Too busy to take shirts to the cleaners or shop for Christmas presents, high-flying Americans have spawned an industry to absolve themselves of everyday chores. Enter lifestyle managers.
"In [Washington] DC people are extremely busy and they have no time for anything, so there was an obvious need for a service like this," said Ezra Glass, who three years ago, at age 25, founded his own lifestyle manager company, Serenity Now.
His staff of seven undertake everyday chores from walking the dog to selling a car.
"The strangest thing I had to do once: A client wanted her dog taken to some place in Colorado but she wanted the dog to be driven in only a certain type of car," Glass said. "I had to rent a Ford Explorer because the dog was supposed to like it better."
Some 650 lifestyle management companies in 22 countries -- 500 in the US -- are listed by the International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA).
Apparently born in California, the idea has spread, notably to London, since the late 1990s.
"The key reason: Around the world, individuals are just time-starved. They want more time to do the things they enjoy doing," ICEA director Carla Mandell said.
Fees can range from US$45 to US$110 per hour, while clients of some companies pay a monthly subscription, with rates from US$450 to US$1,200.
"Generally they are very well to do," Glass said.
The ICEA says more than one-third of people who hire a lifestyle manager earn between US$50,000 and US$100,000 a year.
"Most of our clients are in a six figure range, but not necessary a million dollars," said Lori Welch, who employs two people part time at her Washington area company Just Call Lori.
"They work a tremendous amount of hours," she said as a busy client called in to have his Christmas shopping done.
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