Mark Day has lived in the Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay area since 1986.
I met Mark through mutual friends in the 1990s and sold his last two homes. Today, Mark’s business, Hey Felix, provides a neighbourhood concierge service to help support locals with their everyday needs.
We recently sat down for a chat about how Hey Felix helps out busy locals, operating during COVID, and some of his favourite neighbourhood spots.
Hi Mark, I know Hey Felix has a local shop front and that you’re a concierge service, but tell us a bit about how Hey Felix actually works?
We offer a wide range of services to make people’s lives easier. Anyone in postcode 2011 can use the service plus whole building packages are becoming popular. We work with individual apartment owners, Executive Committees, and Strata Management. You can even sell or rent your property with a subscription attached to add lifestyle value and improve returns.
These services include:
- Off-site front desk services for buildingsAlternative address for parcel deliveries and collection
- Front door service for parcel deliveries
- Spare key storage and exchange
- Property access for trades, guests and large deliveries
- Daily luggage storage
- Cleaner scheduling including dry cleaning collection
- Moving assistance
Why is Hey Felix popular with Potts Point locals?
It makes their lives that little bit easier and saves time, which is our most precious resource. A lot of people live in buildings without a concierge, so Hey Felix fills the service gaps and it is more cost-effective using a shared service. Overall, convenience and trust work together to provide a popular service. But maybe it’s the orange swivel chair in the shop that seems to have special powers which encourages people to reveal what’s on their mind and what they need help with.
What gave you the idea for Hey Felix, and when did you set it up?
I’d been looking for something different to do in the local area for a while. Talking with a lot of businesses and locals encouraged me to have a go. I did some research and commenced just before COVID hit. Most buildings aren’t set up for smooth parcel deliveries and on-call assistance, so it is a solution for this that adds lifestyle value to the property and residents.
With growth in online shopping, more delivery problems emerge – such as missed deliveries, stolen parcels, messy lobbies, standing in Post Office queues. Our spare key service can be used for trades and guest access along with a convenient daily bag drop service.
Why Felix?
A combination of things. I wanted a brand name people would remember more easily than my name. Cats quietly go about their business. Felix was also the neat one on top of chores in The Odd Couple sitcom of the 70s. It’s also a take on Hey Siri (Hey Felix).
What’s the reception been like?
Terrific. People are so encouraging and keep saying what a great idea it is. But it does need some explaining, as not everyone is sure exactly what I do. It’s not like opening another café up the street. Having the shopfront in a really central part of Macleay Street has opened up a lot more opportunities and provides an on the ground presence.
How did COVID impact you last year?
Very much. The concept of providing a service for people with busy lifestyles who weren’t at home was very much impacted by government order for people to stay at home! But it did enable me to better organise and make the service offering a better fit for the local demand coming out of COVID. I always believe from bad things can come good things.
What is your most popular service?
That’d be a toss-up between parcel services and spare key storage. Although cleaner placements and providing access for large deliveries is growing as people return to offices for work. We are now also the Parcelpoint hub for all local Amazon deliveries.
What’s been the strangest request been, or can a concierge never tell?
Never tell. People rely on my confidentiality as I’m selling trust, but there have been some odd-shaped parcels I’ve had to grapple with!
Favourite request?
Don’t tell my husband I’m getting this delivered.
What are your favourite Potts Point hangouts?
Beare Park; the library; Gypsy café; Ollie’s Kitchen; Potts Point Hotel; and Dulcies.
What do you like the most about the area?
Besides the convenient living and amenities, it’s the strong sense of community that makes it special, along with the egalitarian demographic, colourful history and beautiful buildings. This amazing combination makes for a great future for all the businesses and residents of Potts Point.
Thanks for the chat, Mark. Find out more about Hey Felix at heyfelix.com.au.
