Yes, there's an Uber for Christmas trees. And yes, it's available in Chicago.
Dolly, a moving startup that connects people with truck owners who can help haul furniture and other stuff, has launched an on-demand Christmas tree service in Chicago over the holiday season.
Here's how it works: Once you download the Dolly app, tap "Christmas Tree Delivery" and select the type of tree you’d like. You then say where you want the tree delivered and enter a 30-minute delivery window for it to arrive. Prices range between $30 and $329 depending on what type of tree you're ordering.
Dolly offers built-in messaging and phone call functionality so you can connect with your driver, and you can track delivery progress in the app via GPS. Payment takes place in the app.
The idea is that Dolly eliminates the hassle of tying a tree to the top of your car or dragging it along the sidewalk up to your apartment. Dolly is offering 5 to 8 foot Douglas Firs, 6 to 7 foot Scotch Pines, 4 to 8 foot Fraser Firs, and 6.5 to 7.5 foot pre-lit artificial trees.
Dolly's service area covers all of Chicago, and stretches out to the suburbs by covering Mundelein to the North, Aurora to the West, and Joliet to the South.
Though officially headquartered in Seattle, Dolly first launched in Chicago in October 2014. The company has raised nearly $10 million, and its investors include Chicago's Hyde Park Venture Partners and KGC Capital.
