Biggest success: Jevonne Pollard, president of Carte Blanche Concierge in Beaumont, Texas, believes it’s important to remain humble. She’s happy to provide excellent service. It means a lot to her when clients come back and say they made the smart choice by picking her company. “At the end of the day, it’s about carving out your space in a very crowded field,” she says. “We all have nice cars and good chauffeurs, but it’s about how you made that client feel.”
Marketing strategies: Carte Blanche Concierge has succeeded using Facebook ads and networking. Pollard and her husband belong to their local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau, and stay involved in their community.
Customer service strategy: The company does whatever it takes to create an experience that clients remember. “We know we have one shot to impress them, and they have other options. We want them to choose us every time, so we try to make the process as simple as possible,” Pollard says.
Fast Facts
Location: Beaumont, Texas (between Houston and Lake Charles)
Owners: Lance and Jevonne Pollard
Founded: 2011; Car Service: 2013
Vehicle types: Sedans and SUVs, stretch limousine
Fleet size: 5
Employees: 3
Annual Revenue: $150,000+
Website: www.cbcluxe.com
Phone: (409) 241-0222
Advice: “The best advice I would give to individuals getting into the black car service industry is KNOW THY NUMBERS!,” she says. “I can’t stress this enough; it’s important to know your actual costs. If you don’t have a wrangle on them, you’ll be out of business quick.”
Start-up costs and methods: The Pollards started their business with little knowledge of the industry. They were able to get approved for an auto loan, but the insurance costs caught them a bit off guard. “Good, old-fashioned hustle is what built our business. We were answering our phone around the clock while our competitors closed at five in the afternoon. It was fairly easy to get a foothold in the area because we just wanted it more than our competitors did,” she says.
Origins: Carte Blanche Concierge started as an errand service (hence the word “concierge” in the title). After a while, the company’s clients started asking if Pollard would drive them to different appointments. “We immediately saw this as a new business opportunity that needed to be investigated further,” she says. After some research, they started with one black sedan, offering local car service to clients. “The rest, as they say, is history.”
Future plans: Pollard plans on breaking into the group transportation business, since that’s where the industry is growing. She says TNCs have changed near-demand and on-demand, but she believes group travel has much potential.
Hobbies: She enjoys spending time with her kids outdoors. “If it’s a beautiful day, you’ll find me either in my garden, or somewhere with my children enjoying the weather.”
Keywords
business management customer service minority-owned businesses small-fleet operators Texas operators
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