FAQ - About running a Food Hub

A Box Divvy Food Hub usually needs 15 families (45 people) to start a Hub. The average Hub is 40families ordering weekly with the maximum of 50 families in a Hub.

If you have a large family group or a cafe, for example, then your Hub can be small so long as the order is large enough to justify the Hubster and Transport fee. Enquire and we can give you the amount of sales needed to make the Hub viable.

To make it fair the cost of goods across NSW are the same. The difference is in the transport cost to your Hub. There may also be a difference if the Hubster decides to take less than the 12% of the total sold ie a cafe, family group not wanting to add more on the goods cost. The more members the transport fee reduces but Box Divvy are subsidising it as well.

To Run a Box Divvy Food Hub you need to understand that you have a committment to providing an ongoing service to your members. You don't just shut the Hub if you go on holidays. See Replacement Hubster requirement - this is a must do.

1. The space approximately 3m x 3m and where you pack must be clean, junk free and tidy.

2. Floor cover - If a concrete or outside area you Must have a drop sheet like a tarp for boxes to be put onto to keep them off the ground.

3. You need fold up tables or appropriate table to put member boxes on for the divvy.

4. Good communication with Box Divvy Administration and your members.

Be mindful that we are all working toward the same goal - to change the food system so please be always respectful, patient, communicative and polite. Manage your members expectations. If they ask you a question and you don't know - you don;t know so find out.

5. A computer and printer.

6. For summer we suggest - A space or also known as a thermal blanket. You can purchase on Ebay.

7. Willingness to maintain your Hub membership.You need to be outgoing and willing to engage your members in your food community.

8. Be able to provide good customer service.

** Remember Box Divvy is not for everyone - if the person thinking of joining your Hub wants 1 tomato, 2 carrots then Box Divvy is not for them. Manage that expectation if you hear it and suggest that Box Divvy might not be for them.

If they want a FIXED BOX and don't want to login each week then they can just have the Starting Order.

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General cleanliness, wash your hands before, during and after packing or use wash gloves. The produce and bread come in that day and out same day.

Box Divvy takes back wax and foam boxes. The other boxes use for packing, give to neighbours growing who want to get rid of weeds or recycle bin.

Groceries come packed and labelled. Members order this week and receive them the following week.

So no food should be sitting around.

A Box Divvy Hub is a coop and neighbours join your coop ordering online using the Box Divvy App. You are not retailing or wholesaling but you do need an ABN. Ask the Coach about this.

The tax department require an ABN if you are not an employee and receiving income. We will provide easy instructions on how to apply for one and takes no more than 10 minutes to fill out the form and get one instantly. You can use an ABN you have or apply for a new one but for each ABN you need to do a separate tax at year end.

You need to ask your accountant for tax advice.

The farmers, local growers and food wholesalers are paid $0.65-$0.70cents in every $1 a members spends. The Hubster can take 'up to' 15% of the total spend.

Some Hubsters might be a large family and decide they don't wish to take any reward and keep the total spend cheap.

Some Hubsters might wish to be competitive with a nearby Hub and reduce their Hubster fee. It is completely up to the Hubster to choose what they wish to charge up to 15% of the total spend.

There is no employee or contractor relationship with Box Divvy. You are not retailing but act as a distributor for farmers and food wholesalers. You simply use the ordering platform to run your Box Divvy Food Hub.

Your members will be online. Social media and 'word-of-mouth work. You will have access to your local Community Facebook/Instagram pages to post into. You will have access to Box Divvy Facebook in which you can contribute. Note you will not create a page on any socials using the name Box Divvy which is a trademarked name.

Box Divvy operate all social pages like Instagram and TikTok.

Flyers generally don't work unless you use them like a business card and actually hand them to someone and chat.

Box Divvy have a flyer template which you will have access to.

Word of mouth is the most powerful means for promoting your Food Hub. Going to local activities like mothers groups, sports functions in your area to promote your Box Divvy Food Hub is a good way to get people involved in your Food Community.

Your members are important to you and we ask that they show respectful behaviour as you show to them. If they have an issue listen to them and always find a way to resolution. You do need good forward-facing customer skills and the Box Divvy team are there to help.

We suggest you listen, take a deep breath and work on a resolution then get back to the member.

Never be rude, quick tempered - even if you've had a difficult day, you don't know what your member has been going through too. Saying that you should never take rudeness from a member and we recommend you chat to the Hubster Coach before replying to a member.

If they have an issue - acknowledge it. Then see if there is a way to resolution.

Please do ask Box Divvy Team for advice. If the member is disrespectful and you can't resolve it you are entitled to go through the removal process we provide for that member from your Food Hub. But in saying this you should consider a written warning to them first about their behaviour, ask the Hubster Coach, and outline what you expect in the nicest possible but firm way.

The produce is approximately 30-40% cheaper than supermarket but it's good quality produce. The farmers have lovingly grown this but they are 'live' plants.

So when you pack for your member check that what you are packing is good quality. The odd growing mark is okay. What you are looking for are cuts or squashing.

Your member paid for the whole box so the 'extras' belong to them. Divvy them proportionally to household size.

You know when you have packed that it is good quality and well packed. So with this in mind members cannot claim spoilt produce. If they have an issue they certainly can discuss it with you. They will generally receive extras of other things each week as you will have extras to give to your members.

If you wish to put in your diary to add extras for that member the following week into their order, do so. You are expected to do some ‘greengrocering’ if needed. This means if you see burnt leaves take them off or one dud strawberry take it out.

In the farmer fresh produce boxes delivered we have allowed about 5% spoilage overall - this is normal. If it’s more then you need to communicate with the supplier online.

Security involves using common sense and Box Divvy take no responsibility for how you conduct your Food Hub. These are suggestions only.

* When members register they put in their postcode and it shows the Hubs in that area.

Members receive addresses once joined.

* On Facebook your address is not shown publicly but an idea of location is shown.

* Do not put your address or phone on Social media.

* Do not invite people into your house unless you know and trust them.

* Make sure if you are doing your divvy at the front that your house at the back is secured.

Members cannot pick up late or outside pick up time unless they have contacted you and asked for this and that you have agreed to it. Members hould not pick up their order the following day. By exception and you take responsibility for their produce quality.

There is a pick up window of 2 hours. If someone wants to pick up after work limit the pick up time. You do not want people coming and going at all times of the day. Manage this carefully otherwise you will have people coming and going at all times of the night. Box Divvy do not want this as it creates a hazard in your relationship with your family and neighbours.

Within 4 weeks of starting you need to email Box Divvy the details of the person you have trained in packing to replace you if sick or away on holidays.
You don't close the Box Divvy when you go away.It is important to maintain regular supply of their food to your members. If you don’t you will find you will lose members and make your job difficult.
If however, unusual cirmcumstances the group agree to close then you need to notify Box Divvy at least 2 week’s notice and the period that this will occur. Box Divvy need time to sort with farmers/wholesalers and the people who do the delivery.
If the break is for longer than an accepted holiday there is no guarantee of same delivery time on restarting the Hub.