One-Stop Dorm Shop: Dormzy
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dormzy.com/"> <img width="449" height="145" alt="" src="/files/public/userfiles/1000/blog/2010/09/dormzy_headerlogo1.jpg" title="Dormzy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-396"></a> </p>
<p><em>Crash Blog: Crash Innovative Columbus Businesses. Write about it. Post it.</em> I was confused. Upon shaking his hand, I thought was meeting a young, excited intern. Taken by surprise, I was meeting the owner and creator of <a href="http://www.dormzy.com/">Dormzy</a>, one of the fastest growing companies based out of Columbus. At 22 years old, <a href="http://www.dormzy.com/pages/About-Dormzy.html">Chris Sammons'</a> competitive advantage is his vantage point.<!--more--> After going away to college, his mother started to send him care packages every couple weeks. </p>
<p>"She worked full-time, so it was a pain to have to buy the stuff I needed, find a box, and go to Fedex to ship it to me," he said. As one of his inspirations, he started Dormzy, an online grocery and goods provider for college students about a year ago. Dormzy boasts an extensive selection of food, beauty items as well as many other <a href="http://www.dormzy.com/pages/Shop.html">miscellaneous goods</a> that college students find useful. Walking through their large warehouse, I became flooded with a rush of memories, transported back to my freshman year of college, when I lived off of Ramen noodles and Red Bull. </p>
<p>What is particularly interesting about this company is their use of indirect marketing tactics to reach their end target. Dormzy Entourage, a marketing program working directly with several university business schools is brilliant. It provides marketing experience to the students, while obtaining invaluable consumer research. "They will know what will work, what won't work, and stipulations to growth," he said. </p>
<p>Sammons believes that providing college students with delivered goods does not have to be expensive. "On average, we are 20-40% cheaper than campus and convenience stores," he said. With free Fedex shipping for orders $49 or more, it is easy for both parents and students to save money. Custom orders (i.e. birthday, holidays) are also popular, helping parents find a unique way to make their kids feel special. </p>
<p>Although college students may be the best target, Dormzy is finding other markets that are in demand of their services. "We have seen more businesses using Dormzy to provide snacks for meetings, and to senior communities," he said. For Dormzy, delivering snacks and other commodities is just the beginning. "Eventually, we want to be the main online store for college students, delivering beds, textbooks, back-to-school items and more," he said. Merely 15 credits shy of an undergraduate degree, Sammons has accomplished more than many recent graduates. </p>
<p>"What I learned in school did not prepare me for this," he said. After extensive reading, research, development and personal sacrifices, he made it work. As winter quarter begins this year at OSU, he will invest in another ambitious goal; finishing college.</p>
