STAYING SUITED FOR THE JOB: I had to handle an unexpected all-day chauffeured bus run to Los Angeles.
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TIM CROWLEY: For my first limo operator visit I headed up to North Hollywood, Calif., to see Ron Stein’s Exclusive Sedan Service
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POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: The Associated Press took a page right out of the limo books with its suggestions on renting stretch limousines and limo buses during peak prom and wedding season.
These 5 tips were published in
The Washington Post's Business section. What's really interesting here is the first tip:
Don't Let Price Be Your Only Consideration. That has been a constant message from many limousine operators and from
LCT Magazine related to customer service and marketing: You sell value and quality, not a price. You get what you pay for, and what you pay for in a quality limousine operation is well worth the price.
Related posts: 4 Cs Of Better Pricing.
Bill Atkins Pricing Tips.
-- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
FROM THE ROUGH ROAD: Beginning today, I will share some driving tips with you periodically to help you safely perform your job as a professional chauffeur, or instruct your chauffeurs on how to do so. As most of you know, my car was recently totaled by a driver who was texting and plowed into me at 50-60 mph while I was stopped.
Tip #1 - Make sure you concern yourself with what is going on behind you was well as in front of you. Avoid allowing drivers to tailgate you. If they insist, change lanes or pull to the right and let them pass. In the event of a sudden stop, they will hit you and unrestrained passengers in your vehicle could get tossed. Always allow enough space between you and the car in front of you so that if you are hit from behind, you will not hit the car in front of you and may actually be able to shoot out to the left or right of the car in front of you if you see a driver is about to rear-end you. -- Jim Luff, LCT
AUDIT SAGA PART 3: "Shortly after 1 p.m. the, the examiner left for a few hours to participate in a teleconference. By 3 p.m., he was back. I had hoped the conference call would be intense and take the rest of the day. No such luck."
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MARTIN ROMJUE: I stopped in at Monalisa Limousine on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles last Friday. The owners attended their first International LCT Show in February, but these operators clearly are not novices.
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DENIS WILSON: Before his days at A-1 Limousine of Princeton, N.J., Jeff Shanker spent time as a police officer and an EMT. This public safety background made him a good fit when he started at A-1 in 2002 as the director of safety and insurance — a hat he still wears along with that of executive vice president.
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AUDIT SAGA PART 2: "As 9 a.m. approached, I could almost feel beads of sweat upon my forehead. I felt like a kid in high school who was about to take my final examination. But this time the stakes were much higher."
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JIM LUFF: Did bureaucratic underlings at LAX try to retaliate when I requested a decal and transponder?
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Not only did BMW upgrade interior technology and eco-friendly engine options, it also re-engineered the chassis to offer enhanced comfort.
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JIM LUFF: Why do government bureaucrats make things as difficult as possible?
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DENIS WILSON: How online reviews really affect your business, Part 2.
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MICHAEL CAMPOS: Trust is the foundation of any stable relationship. Are consumers confident in the reliability for your business? Here are four ways to ensure your operation inspires trust among customers.
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MARTIN ROMJUE: I am glad to know one of the bright stars of the limousine industry.
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In a recent survey, TheChauffeur.com determined what chauffeured passengers cared about most in a vehicle. Here are the results:
- In-vehicle Wi-Fi was the most popular request from clients
- USB and power points for tablets and smartphones were popular requests
- Clients don’t understand soft close doors and don’t think they’re shut properly
- 76% of operator respondents said client seat comfort was most vital requirement in a car
- 64.4% of operator respondents said long-wheelbase models were optimal
As younger generations mature into potential chauffeured clients — business executives, brides- and grooms-to-be — their amenity requirements will follow the technological trends in the culture. Access to Internet for mobile devices and tablets, along with the ability to keep said devices charged, may eventually be expected as standard.
Do your vehicles have Wi-Fi and/or power outlets? How have clients responded to them (or the lack of them)? Please share your stories in the comments below.
SOURCE: TheChauffeur.com; Michael Campos, LCT associate editor
Google is the web search giant whose first page resembles the Promised Land for many businesses. Brands around the world have invested billions in AdWords and SEO to get to the top of Google search results. But what if you could rank at the top…for free? You can, and all you have to do is list your business on Google Places.
The listings on Google Places are the search engine’s way of increasing the value of its local search results and Google Maps application. It’s like Google’s version of Yelp and it allows people to review and score your service. This is a great opportunity not just to get more traffic and sales leads, but also to easily monitor the conversation around your company and engage with consumers.
Here’s the information you’ll need to set up your free account:
- Description of your business
- Contact information
- Company image or logo
- Coupon or special offer you want to promote
Just visit www.google.com/places to set up your business.
AUDIT! No business owner likes that word, but I'd rather get an insurance audit than one from the IRS. I'll share with you what I've learned from this experience.
