By DINA MENDROS
Staff Writer

BIDDEFORD — Grocery shopping, event planning or even helping a nervous bachelor plan the perfect proposal are just some of the tasks Alisa Diphilippo tackles through her newest company.

Simply Imperial is a Biddeford-based concierge service that allows those who are very busy – and have disposable income – to pay to have someone else take care of the things they don't have time for, or those for which they don't want to make time.

The entrepreneur incorporated her company this year, although planning and research for the company started in 2007. Simply Imperial is a complement to Imperial Limousine, which Diphilippo has owned for more than five years.

Two-career families, jet-setters and senior citizens are the company's target clientele. So far, they are learning about the service through word of mouth. Most are already customers of Diphilippo's limousine service, and are based in Biddeford Pool, Kennebunk, Wells and other surrounding areas.

"There's a need in the area for this type of service," said the businesswoman, who believes her company will grow once word spreads. While she's aware of individuals who provide some similar services, she doesn't think there is a company quite like hers in the area.

So far, Diphilippo and her five person staff have kept busy grocery shopping, meal planning, picking up prescriptions and weekly checks of clients seasonal homes. Diphilippo envisions that future clients will call her first to hire a plumber, gardener or other service providers. It will be up to her company to make sure those providers complete their jobs satisfactorily. Eventually she would like to also plan events – a "function we're really good at," she said.

Hiring the right people is important to Diphilippo because her clients will be trusting their homes to Simply Imperial.

Diphilippo is modeling her venture after the Boston-based hospitality company Tillinger's. Founder Douglas Tillinger said he started his company because friends and others continually asked him about what to do and where to go in Boston. He thought he might have luck offering his services as a business, so he set up shop in an office in Boston's Back Bay.

Tillinger's has grown by leaps and bounds, since the owner opened for business in 1990 at the age of 22. The company which Tillinger started alone now employs nearly 100, and has grown its client base and services every year. From 2003-2006, the company's sales grew 150 percent.

When asked why his company has been so successful, Tillinger said: "People continually expect more out life … and want excellent service."

In 1990, very few companies like his existed and people were unaware of anyone offering those services. Tillinger said he's glad Diphilippo has opened her company and believes it will bring more awareness to the industry.

— For more information about Simply Imperial, call 294-2270. The company's Web site will be coming soon at www.simplyimperial.com. Contact Dina Mendros by calling 282-1535, Ext. 324, or via e-mail at dmendros@gwi.net.