The 30-hour Day
Inner Western Suburbs Courier - February, 2005
Short of time? How do Inner West families manage?
Report GEORGINA VESTEY
The old adage "time is money" rings true for Catharina Vaag, founder of Abbotsford-based Busy Lifestyle Managers.
Other people's lack of time has seen Ms Vaag create her own lifestyle management and personal concierge business offering a variety of services to time-poor working people. "Our services help busy working people spend 100 per cent of their time on work issues while we help them organise their personallives,"Ms Vaag said.
"This industry is growing rapidly in Australia and all over the world and companies and individuals are not only starting to use concierges, but many are making them part of their corporate benefit packages."
The growing success of a company which essentially sells time is hardly surprising when one in five Australians now works at least 70 hours per week.
Ms Vaag, who is also the president of the International Concierge & Errand Association in Australia and NZ, said time is the most precious commodity and as a result, more people are willing to pay for personal services that will help make their lives easier. "Concierge and errand services give individuals more time to spend with their families or friends," she said. "Il allows people to do what they want to do versus what they have \0 do."
"Why make 20 phone calls when you can make one to your concierge who can do all 20 of those tasks for you, thereby saving you time, money and serious stress." "They will in essence help you fit 30 or more hours into a 24-hour day."
Balmain resident Nadia Peterson is one of the new-breed of time- poor professionals trying to find a better work and life balance. "I use them to do those extra bits," Ms Peterson said.
Busy Lifestyle Managers' clients range from individual professionals to corporations including their services into salary packages.
Ms Vaag said: "We serve anyone from busy working mums to chairman of the board." "Working such long hours can create so much stress and the concierge alleviates the problem," she said.