Your Man, a creature of the crisis

When he found that due to the flight of economic migrants there is a gap in the work done on single-family houses, he decided to seize the opportunity. "The 80% of all the immigrants I knew went back to their countries, so there was a gap especially in the work done on single-family houses: pruning, painting, hauling wood," he explains.

At the same time, he found out from his contacts with relatives, elderly people and girlfriends that in many cases they do not know where to turn for simple jobs. So he decided to become "Your Man" and take action... as a kid on errands.

"From the construction of swimming pools, a kind of luxury, I moved to the provision of services and became a child for errands. I didn't think it was derogatory nor did I have any other qualms. I have a responsibility to my family and I had to work. I prefer it to leaving as an immigrant and doing the same in a foreign country", points out Yiannis Kokkinos, who has been "Your Man" for a month, taking on small jobs based in Kalamaria and more.

The errand companies are not something new in the market of Athens and Thessaloniki. However, they focus on the execution of private and professional orders and delivery services. Yannis Kokkinos undertakes from paying bills to cutting trees in the yards of houses and whatever else is asked of him and as he says for now he is the only one of his kind in Thessaloniki.

 “Because of the decline in incomes, people cannot pay the same amounts as they used to for small jobs. So I offer help with a little money for small everyday jobs, for example for paying bills or shopping at the supermarket, the amount does not exceed 5 euros, while for more difficult jobs, which require technical knowledge or expensive tools, the prices are higher at 10 euros when before the crisis it might have been at 30 euros for the same work", he notes and adds: "The important thing is to do your job properly despite the fact that the money is small. Honor the money you get, because that's how you honor your own work", says Yannis Kokkinos.

The initial capital to start working "Your Man" was only 30 euros. That's the total cost of the 1,000 photocopies he printed to publicize the services the mobile phone card provides, in order to close business. With the first money he made, he printed another 1,000 photocopies, in order to open up the circle of potential customers. Social Media, Twitter and Facebook are also an important tool for promoting the new activity of Giannis Kokkinos.

He says that so far there has been a response from the world. "There are people who cannot work because they have health problems and have no one to help them. I received a call from a gentleman who had recent surgery and was unable to clean his yard. I have also received many phone calls from people who need help with spring work in their yards and homes and are asking for information," he emphasizes.

Yannis Kokkinos also has plans for the evolution of Your Man as long as it has an impact and response in a business as well. As he says, a network of partner-subscribers could be created in Thessaloniki and other cities in Northern Greece. "Your Man will assign them jobs and the money will be collected entirely by the partners," he concludes.