VDK delivery revs up
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/08/2023 (779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brigitte Van De Kerckhove saw a need for a way to help connect rural communities to the city, especially for those who don’t feel like driving or aren’t mobile. Discovering that gap in the market, she started the engine running on VDK Delivery Services and Storage.
“I want to be the bridge between rural communities and cities,” she said during an interview with the Sun, adding that she wants to ensure that rural residents can enjoy the benefits of city life, have access to essential services and experience economic opportunities that are often concentrated in urban centers.
Having experienced the conveniences of ride-sharing platforms in Ottawa, Van De Kerckhove found such services were lacking in rural Manitoba. This ignited her entrepreneurial spirit, leading her to open her business in February 2023.
Brigitte Van De Kerckhove, founder of VDK Delivery Services and Storage. (Photo by Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
Van De Kerckhove said her company not only connects remote communities to the city but also provides a safe and reliable way to commute.
Customers have praised her dedication and affordability.
“My experience with this company has been nothing but excellent,” regular customer Barry Heinz Fleischmann, who lives in Souris and works in Brandon, told the Sun. “She is very friendly to drive with and great company.”
User Dinah Sandy, whose daughter goes for medical appointments in Winnipeg from Souris, said that she appreciates the affordability and convenience of VDK’s services, which includes no wait times between pick up and drop off and being pet-friendly upon request.
Sandy has also made use of one of VDK’s other services.
“I have also used her for grocery delivery, marketplace drop-offs etc.,” she said. “This newly added service to Westman was surely needed and fully appreciated.”
With school starting shortly, the company has started offering to pick up school supplies for parents and deliver them right to their doorstep, relieving the stress of travel for families in rural areas.
Van De Kerckhove said she has strict selection criteria for drivers that ensures customers can rely on the company for a safe and comfortable journey.
While VDK has enjoyed success, Van De Kerckhove has faced her share of challenges, including the initial costs of setting up a business, navigating regulatory requirements and securing funding.
“The challenges I have faced are the upfront costs of starting a business, it’s quite expensive … I definitely had to jump through those hoops,” she added.
However, Van De Kerckhove said that she’s already looking at expanding and hiring additional drivers.
“I’m here to help anybody that needs a ride to and from the city… I’m proud of myself.”
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
» X: @AbiolaOdutola