International Concierge & Errand Association Reveals Industry Future Watch™ Survey Results

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) September 15, 2006

The International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA), a non-profit trade association founded in 2001 designed to meet the professional needs of Concierge and Errand business owners worldwide, today released its 2006 Industry Future Watch™ survey. The results offer a snapshot of factors that are influencing this budding industry. “The survey was created to help ICEA identify industry trends so it can better serve its members, and is properly positioned to support the growth of this exploding industry,” says ICEA’s Chairman of the Board and Interim President, Katharine Giovanni.

ICEA Doubles in Size in One Year

Since this time last year, ICEA has doubled in size and now includes more than 500 members spanning more than 20 countries. “Our growth is a direct correlation to the increasing number of people who are realizing their own need for concierge and errand services and are seeking professionals in their own communities,” says Giovanni, who is also the founder of ICEA and President and owner of Triangle Concierge in North Carolina.

New Clients Quickly Convert to Routine Patrons and Increase Service Usage

An overwhelming majority – 94.2 percent – of respondents indicated that new clients utilize their services on average one to five times per month, opposed to 5.2 percent of respondents who indicated new clients patron their business six to ten times per month. This compares to 69.5 percent of respondents who said that their regular clients use their services one to five times per month and 19.7 percent indicated six to ten times per month. This increase in service usage appears to indicate that new clients quickly see the value in having a concierge and errand provider in their everyday lives.

Top Service Requests: General Errands and Household Management

On average weekly, 86.8 percent of respondents indicated that they fulfill anywhere from one to thirty client requests with the top service request being general errands (32.9 percent) followed by home management (20.8 percent), then business assistance (11.1 percent), personal shopping (6.5 percent), pet services (6.5 percent), ticket reservation/purchasing (5.5 percent), meeting and event planning (5.5 percent), vehicle servicing (2 percent), and research and organization (2 percent).

Making the Match

Since the concierge business is about building a reliable network of professionals, it is not surprising that nearly half (44.5 percent) of the respondents indicated their number one source for finding clients is through referrals. Networking also clearly leads to business with 23 percent of survey responses indicating they find clients through this tried and true approach. And, many people are seeking out and finding their Concierge of choice through Websites (13 percent).

Having a reliable stable of service providers is critical to a successful Concierge. Nearly 40 percent (39.6) of respondents indicated they establish their vendors through previous experience. Referrals are the second highest source (22.6 percent). Cold calls or visits, other business memberships and local business functions were also pointed to in establishing vendor relationships.

Average Client Demographics

As indicated by this survey, it is not only the very rich who seek help from and hire a concierge and errand service provider. The average client income bracket of nearly half of the 200 survey respondents (47.3 percent) is $100,000 - $500,000, followed by $50,000 - $99,999 at 36.3 percent. Only 2.1 percent indicated their clients’ average income bracket is $1 million or more. The media age range of clients for 54.9 percent of respondents is 31 to 45, followed by 46 to 55 at 35.2 percent.

Concierge Service Geographics

While some of the businesses surveyed (6.8 percent) provide services nationally, the majority (60 percent) focus on a central City or Town. A quarter of respondents (25.1 percent) offer regional services and a handful serve clients statewide (4.4 percent), and Internationally (2.4 percent).

Summing it Up

This study shows us that professional concierge and errand service providers are looking toward business growth and rising profits. Many of the business owners who just started their service are blossoming. People are just starting to learn about the immense value these providers offer through enhancing their quality of life by giving the gift of time.

There were over 200 respondents to ICEA’s 2006 Industry Future Watch™ survey, 97.5% of whom were Owners, CEOs or Presidents of the business. Nearly 80 percent (79.3) of respondents have been in the business for three years or less. The survey was open to both ICEA member and non-member companies and was responded to anonymously. ICEA anticipates surveying its members and other non-member industry professionals annually, tracking this exciting new industry’s growth, and publishing its findings.

About ICEA

The International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 2001, designed to meet the professional needs of Concierge and Errand business owners worldwide. ICEA offers members business support, networking opportunities, continuing education, advocacy, and industry recognition. ICEA is the leading global professional association committed to supporting the owners and operators of concierge and errand service businesses, serving as the primary resource and active advocate for our members through essential resources, continuing education, networking opportunities, and other professional endeavors. We provide support, credibility and growth opportunities for one of the most dynamic and fastest growing industries in the world today.

For more information, visit http://www.iceaweb.org.    

Contacts:

Carla Mandell

ICEA, Executive Director

800-934-ICEA / 215-743-5618 or email.

Katharine C. Giovanni

ICEA, Chairman of the Board and Interim President

Tel: 919-453-2850

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