Concierge Your Way to 2019!

It’s that crazy time of year when we are all juggling office deadlines with holiday season tasks from gifts to travel. Can we all just agree that there aren’t enough hours in the day?

So, we’ve put together some concierge service recommendations we have heard over the years from busy executives that can help you and your staff get your work and holiday To-Do Lists done this season (and beyond):

The All-Around Luxury Concierge

Quintessentially prides itself on membership-based “bespoke experiences and lifestyle services” from restaurant reservations and dream vacations (think hot air balloon rides over Myanmar and arranging dinner on an iceberg) to meet-and-greets with A-list celebrities, curating a wine cellar plan, sourcing a rare piece of art, and finding your next home.

The On-Demand Concierge

For 25 cents per minute, Magic is like having “the Four Seasons concierge and an Ivy League intern at your fingertips,” according to FruitStreet CEO Laurence Girard. The on-demand app and its 24/7 personal assistants can help with everything from finding a last-minute party gift to booking an appointment at the DMV and picking up that credit card you left at the bar.

The Corporate Concierge

TimeSquared is a B2B contract-based concierge firm that provides several options to serve staff and/or clients. Plans range from e-Concierge for web and phone-based services (without errand running) to 4CornersPlus for onsite concierge services with full-service errand running such as pet grooming and car repairs.

The Laundry Concierge

Rinse will pick up your dry cleaning and laundry in personalized bags, clean it, and deliver it back to your door. Not only that, but the service, which was launched in 2013, will sort and inspect your clothes to remove any loose items like receipts and coins to prevent loss and damage. Dry-cleaned clothes will be returned on a hanger for easy storage. Fees are by the item or by the pound, with a per-bag $59/month plan available. (Check out Wash Fairies, too, if you’re in suburban Chicago.)

The Food Concierge

Meal prep has become a way of life for many working people, with options ranging from Blue Apron, Home Chef, Freshly, Sun Basket, Green Chef and HelloFresh. In the Chicago area, we’ve got Tovala, which provides a countertop steam oven and healthy prepared meals so you can prep in one minute and automatically cook with the precision of a professional chef. There’s also Meez Meals, which provides fresh- prepped ingredients and a rotating innovative weekly menu that includes vegan and gluten-free options, and Purple Carrot for all-vegetarian menus.

If it’s groceries you’re after, you may already be a fan of Peapod or Amazon Fresh but may want to give Instacart a try. This online grocery (and alcohol) delivery service allows you to choose from a variety of stores along with dates and time windows for delivery at home or work. Try Green Blender for easy-to-make superfood smoothies or Graze for ready-made healthy snacks on the go.

What about a private chef? In Chicago, Katie Simmons, Robert Butterfield and Elizabeth Wells are terrific professional chefs who can whip up gourmet meals in your own kitchen for private dining or are available to cater cocktail and dinner parties and professional events.

Need a restaurant reservation? Check out Open Table, Tock, and Reserve for the best dining in your city or try Resy for some of the world’s top restaurants in New York City this holiday season.

The Personal Shopper/Stylist

High-end department store brands offer an array of services to help you get your shopping done year-round and especially during the holidays. Nordstrom’s personal stylists can give you advice on fashion and beauty at home, in the store or via its Trunk Club while its “gift scouts” will take your gift list and help you shop or do all the shopping and wrapping for you. Barney’s offers a gold standard service in personal and corporate shopping with private presentation spaces for clients. And Pottery Barn’s holiday concierges will even decorate your Christmas tree or fireplace mantel.

In Chicago, Kate Shifrin ([email protected]) provides both personal stylist for men and women and interior design services with flair. In New York, Katie Quinn ([email protected]) provides closet clean outs, personalized styling, virtual styling and more, so you can be the best version of yourself, effortlessly.

The Virtual Concierge

You can always rely on the power of an app to Get Things Done, whether it’s booking a hair appointment, finding an exercise class or scheduling repairs. But, go-to virtual (yet real person) assistants also abound when you’re long on work and short on time. Try Zirtual for office support, travel planning and other services or TaskRabbit, which matches freelance labor with local demand for anything from cleaning and moving to handyman work.

Now, you can get back to work... and enjoy the holidays!