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A businessman can learn a lot during 2 years on the road. For Mark Kristoff, founder of a Los Angeles chauffeur service, the lesson was to shift the company image from taxi transportation to limousine services.
Mark, 33, founded his company in the summer of 2007 as a designated Los Angeles taxi and transportation service. The idea was fairly simple: Hollywood clubs let out late, and some club goers dont want to drive home. Sitting out front in a taxi was a great way to pick up clientel, however they all had 1 problem, The car they came in was parked in Hollywood. Mark had a great idea. After calling a local chauffeur and picking him up to drive the car home and then driving the chauffeur back home. A new business was formed. The client calls to have a driver show up at a scheduled time and location, and the driver takes the client home, for a fee, in his or her own car. A partner follows behind in an unmarked company car. This worked well and at night Mark would go to Hollywood and wait with a second driver for a client needing to get a ride home with his or her own car. But over the past year or so, Mark has learned that his company needed to change more than just the occasional tire. Hollywood is filled with Rich and Famous people and a Taxi is not an Ideal choice. After using a black Lincoln Town Car for a night when his car was being serviced, he realized that night that he was being used and called out of the street more frequently. This was pleasant suprise and the customer was very happy to pay a little extra to be in a luxury car. A week later Mark had a Town Car and changed his prices. Business improved and clients now call in advance before going clubbing. Next upgrade for mark is a new limousine or a well maintained used limo for sale.. |