeks, especially when the pandemic started, that there were hundreds of orders and not enough shoppers," Woldhuis said. And some customers only wanted Woldhuis to handle and bag items, he said.ĭuring the pandemic, Shipt orders were plentiful. When checking out, self-checkout is best because it's quicker. The baskets keep orders organized and separate. He bought his own baskets more than a year ago to set inside a shopping cart. "I am Virgo and like things in their place. "I made sure things were organized so I didn't have to backtrack," Woldhuis said. Woldhuis takes time before each shop to make sure it's organized. ![]() "At the store, I also map out my shopping on the Shipt app so it would flow with how the store is set up." "I've built a solid enough business where I just shop out of that store," he said. And shopping at one store and knowing the store is key. He also credits his delivery zone, which is mostly dense, making delivering efficient. "The best and easy way to maximize your income is shopping multi orders at one time," he said. Woldhuis now works part-time as a Shipt shopper, but his core methods are what he believes makes him successful. Williams also had a good 2020 - though not as good as Woldhuis - but said it was fantastic because orders were plentiful. "When things are out of stock, just keep at it and it slowly came together." "Communication was also of the utmost importance," she said. Woldhuis gave Williams a few pointers like scheduling beyond the schedule, picking up orders whenever you can, and shopping and building a rapport at one store. "Sometimes it’s a hit or miss job if you're not getting orders. "He said good things and kept me going," Williams said. Woldhuis, she said, encouraged her at times when she wanted to quit. She met Woldhuis while shopping at the same Grand Rapids Meijer store. Williams, 52, became a Shipt shopper several years ago. Woldhuis developed ways to hustle as a Shipt shopper that have paid off nicely. And he's helped others.įellow Shipt shopper Dawn Williams calls Woldhuis her mentor. People say 'Hey, that's a great shirt.' It's a conversation starter."ĭressing up in costume, he said, was a way to think outside the box and bring something different to his customers. Generally, the clothes elicit some kind of response. "Customers would say they love it, and they'd laugh," he said. He dedicates one room in his house, he said, to all these clothes. While out as a Shipt shopper, you might spot Woldhuis wearing a tutu or in a sparkly sequined jacket, colorful wig or funky hat. It's those outfits, Woldhuis believes, that bring smiles to the faces of his customers and people that see him in stores. "I took my love of costuming and started doing some of it with Shipt." "I get into costuming a bit and love fun clothes," Woldhuis said. Shopping for others, especially during the pandemic, was also meaningful to him because people couldn't get out.īut perhaps it's also that Woldhuis looks like he has tons of fun, especially when he wears outfits often described as whacky. I leveraged all those strengths and went to work with Shipt," Woldhuis said. He credits his Shipt success on providing the best service and being a good communicator. Woldhuis became a Shipt shopper when he was looking to pick up some extra money in 2017, around the time the company, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp., entered the Michigan market. The 2020 earnings even garnered Woldhuis a spot on Parade magazine’s "What People Earn" annual report featured in early September. His earnings, mainly shopping for groceries, were a combination of tips and what Shipt pays per order which can vary. Woldhuis said he earned $100,280 in 2020 working as a Shipt shopper. Meet Robert "RJ" Woldhuis, who worked as a Shipt shopper and made it pay off, earning him six figures. The service, offered by companies such as Shipt, Instacart and some grocery stores, was invaluable to many who used it, allowing people to stay out of stores as COVID-19 spread throughout the country.īut it was also lucrative to some of the personal shoppers who shopped, including one Michigan man. DETROIT-The demand for ordering groceries online and having them delivered skyrocketed when the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020.
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