At about 3:20 a.m. Friday, Eric Morgenstern left his house to deliver Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! -- a package of
12 red Solo cups, 12 neon shot glasses and a two-liter bottle of soda, among other supplies.
Morgenstern (junior-business) has made these trips a business. LionNeeds, a new Penn State student-run company, promises to deliver a plethora of party products to your doorstep in less than 30 minutes.
"I'm a student," he said. "I know what people want when they are out partying."
The company, launched in August, has already had a steady stream of orders, creator Morgenstern said. Products range from chips, salsa and lollipops to beer pong balls, condoms and tobacco products. Morgenstern said the company aims to cater to the "late-night partiers of Penn State."
Students can order packages with nicknames like "The Candy Shop" and "For the Single Ladies," from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday through Saturday -- what Morgenstern calls the unofficial weekends at Penn State. Most packages cost less than $10, plus a $3 delivery charge. LionNeeds obtains its products through wholesale suppliers, he said.
At 3:20 a.m. Friday, the "founding father" of LionNeeds departed to make his first delivery of the evening. Morgenstern had been watching a football game in his room when he received a phone call asking if he delivered at this hour.
After assuring the late-night caller that he could bring him whatever he needed in 10 minutes or less, Morgenstern took down the customer's order and headed for his car -- the "Mo-mobile."
The customer had ordered the Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! package, Peach Skoal and a flavored Game Cigar. Morgenstern threw in a free Smart Food popcorn snack with the order. He called his customer when he reached the doorstep. Brian Johnson (junior-marketing) answered his phone from inside the house.
"Hey, man, could you just bring it inside?" Johnson asked.
Sprawled on the couch, Johnson said he had spent the evening watching the Rangers game and hanging out with some friends. He added that he would be using the shot package Saturday night.
As a student-based company, Morgenstern employed the help of other students to develop the business's Web site. Matt Chang (junior-electrical engineering) and Chris Amatangelo (senior- advertising) pooled their talents to bring LionNeeds to life.
Amatangelo said he will keep working for Morgenstern because of the experience the company offers.
"This says a lot about [Morgenstern], because he doesn't even go out anymore, he just works on his company," Amatangelo said. "I don't mind doing it. It's still fun for me."
The entrepreneurs want students to have a big say in the development of the company, giving customers the opportunity to create their own product packages and names through an ongoing contest.
Whatever the product may be, Morgenstern stands by his company slogan: "We gots what you needs."
Orders for LionNeeds can be placed through calls, text messages and lionneeds.com. The minimum charge to deliver is $8.50.
