10 Items or Less: Finding Independence

The Instacart shopper community is as diverse as the items in the grocery store — every day, tens of thousands of individuals shop, deliver, and become an extension of people’s households. We want to share this community’s stories, highlighting Instacart shoppers, shift leads, and site managers all across North America. 10 Items or Less is a series featuring just some of the amazing members of the Instacart community, sharing their unique experiences and secret sauce with the world.

1. What’s your name and where are you from? I’m Jimin, and I’m from Vallejo, California.
2. How long have you been working with Instacart, and in what roles? I’ve been a full-service shopper since August 2018, so I just passed one year!
3. What were you doing before you started shopping with Instacart? I was a stay-at-home mom with two kids. My daughter was four and my son was five when I decided to start shopping with Instacart.
4. Why did you decide to become an Instacart shopper? I needed to get out on my own. I was going through a divorce and Instacart gave me the means to leave that situation. I was drawn to Instacart specifically for the flexibility. Instacart not only enabled me to provide for my kids, but also pick them up, be there for them, and set my hours so I could give my kids everything they needed.
5. What’s your favorite thing about working with Instacart? With Instacart, it’s not just the flexibility, it’s the autonomy. Not only do I get to set my own hours and schedule, but I get to drive, I get to be out and about, I don’t have to be in one place all the time. There’s freedom in my day that I love.
6. What’s been your favorite customer experience? I have one customer that’s turned into a friend. I started shopping for her all the time, and we messaged each other whenever I got her order. I would playfully give her a hard time, like “another order, what are you getting now?” She has some quirky items she orders, like a lot of ice, and things for her dogs. We established a friendship and I love anytime I get to deliver for her.
7. What’s your “secret sauce” — a shopping tip that a lot of people might not know? People call me the best at picking produce. If it’s good enough for you, then it’s good enough for [the customer]. Shop as if you’re shopping for yourself. If it’s something like an apple, make sure there are no bruises and it’s nice and shiny.
8. What’s your favorite food? I love Asian food — especially Thai food. The flavors are so complex. I try to make it at home but it doesn’t turn out quite as well. I can make curry at home but that’s kind of it!
9. What 3 items are always in your cart? I love all kinds of sweet things. First would probably be Honey Bunches of Oats — it’s sweet, it’s easy, and it’s a good breakfast for me to start off my day. Definitely apples, a quick treat for when I’m working and on the go. And chocolate ice cream, it’s a sweet treat after a busy day of work.

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Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.