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Showing posts with label December 22. Show all posts
Showing posts with label December 22. Show all posts
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Corporate Travel Managers Reflect On Uncertain 2016
Uber Really Botched Its Driverless Car Debut
Business Insider analysis article here
UPDATE: Arizona Welcomes Uber’s Self-Driving Test Vehicles
Keywords
autonomous vehicles California operators driverless cars regulatory enforcement San Francisco operators self-driving vehicles state regulations TNCs Uber
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Lancer Named Best Insurance Fraud Fighter Of The Year
NICB’s award recognizes Lancer’s extraordinary efforts in fighting auto-related insurance fraud, and its strong working relationship with local, state and federal authorities involved in the fight against this growing criminal activity. Lancer announced its award on Dec. 21.
The top department award received by Lancer for 2016 joins with the individual awards previously received from NICB by Lancer claims professional Paul Wasielewski (2015) and Christina Federici (2014).
Lancer receives this recognition as a standout SIU Department alongside such insurance giants as GEICO, Allstate, and Hartford Insurance. The company promises its policyholders to keep aggressively fighting insurance fraud wherever investigators find it.
Lancer Insurance Company, rated “Excellent” by the A.M. Best Company, is the nation’s leading provider of traditional commercial automobile liability, physical damage, and general liability insurance coverages to the motorcoach, bus, and chauffeured transportation industries.
Source: Lancer Insurance press release
Keywords
criminal incidents fleet insurance fraud honors and awards industry vendors Lancer Insurance Safety & Insurance
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How To Market For New Business In 2017
Lots of phone calls and late nights stuffing envelopes was business as usual, all to get your name in front of a potential customer. But few people answer their phones anymore. It’s all mostly done by email, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Today you can e-blast 1,000 prospects with the push of a SEND button. How long would it take you to call 1,000 people?
Today’s marketing needs to combine traditional and “out-of-the-box” thinking. But if you believe “out-of-the-box” marketing is just limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, and passing out your business cards at your daughter’s soccer game, then you are indeed working with a very small box.
Truth be told, Facebook and LinkedIn can be useful tools for a portion of your marketing, especially if you are trying to reach brides, but it shouldn’t be the only resource in your marketing toolbox. If you are waiting for Warren Buffett to friend you on Facebook, don’t hold your breath. Only 3% of companies have said they have ever sold anything on Facebook, according to several industry experts. But if used correctly, and with a splash of persistence and ingenuity, you can achieve some of the results you want through social media. At the very least, it can’t hurt you (unless one of your drivers posts a photo on Facebook of himself downing a six-pack while on the job).
The marketing process has changed dramatically during the past 30 years. Before, all it took to get in to see a client was a phone call and a briefcase. Or, if you were really lucky (and gutsy), you just knocked on their door unannounced.
In the good old days, that decisionmaker would have been the company president’s executive assistant or travel manager. But in the era of company downsizing, a lot of travel decisions are being made in the procurement department. This means the person who now orders ground transportation has probably just got off the phone from ordering those plastic mats that go under office chairs.
Here are some other ways you can maximize your marketing/PR efforts in 2017 and beyond.
1. Reach out
Emails, phone calls, LinkedIn messages, even Skype meetings all serve a purpose in our “not-enough-hours-in-the-day” business lives. But you should never ignore the power of that rare opportunity to shake a hand, pass out a business card, or look someone straight in an eye unfiltered through a computer monitor. Join local ground transportation associations, be seen at limousine conventions, and make your presence felt at your local Chamber of Commerce. Build your brand by talking to people face-to-face. It’s something no fancy, high-tech, graphics-loaded website can ever compete with.
2. Good PR
There are many key ways to reach potential clients, starting with good public relations. Never think of yourself as being in the witness protection program — you want as many people to know about you as possible, in a positive light, of course. Send out press releases to local publications and trade and association magazines about the good you do in the community, charitable endeavors, new hires, acquisitions, bumps in your technology prowess, your green initiatives, etc. Send them your company newsletter, put them on your e-blast or e-bulletin list, or drop them a postcard.
[PAGEBREAK]
3. The power of the bylined article
Never pass up the opportunity to be branded an expert. There is probably no better verification than to publish in a leading industry trade publication such as LCT. But don’t stop there. Chances are wherever you’re located you are close to a weekly business publication (i.e. in Boston we have the Boston Business Journal). If you have something important to say about your industry, let them know. If you get published, you will be in front of hundreds of potential clients. And don’t worry if you have trouble writing a shopping list; there are people out there who can make you sound good. Once the article is published, it can take on a whole new afterlife. You can put it on your Facebook or LinkedIn page, put on your website, sent via e-blast, reproduced in your newsletter, printed out and displayed at trade shows and business expos, etc.
4. Newsletters
Speaking of newsletters, these can come in two shapes and sizes, but both are effective. Still, there are pro’s and con’s for both formats.
