Dolly

Dolly operates a nationwide platform that connects consumers and businesses with on-demand "truck and muscle" for moving and delivery jobs. Core services include fixed-price apartment moves, same-day delivery from stores and marketplaces, and configurable truck-and-labor bookings in which the customer selects the items, vehicle type and level of help required. Bookings are quoted upfront, and customers can chat with the assigned Helper and follow the job through real-time tracking. The website directs customers seeking assembly, cleaning and similar work to a separate home services offering.

Alongside its consumer marketplace, the company runs a partnerships business positioned as a final-mile delivery provider for retailers of all sizes, offering nationwide same-day and scheduled delivery. Press coverage at the time of its 2021 acquisition described Dolly as connecting customers with movers for short-distance deliveries and partnering with retailers such as Lowe's and Costco to deliver large items including furniture. The company's site now states that Dolly has become Taskrabbit Delivery, retaining the same moving and delivery experience under a new brand.

Founding story

Dolly was founded in 2014 and led by co-founder and CEO Mike Howell; other co-founders included Kelby Hawn, Jason Norris and Chad Wittman, who had left the company by the time of the 2021 acquisition.

Business model

Dolly runs a two-sided marketplace: customers book moving, labor and delivery jobs at an upfront, quoted price, and independent Helpers with vehicles fulfill the work, with the company stating Helpers earn an average of $50 per hour and can build their own delivery businesses. A separate retailer-facing channel supplies nationwide same-day and scheduled final-mile delivery capacity to merchants.

Revenue is generated from consumer bookings priced upfront for moves, labor and deliveries, and from final-mile delivery partnerships with retailers.

Traction

As of April 2021 the company had 40 full-time employees and said it planned to double headcount within a year; it was operating in 45 U.S. cities and had raised more than $17 million from investors at the time of its acquisition.

Latest developments

The company's website states that Dolly is now Taskrabbit Delivery, keeping the same moving and delivery services under a new brand and continuing to recruit Helpers and retail delivery partners.