The Way We Work: Ditmas Park Mother and Son Begin Business

A Ditmas Park mother and her college graduate son have found a way to earn a living in this economy, all while helping the community in a unique way.

"I used to have a script consulting business and it hasn't been getting much activity in this economy," Judith Stevens said, noting that her son Jacob had been having trouble finding a job after graduating college in 2011.

"After a couple of months, I thought, 'What can we do that doesn't involve a great influx of cash?'"

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The answer was their new business, Third Hand Brooklyn Services, a "neighborhood-based freelance concierge service" available to perform various errands to give people more time throughout their day.

"For people with jobs, it's no longer a '9 to 5' situation," Stevens said. "You get home and do you really want to spend your time running errands? Especially people with kids. We have the time do those errands."

From dog-walking to grocery shopping to recycling old computers, the pair said they will take on virtually any errand a person needs to have completed, with the exception of house cleaning.

"These jobs are small and they're odd; it's all the little annoying things that aren't worth having someone full-time," Stevens said. "Do you really want to give up a whole day of work to wait for the phone guy? Have them call me and I'll be there. And you really want someone you know is accountable. People know us."

Though she had never thought of this as a career before, Stevens said she really enjoys the work. "I don't know if it would have occurred to me if my other business didn't slow, but I love having a list and accomplishing tasks," she said. "It gives me a sense of accomplishment. When there's work to be done, you do it."

Jake agreed, saying, "It's good work to do right now. It takes time management and people skills, and the skills to do what you have to do and not waste time." 

The Stevens can be reached at 917-612-6961.