Dartmouth students preparing for Winter term hibernation can soon have drinks delivered in bulk directly to their dorm rooms or off-campus houses with the launch of ThirstD.com, a new business founded by four members of the Class of 2010. Some students say the business's offerings would be a welcome break from walking to get drinks in the cold, but others maintained they would be unwilling to pay for them unless they could use money from their Declining Balance Account.
ThirstD, created by Michael Biondi '10, James Francis 10, Zachary Rioux '10 and Andrew Wansley 10, allows Dartmouth students to purchase Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Lipton Green Tea and many other popular beverages online.
The ThirstD team began the project in September and spent about two months setting up the web site, Francis said. The idea for the beverage delivery service was inspired by similar successful business ventures at other colleges, such as the University of Maryland and the University of Notre Dame, Francis said.
"There's definitely a need for it at Dartmouth, but it needed to be tweaked to cater to a much smaller, rural and colder market," Francis said.
The resulting web site for online ordering, which opened for business on Tuesday, offers lower prices than Dartmouth Dining Services and prices similar to or cheaper than those offered at CVS, he said. ThirstD also seeks to be "eco-friendly," Biondi said.
"We offer to recycle any customers' empties that are left outside of their rooms upon subsequent deliveries to those rooms," Biondi said.
While ThirstD promises to provide a convenient alternative to DDS, some students interviewed by The Dartmouth were skeptical about how willing they would be to use "real money" rather than money from their Topside account or Declining Balance Account, which are usually paid for by their parents.
"I think that if it's competing with Topside money, I don't know how many people would be willing to pay real money," Emma Clement '10, a student employee at Topside said. "Although carrying [drinks] home sometimes is a hassle."
ThirstD may benefit organizations that buy drinks in large quantities, such as fraternities that are stocking up on mixers, Clement said.
Micky Teng '11 said she thought ThirstD was a good idea, but wished its founders had notified students before they committed to their dining plans.
Shahen Huda '10, another student-employee at Topside, said ThirstD will be especially helpful in the winter when students are less willing to carry boxes in the cold.
"I know last year that I used to buy water from Topside and had to carry it back to the Choates [residence cluster,] and it was really cold, so I feel like if you live far away it would be a good idea," Hillary Barker '12 said.
Vivan Zhao '10 echoed other students' sentiments, noting that the service could be useful but had some drawbacks.
"I think for people without cars, it seems like a good idea. I would buy it," she said. "I think if you could use DBA it would be much better, though."
While the ThirstD team acknowledged that the College's smaller size might provide challenges for the business, they said they hope the cold Hanover winters and the inconvenience of alternatives in town will work to their advantage.
By roaming through Novack Cafe during exam period and surveying students' choices, the team compiled a selection of beverages and pre-made packs tailored to Dartmouth students, Francis said.
"As [ThirstD] gets going, we're going to tweak it, add new packs and get student feedback," Rioux said.
Pre-made selections include the "Hangover Cure Pack" composed of water, teas and juices which promises to cure up to six hangovers, and the "Study Pack," which includes 15 caffeine-laden drinks five Red Bulls, five Brain Toniqs and five Starbucks Frappuccinos. ThirstD also allows students to order pre-made drink packages of 15 to 20 drinks or to customize their own package of at least 20 drinks.
While the team is entering the venture with excitement and an open mind, they also have realistic expectations, according to Rioux.
"The biggest issue is just that we don't know'," Francis said. "We can't predict how many orders [will be submitted] and there are lots of issues about being prepared for that. What if we get 150 orders a day?"
If the company is successful, the team hopes to expand their services by offering snack foods, according to Rioux. The team hopes to eventually hire more students who can help with delivery and can continue the business after the four founders graduate, Francis said.