- Electronic newsletters (eblast): Pros: Easy to design through software like Constant Contact. Immediate impact (delivered right to an inbox in a matter of seconds.) Can contain links to both important information and your website. You can track who opens it. Cons: When you turned on your computer this morning, how many emails did you have? Everyone from Amazon, to the magazines, to Viagra for sale, correct? And how many did you delete without opening?
- Printed newsletters: Pros: Graphically more pleasing. They may contain more information without “click to read more.” Longer shelf-life (people keep them around). A more sophisticated look. Cons: Although printing prices have dropped dramatically, you still have to pay printing costs (not to mention mailing costs and perhaps a separate fee to a graphic designer). More labor intensive, so go out more infrequently. Hard to track.
5. Sponsorships
Partnering with professional sports teams can be beneficial. Not only does it give you the opportunity to pick up a client (the team), but also gain access to thousands of potential clients. Most sponsorships come with “perks,” in the form of tickets, signage on scoreboards, program ads, and select nights when you can “woo” your good clients and potential clients, often in private suites. Aligning with a local sports team also gives a boost in credibility. People feel if a major sports team is letting you drive around an athlete worth millions of dollars in human capital, then a level of trust has been forged. I understand for many companies, aligning with the Chicago Cubs or Miami Heat will not be affordable. But you can bet if you’re based in Ohio, the Toledo Mud Hens would welcome you with open arms when they throw out their first pitch next season.
6. Hiding in plain sight
Sometimes the best networking is where you least expect it, like in your company lunchroom. Your own company could very well be a mother lode of networking opportunities. For example, maybe one of your target companies is ABC Pharmaceuticals. But if you don’t ask, you’ll never find out Brenda in your accounting department is married to the brother of the CEO of ABC Pharmaceuticals.
Involvement in charitable events also can generate attention to your company. But being on the board of a charitable event or organization lets you rub shoulders with major players. Plus, charitable events, along with just being a feel-good thing, are media magnets when generating press for your company.
Finally, you should also avoid obvious marketing mistakes, like branding your business with a name too long to remember and too hard to type as a URL. When asking people to email you, lose the Yahoo and GMAIL account. Nothing screams “small company” more than a search engine email address.
Effective sales and marketing has one goal: To land customers and increase your bottom line. This can only be achieved if they know you are out there. True, going after prospects is like a battle, but it shouldn’t be a sneak attack. You want them to know who you are and you are coming their way. Let them see the whites of your eyes before you go after the green in their budgets.
Steve White is the owner of Steve White Public Relations in Boston, MA. He has a 35-year track record of providing marketing & PR services to companies from all industries across the country and the UK, including ground transportation operations. He can be reached at SWhite@SWhitePR.com or (781) 254-6204. Please visit his website at www.SWhitePR.com
Keywords
How To marketing/promotions media public relations Sales & Marketing
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2i7mD42
How To Market For New Business In 2017
Lots of phone calls and late nights stuffing envelopes was business as usual, all to get your name in front of a potential customer. But few people answer their phones anymore. It’s all mostly done by email, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Today you can e-blast 1,000 prospects with the push of a SEND button. How long would it take you to call 1,000 people?
Today’s marketing needs to combine traditional and “out-of-the-box” thinking. But if you believe “out-of-the-box” marketing is just limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, and passing out your business cards at your daughter’s soccer game, then you are indeed working with a very small box.
Truth be told, Facebook and LinkedIn can be useful tools for a portion of your marketing, especially if you are trying to reach brides, but it shouldn’t be the only resource in your marketing toolbox. If you are waiting for Warren Buffett to friend you on Facebook, don’t hold your breath. Only 3% of companies have said they have ever sold anything on Facebook, according to several industry experts. But if used correctly, and with a splash of persistence and ingenuity, you can achieve some of the results you want through social media. At the very least, it can’t hurt you (unless one of your drivers posts a photo on Facebook of himself downing a six-pack while on the job).
The marketing process has changed dramatically during the past 30 years. Before, all it took to get in to see a client was a phone call and a briefcase. Or, if you were really lucky (and gutsy), you just knocked on their door unannounced.
In the good old days, that decisionmaker would have been the company president’s executive assistant or travel manager. But in the era of company downsizing, a lot of travel decisions are being made in the procurement department. This means the person who now orders ground transportation has probably just got off the phone from ordering those plastic mats that go under office chairs.
Here are some other ways you can maximize your marketing/PR efforts in 2017 and beyond.
1. Reach out
Emails, phone calls, LinkedIn messages, even Skype meetings all serve a purpose in our “not-enough-hours-in-the-day” business lives. But you should never ignore the power of that rare opportunity to shake a hand, pass out a business card, or look someone straight in an eye unfiltered through a computer monitor. Join local ground transportation associations, be seen at limousine conventions, and make your presence felt at your local Chamber of Commerce. Build your brand by talking to people face-to-face. It’s something no fancy, high-tech, graphics-loaded website can ever compete with.