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The 2014 Bentley Flying Spur is based on the Bentley Continental GT Speed and offers a handcrafted leather interior, soundproof floors and doors, and 42.2 inches of rear legroom.
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Mobile applications, such as the ILCT Show app, make it easier than ever for businesses to shift gears and accelerate profits. How? Through convenience and instant connection.
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Who knew an all-electric car could beat a foe as formidable as the Dodge Viper? Not only does this car sport luxurious style and comfort, it’s got some power behind it to. Did I mention it was all-electric? It’s coming to the limo industry with an exclusive fleet program this year and test drives at next week’s 2013 ILCT Show. Read more to see the video.
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The 2013 International LCT Show is getting closer, so here is a video from business coach Antonio Neves with three tips on how to most effectively approach a conference and get the best return on your investment.
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With the 2013 International LCT Show coming up, it’s a great time to go over how to use social media to enhance your experience. Read more to find out how to leverage the new 2013 International LCT Show app to organize your schedule, network with the right companies, and more.
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To kick 2013 off, Lincoln has produced a commercial for the 2013 MKZ sedan that captures the enchanting energy the company hopes will revitalize its brand. Click through to watch the video.
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In the frenzy of holiday shopping and consumers being bombarded with a massive amount of advertisements, offers, promotions and just plain, noise, it’s hard to be noticed in the sea of holiday spirit.
Read more for some tips on standing out during the holidays.
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Latest LCT Marketing Tips shine light on five of the top factors to consider and implement when marketing chauffeured service on Facebook.
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In his keynote address, the CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA shared optimism about the future of the automotive industry and technology that will enhance vehicle safety, environmental sustainability, and could change the way cars operate and are operated.
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What will Obamacare yield in added costs to businesses that may have to be passed on to consumers?
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VALUE VS. PRICE: If apps are used to advertise cheapest prices, then it will cheapen the limousine industry, one operator says.
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WHAT'S THAT? Don't drop the ball on your valued customers by failing to properly communicate the service details.
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My recent visit to Chicago-based Metropolitan Limousine opened my eyes to an effective way to train and motivate chauffeurs.
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With no need for people to operate vehicles, how can limo companies adapt to the new world of transportation?
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Don’t play the cutthroat game and let the loose players die of natural causes.
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It’s 4:30am and your chauffeur has a blown radiator hose.
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A Saturday night bus drama costs me a lot but keeps my customers moving.
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A new smartphone application threatens the industry by allowing non-professional drivers in un-permitted vehicles to transport passengers and collect a fare.
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PUMP RELIEF FOR BAD REASONS: Plunging gas prices certainly makes it more profitable to run a fleet-based business, but this article from CBS MarketWatch points to the
bigger price to be paid in this economy.
The Chrysler 300C diesel luxury sedan goes on sale in the UK on June 14. TheChauffeur.com editor Paul Gibson test drives the large American car and offers insight about its application in the UK chauffeured car industry.
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LCT MAG ON LOCATION: While vacationing in Hong Kong last week, I took time out to visit the local division of London-based Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services, the largest luxury chauffeured transportation company based outside of the U.S., and the second-ranked company on this year’s upcoming LCT 100 Largest Fleets List.
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SAY WHAT? What happens when your main contact at a corporate account is suddenly gone and you can’t find out for sure why?
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Like other business operations, social media marketing is not something that should be executed haphazardly.
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I take the wheel and lead respect in an emotional farewell to a 23-year-old Bakersfield, Calif. police officer.
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Entrepreneur.com shares five ways business owners and executives can make quicker, more calculated decisions.
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Apple, the company who brought us the iPod, iPhone and iPad, among myriad other powerful computers and gadgets, has successfully avoided competing on the basis of price. The tech titan has been able to charge premium rates and still attract business, a concept dreamed about by every business owner. Here are four ways Apple accomplished this along with ideas that can be applied to a chauffeured transportation business.
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SECONDS OF LIMELIGHT: One thing leads to another for Chris Hundley, owner of Limousine Connection in Los Angeles. After he was quoted in an Associated Press article about high gas prices that went viral, he got a call from NBC to do an interview for its Feb. 27 edition of NBC Nightly News. Hundley appears for a few seconds in a report on rising gas prices and how they affect fleet and delivery businesses. He told LCT that he hosted an NBC News crew during the day which shot some footage of him and his vehicles in North Hollywood, Calif., where Limousine Connection is based.
While just a brief clip, such exposure for an operator goes a long way in establishing credibility and authority -- some of the best P.R. for a business. And NBC Nightly News is the top-rated evening newscast in the U.S., with more viewers than comparable newscasts on all the 24-hour cable news channels. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Accent Limousine Service uses storytelling to engage current and potential customers and highlight the benefits of using their service for special occasions.
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