My Biz: 535-FAST will deliver nearly anything in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Chad Willman is a big believer in shopping local, buying local and hiring local.

His business, 535-FAST Delivery LLC, combines those beliefs.

For a $5 fee, 535-FAST will deliver any goods (except tobacco products per state law) directly to a consumer. The company delivers everything from take out to groceries and auto parts.

'For $5, you can buy back the time you don't have,' Willman said. 'You know that feeling when you get home and wish someone would deliver the dinner you wanted. Well now we make that a reality. And it's not just pizza and Chinese that you can have delivered now. Or if you wake up one morning and your car battery has died, you can call us and we'll deliver a new one.'

Willman said 535-FAST has been particularly busy on snowy or cold days.

'We will never not get a delivery there,' he said. 'We want people to rely on us for what we do. And so far we have a super great return user rate.'

After serving in the military for nearly ten years, Willman went back to school and worked as a union pipe fitter before getting involved in lobbying. After a few years, Willman — who has a master's degree in politics — decided he wanted another career change.

'I decided that I wanted to do something fun,' he said.

After working for a similar company in the Arizona area, Willman, an Alburnett native, created 535-FAST to offer affordable delivery services. He spent three years researching the concept before launching it in Cedar Rapids just over a year ago.

Willman said it's been exciting to see it grow.

'We don't have any competition and our service can help any person,' he said. 'And our services are positive for everyone involved.'

Willman said there is no cost to the businesses from which they pick up deliveries.

'We just ask the businesses to help spread the word about our business,' Willman said. 'No matter what we do, it's about growth. I'd rather do a lot of deliveries at a low price then fewer and charge our customers more. And we are helping the businesses grow too, especially mom and pop stores. Businesses can sell more partnering with us because they can offer delivery as an option and not have to hire on their end to take care of it.'

Willman said he and his employees often do deliveries to hotels as well.

'We keep people spending their money locally,' he said.

Willman said it is taking him a while to get out and meet all the local businesses with whom he could be working, but making personal introductions is important.

'My job is getting the word out to businesses that we could deliver for,' he said. 'I explain what we do, that we are not solicitors and that our business could be super amazing for them. How great would it be for a small mom and pop store to be able to say we don't deliver but our goods get delivered by 535-FAST. Because we are so new, I spend most of my time marketing and telling people what we do.'

Besides Willman, 535-FAST has about ten part-time employees, called 'mobile waiters'. Willman said he hopes that in the next year he can hire as many as 50 people. '

Hiring is the best part of my job,' he said. 'I love knowing that I can make an impact on the local economy.'

Willman said he likes to make sure he is offering jobs to veterans and single moms, who are sometimes overlooked.

'When you are getting something delivered you are happy. And our drivers are happy too,' he said. 'Customer service is important. This is an easy and fun job but I train our drivers to be very professional and do a great job.'

AT A GLANCE

Name: Chad Willman

Title: CEO/Founder

Company: 535-FAST Delivery LLC

Address: Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 535-FAST

Website: www.facebook.com/anydeliverynowcedarrapids

Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com