Startup Delivers Gas to Customers

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. on the go / ɑːn ðə goʊ / (idiom) – describing someone who is always busy or moving around
    Example:

    This handy laptop is perfect for employees who are on the go.


  2. materialize / məˈtirijəˌlaɪz / (v) – to become a reality
    Example:

    My dream of having my own restaurant finally materialized.


  3. reinvention / ˌriːjənˈvɛnʃən / (n) – the act of making changes to something
    Example:

    The reinvention of the old incentive system will start next month.


  4. viable / ˈvajəbəl / (adj) – having the ability to become successful
    Example:

    Starting a digital marketing company is a viable business plan because of the increasing popularity of digital ads.


  5. fluctuating / ˈflʌkʧəˌweɪtɪŋ / (adj) – changing irregularly
    Example:

    We should plan our budget carefully because of the fluctuating prices of goods.


Article

Read the text below.

A California-based startup now delivers gas to people on the go.


Founded in 2015, Yoshi functions as an on-demand refueling service. Through the Yoshi app, clients can notify the startup’s field technicians about their vehicle’s location. The technicians will then refill the vehicles with fuel provided by American gas company ExxonMobil. For a monthly subscription fee of $20 on top of the gas price, Yoshi members can get services like car wash, oil change, and tire check.


The startup currently caters to 16 US cities and aims to expand to nine more cities by the end of the year.


The idea behind Yoshi materialized when founder Bryan Frist and his partners were searching for industries that needed reinvention. His team saw the gas refueling industry as a viable option, considering issues like long lines at gas stations and fluctuating cost of gas.


In addition, finding gas stations is becoming more difficult nowadays because their number is decreasing. The National Association of Convenience Stores reported that between 1994 and 2015, the number of gas stations in the United States fell from 202,800 to around 150,000.


Filld is another startup that delivers gas at customers’ convenience. Like Yoshi, Filld clients can also order through an app. Then, a Filld employee will arrive at the vehicle’s location to refuel the tank. Filld’s price is based on the average gas prices in nearby stations, plus a $5 service charge.


Currently, Filld offers its services to customers in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Its services are also available in other US cities like Seattle and Portland, as well as in Vancouver, Canada.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• If you owned a vehicle, would you be interested to try Yoshi’s services? Why or why not?
• Do you think there are disadvantages to using Yoshi’s services? Explain.

Discussion B

• If you could build a startup, what type of product or service would you offer? Why?
• What strategies would you use to sell this product or service? Explain.