Gold Coast friends Levi Corby and brothers Daniel and Chris Hodgetts launch ‘revolutionary’ PicUp

If you’re a ute owner on the Gold Coast in need of some extra cash, this new app may be just what you’re looking for.

THREE blokes from the Gold Coast are hoping their new app catches on with ute owners across the region looking to earn some extra cash during the COVID-19 downturn.

Levi Corby and brothers Daniel and Chris Hodgetts are the brains behind the PicUp app, which connects consumers needing rubbish removed or goods moved with ute owners prepared to do the driving and moving for them.

The app is available for people to use on the Gold Coast but there are plans to expand to capital cities.

Mr Corby, who is Gold Coast manager at Hutchinsons Builders, said he came up with the initial idea while driving home in his sedan and passing “ute after ute” parked on the street.

He realised he needed one for some rubbish removal and thought: “How good would it be if one of these blokes could do the job for me?’’

Gold Coast mates, Levi Corby, Chris Hodgetts and Daniel Hodgetts have launched PicUp, an app that connects people needing junk removed or furniture moved with ute and van drivers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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After 18 months of development and testing, mostly through family and friends, PicUp was born.

Initially focused on waste removal the app was modified so customers could also book for the movement of goods.

So far there have been almost 1000 downloads of the app for IOS and android in the eight weeks it has been available.

Daniel Hodgetts, who is chief operating officer, said the response so far had been overwhelmingly positive.

“We are trying to make life easier. Our motto is: ‘Take a pic and we’ll pic it up’,” he said.

“People say it is so convenient and will save them so much time and money.”

The three friends have partnered with a venture capitalist out of Sydney and have plans on expanding to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne within the next three years.

Gold Coast mates, Levi Corby, Chris Hodgetts and Daniel Hodgetts have launched PicUp, an app that connects people needing junk removed or furniture moved with ute and van drivers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Mr Corby said the app added to the share economy.

He said unlike Airtasker, a mobile marketplace enabling users to outsource everyday jobs, PicUp was for a specific purpose namely the movement, of goods and junk and waste removal.

Similarly 1800-GOT-JUNK? deals only with recycling and waste.

“This is a very traditional industry based mainly on people calling up a service and asking for a quote,” he said.

“PicUp is revolutionary.

“Tradies finishing work at 3pm can make a few hundred dollars by working a few extra hours.”

There are two versions of the app – one for consumers and one for drivers.

Consumers log into the app and choose what goods/waste they want removed or moved and where they want it taken.

An algorithm determines the cost by taking into account the time it takes to travel to the destination as well as load and unload the goods/waste.

It then generates an estimate with a low and high range similar to Uber.

Daniel Hodgetts said he recently advertised for drivers and received 15 applications within a short space of time.

He said clients who have come on board include Dulux, Reece Plumbing Supplies and Valley Eyewear.