Richmond students launch shopping service amid COVID-19

If you’ve lost your job, invent a new one.

So goes the thinking of a group of students from UBC and SFU who are now busy scouring the aisles of Costco and Superstore, buying everything from toothpaste to tortellini.

“The idea started with a team of students who had internships and jobs lined up, but everything fell through because of COVID-19. During that time, we started going to the store, neighbours would ask, ‘Could you please buy me this or that,’” said LineHopper project collaborator Robin Changizi, a Richmond resident and UBC student. 

Pretty soon, the entrepreneurial-minded Changizi helped devise a business plan that would meet a community need while employing students.

LineHopper is a grocery delivery platform where people who are uncomfortable shopping right now, for whatever reason, can place their orders and get their groceries delivered to their door within hours. 

Shopping during the pandemic isn’t easy, and sometimes people have to wait in lines for at least half an hour just to enter the store, explained Changizi. 

That’s exhausting and risky for many seniors, he added. 

While Costco has its own delivery service, it only delivers non-perishable items, which doesn’t include meat, dairy and eggs, said Changizi. 

And while Instacart also provides personal shoppers through an online app, it’s a large, American company and many of LineHopper’s customers prefer to support local students in need of a job, Changizi added. 

“We are so grateful because people shared supportive messages with us on Facebook. Some people have taken the time to email us and say ‘thank you so much,’” said Changizi. 

Sara Schermer, a LineHopper shopper, said many people aren’t able to leave their homes during the pandemic and are so grateful they have resources available to help them in these times of need. 

Before joining LineHopper, Schermer was a substitute teacher with the Vancouver School Board. Although Schermer lost her job due to COVID-19, she feels she can still contribute to her community through LineHopper.

“We are trying to reach out to people to build a sense of community. It’s a great way to help more people other than my own family,” said Schermer.

For more information, visit LineHopper.