Sittercity is a privately-owned corporation founded in 2001 and is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). With over 150,000 caregivers nationwide, Sittercity is a way for parents and caregivers to contact each other and set up childcare jobs. Founder Genevieve Thiers spread the Sittercity message over twleve major colleges in Boston on foot to gather an opening database of 600 babysitters (and many blisters) within three weeks. Parents love the service for the accessibility it gives them to talented, caring babysitters and nannies, and sitters love it for the range of jobs it provides. Connecting Moms conducted an interview with founder Genevieve Theirs.
Q: Can you tell us about your company and site www.Sittercity.com?
A: Sittercity.com is America’s largest, most easily accessible database for babysitters and nannies. With over 150,000 caregivers nationwide, we think we’re the Web’s best way for parents and caregivers to contact each other and set up childcare jobs.
Q: How did you come to develop such a service?
A: I was a college sitter, and one day I saw a pregnant mom walking up the 193 steps from Boston College’s lower campus to its upper campus. I was horrified, so I took the flyers she was posting for a sitter, sent her home, and posted them for her. While I was posting one next to an elevator, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if someone created one place in a city where parents could go to find care in that city?” And Sittercity.com was born.
Q: Many mothers and parents are often hesitant to hire Nannies and babysitters, how does your company address this?
A: We actually make finding sitters and nannies safer than it was before. Before, parents would talk to pals or place a classified ad. You never know who you are getting. On Sittercity.com, we have over 150,000 sitters, with references, feedback from parents, background checks, interview info, detailed profiles, pictures … it’s just incredible. It’s entering sitter heaven.
Q: What criteria do your sitters need to fulfill in order to become employed?
A: They must be over seventeen and have one childcare reference. We have an internal Q/A department that makes sure that these criteria are filled. They also have the option to purchase a background check on themselves and post it for parents to see. This is very popular!
Q: How did you spread the word?
A: I flyered every college in foot and talked to every parent that I sat for in the beginning. We launched in
Boston on 2001. I had found 600 sitters on foot, and thirty parents.
Q: Having started in Boston, Massachusetts, how long did it take for your company to grow and reach other cities and states?
A: The site grew virally, at an incredible pace! By 2002, we were in three cities. By 2003, ten cities. By 2004, national, and today, we have more than a half a million users nationwide!
Q: Do you get repeat customers often? And how do you get feedback?
A: Yes! Parents always come back once they use us because sitters usually graduate, move, or change careers within a year of being hired. So we generally see parents several times, and always make them welcome when they come back. As for feedback, parents send it to us every day, and we post it. We also ask parents and sitters to leave feedback on each other, and this is becoming a popular site option.
Q: What has been the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur?
A: Learning to let go. In the beginning, you want to control everything, and it’s small. Learning to hire and trust my amazing team was hard, but now I am in heaven! It’s an amazing group of people, all with their own talents.
Q: Would you have done anything differently in the beginning with what you know now?
A: Actually I think that I was incredibly lucky. When I tried to launch Sittercity, I went to VC’s and angels, and tried to get funding. They laughed me out of the room. So, I launched the site alone, on foot, with a little money and a ton of sweat. We have made it this far growing on revenues—it’s an incredibly healthy way to grow. When you work with VC’s, you usually lose control, and then anything can happen.
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