So what are some of the realities to expect? Well, we spoke to a range of people grinding the gig economy and gained some pretty fascinating insights: “There can be a lot of ups and downs in one day,” says Jess, who runs her own cake business from home. “Like, when I’m trying a new cake and it doesn’t work out, it can feel like everything’s a total disaster. I think when you’re doing it all alone, problems and emotions can feel a lot bigger.” So, big lesson: Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Trust the process and know that success is rarely a linear narrative. For Jess’ cake business, Uber Package has been a godsend for last-minute orders and confidently allowing her to get baked treats to customers on the same day. “It’s genius, I just go into the Uber app, and there’s generally always a driver on hand to pick up my box within the hour. Plus, I know it’ll get there safe and well because I can track it all within the app. Honestly, it takes SO much of the stress out of my day.” Whether you’re selling goods via an online marketplace, running your own retail offering or you just need to transfer documents and supplies across the city, Uber Package is a serious secret weapon for small business owners. When work is a bit quieter for wedding photographer Eloise, she side-hustles as a delivery person on the Uber Eats platform — an earning opportunity that allows her to dip in and out, as it suits her schedule. It couldn’t be more perfect for making that little extra bit of money while trying to get new clients for her business. “It’s given me so much flexibility, it’s brilliant. I can just decide then and there to take a request. I go into the app and see if there’s a trip request that I can accept — which there generally always is. As a small business owner, having this sort of extra freedom is such a game-changer.” “I find it really hard putting my name and face out there, even on my social pages,” she says. “I’m an introvert, so I definitely struggle with confidence. But as a wedding photographer, I have to organise people and be all outgoing and bubbly, so I’ve really had to work on bringing myself out of my shell.” While things in Australia are slowly beginning to return to a post-COVID ’normal’, customers continue to be exasperated by package delays and miscommunications — so it’s far better to over-communicate when it comes to updating customers on arrival times. Mark, who owns a florist in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, credits Uber Package for allowing him to set clear expectations and deliver on promised arrival dates: “Sourcing delivery partners was a struggle with staff shortages due to COVID. This led me to Uber Package, which has been a complete life saver, particularly for such important deliveries like funerals and weddings,” says Mark. “With Uber Package, you can share the status of the delivery service with customers so they can see when the order will arrive — and its point to point service, so gets to the destination straight away, as opposed to taking multiple trips.” Switching off on holiday can be tricky, too. On the plus side, you do get to choose when you take it and no one needs to sign it off! “You have so many different hats to wear,” says plumber Dan, who’s been self-employed for five years. “Sales, marketing, pitching, customer relations, accounting, plus of course your trade — you have to do it all. My wife helps me quite a bit with admin because I’m useless at it. But I am getting quite good at social video!” Jess loves contact with her customers, because she does spend a lot of time on her own. “I do my best most days not to talk to my mixers!” she jokes. “If I could afford someone to help me (slash: keep me company), I definitely would. Or, is that like paying for a mate?” “Quite a few times my girls have had to come with me on last-minute call-outs,” says plumber Dan. “They love coming in the van and I’ve now got them their own company T-shirts. The clients love it!”
