Online alcohol delivery service opens its doors

SpringfieldBeverage.com opened for business May 9, offering delivery of wine, imports and domestic beers, spirits, premixed cocktails, snacks and soda. It is a division of QuikDine.com.

"We've had a lot of people going to the Web site," said Randy Ruggeri, president and owner of QuikDine.com.

QuikDine.com, located at 621 Plain-view Road, displays menus and information from area restaurants and provides delivery services to customers' homes.

The concept behind Springfield-Beverage.com is similar, but in this case the company actually owns its own products, said Ruggeri.

"We obtained a package liquor license just like any other retailer," he said. "We go through distributors and wholesalers, then store the products in our own warehouse."

Ruggeri said he started the new division to add to the service already offered by QuikDine.com.

"We're offering a complementary service by providing them with some good pricing on the liquor side," Ruggeri said.

Customers can sit at home and preview the products, then have them delivered almost immediately, he said. "A lot of people like the fact that they can sit at home and order online, whether they're with friends or family, or alone with their PJs on."

Ruggeri said the company is trying to open up the catering side for events such as large parties and weddings.

"It can be a painstaking process to coordinate these kinds of events," he said. With SpringfieldBeverage.com, "you can just fill out a registration form, start shopping and we'll be there that day."

QuikDine.com changes

Another recent addition for Quik-Dine.com is a call center, enabling customers to place an order even when they are away from their computers.

"We really felt that we could add some additional services for our new and existing customers," Ruggeri said. "Espe-cially this time of year, a lot of people are out enjoying the weather, barbecuing or out at the lake. People can now use their cell phone to call us from the road, on their way home from work or coming home from the lake."

QuikDine.com itself is a relatively new company; the online delivery service debuted in June 2001.

"Business is going well," Ruggeri said. "We've expanded the number of restaurants and now have 30 restaurants online."

QuikDine.com added KFC to its menu May 17.

Sales have continued to expand every month as well, he said. "Despite the recession, we're holding our own."

Doyle Simpson, owner of the Market Place Caf, 307 S. National Ave., said he was one of the first people Ruggeri approached to gauge local interest in QuikDine.com.

"I thought it was a good idea, with the way the Internet was going," Simpson said. "Everything seems to be Internet- oriented."

One advantage to participating, Simpson said, was that he didn't have to make any kind of investment. "I had to get a fax machine, but I've used that for other things as well."

Simpson said he doesn't get a lot of orders yet. "I thought I'd be getting more, but I think it takes longer than everybody thinks," he said. "I expect that eventually there will be a lot more online ordering going on."

Harpo's, located at 319 E. Walnut St., also has been a part of QuikDine.com since June, said owner Dan Carter. Carter said he has noticed a steady increase in QuikDine.com orders.

"Randy presented it to me, and I thought he had an innovative idea and wanted to be a part of it," Carter said. "We've enjoyed the exposure of people being able to order our products from home, and hopefully introduce our food to new customers."

Aside from delivery orders, having the menu posted online is convenient for customers, Simpson said.

"When I have people call me and ask me what's on the menu, I tell them if they have Internet access to just go to QuikDine.com and it's right there," Simpson said.