2. Good PR
There are many key ways to reach potential clients, starting with good public relations. Never think of yourself as being in the witness protection program — you want as many people to know about you as possible, in a positive light, of course. Send out press releases to local publications and trade and association magazines about the good you do in the community, charitable endeavors, new hires, acquisitions, bumps in your technology prowess, your green initiatives, etc. Send them your company newsletter, put them on your e-blast or e-bulletin list, or drop them a postcard.
[PAGEBREAK]
3. The power of the bylined article
Never pass up the opportunity to be branded an expert. There is probably no better verification than to publish in a leading industry trade publication such as LCT. But don’t stop there. Chances are wherever you’re located you are close to a weekly business publication (i.e. in Boston we have the Boston Business Journal). If you have something important to say about your industry, let them know. If you get published, you will be in front of hundreds of potential clients. And don’t worry if you have trouble writing a shopping list; there are people out there who can make you sound good. Once the article is published, it can take on a whole new afterlife. You can put it on your Facebook or LinkedIn page, put on your website, sent via e-blast, reproduced in your newsletter, printed out and displayed at trade shows and business expos, etc.
4. Newsletters
Speaking of newsletters, these can come in two shapes and sizes, but both are effective. Still, there are pro’s and con’s for both formats.
- Electronic newsletters (eblast): Pros: Easy to design through software like Constant Contact. Immediate impact (delivered right to an inbox in a matter of seconds.) Can contain links to both important information and your website. You can track who opens it. Cons: When you turned on your computer this morning, how many emails did you have? Everyone from Amazon, to the magazines, to Viagra for sale, correct? And how many did you delete without opening?
- Printed newsletters: Pros: Graphically more pleasing. They may contain more information without “click to read more.” Longer shelf-life (people keep them around). A more sophisticated look. Cons: Although printing prices have dropped dramatically, you still have to pay printing costs (not to mention mailing costs and perhaps a separate fee to a graphic designer). More labor intensive, so go out more infrequently. Hard to track.
5. Sponsorships
Partnering with professional sports teams can be beneficial. Not only does it give you the opportunity to pick up a client (the team), but also gain access to thousands of potential clients. Most sponsorships come with “perks,” in the form of tickets, signage on scoreboards, program ads, and select nights when you can “woo” your good clients and potential clients, often in private suites. Aligning with a local sports team also gives a boost in credibility. People feel if a major sports team is letting you drive around an athlete worth millions of dollars in human capital, then a level of trust has been forged. I understand for many companies, aligning with the Chicago Cubs or Miami Heat will not be affordable. But you can bet if you’re based in Ohio, the Toledo Mud Hens would welcome you with open arms when they throw out their first pitch next season.
6. Hiding in plain sight
Sometimes the best networking is where you least expect it, like in your company lunchroom. Your own company could very well be a mother lode of networking opportunities. For example, maybe one of your target companies is ABC Pharmaceuticals. But if you don’t ask, you’ll never find out Brenda in your accounting department is married to the brother of the CEO of ABC Pharmaceuticals.
Involvement in charitable events also can generate attention to your company. But being on the board of a charitable event or organization lets you rub shoulders with major players. Plus, charitable events, along with just being a feel-good thing, are media magnets when generating press for your company.
Finally, you should also avoid obvious marketing mistakes, like branding your business with a name too long to remember and too hard to type as a URL. When asking people to email you, lose the Yahoo and GMAIL account. Nothing screams “small company” more than a search engine email address.
Effective sales and marketing has one goal: To land customers and increase your bottom line. This can only be achieved if they know you are out there. True, going after prospects is like a battle, but it shouldn’t be a sneak attack. You want them to know who you are and you are coming their way. Let them see the whites of your eyes before you go after the green in their budgets.
Steve White is the owner of Steve White Public Relations in Boston, MA. He has a 35-year track record of providing marketing & PR services to companies from all industries across the country and the UK, including ground transportation operations. He can be reached at SWhite@SWhitePR.com or (781) 254-6204. Please visit his website at www.SWhitePR.com
Keywords
How To marketing/promotions media public relations Sales & Marketing
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2i7mD42
How To Market For New Business In 2017
Lots of phone calls and late nights stuffing envelopes was business as usual, all to get your name in front of a potential customer. But few people answer their phones anymore. It’s all mostly done by email, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Today you can e-blast 1,000 prospects with the push of a SEND button. How long would it take you to call 1,000 people?
Today’s marketing needs to combine traditional and “out-of-the-box” thinking. But if you believe “out-of-the-box” marketing is just limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, and passing out your business cards at your daughter’s soccer game, then you are indeed working with a very small box.
Truth be told, Facebook and LinkedIn can be useful tools for a portion of your marketing, especially if you are trying to reach brides, but it shouldn’t be the only resource in your marketing toolbox. If you are waiting for Warren Buffett to friend you on Facebook, don’t hold your breath. Only 3% of companies have said they have ever sold anything on Facebook, according to several industry experts. But if used correctly, and with a splash of persistence and ingenuity, you can achieve some of the results you want through social media. At the very least, it can’t hurt you (unless one of your drivers posts a photo on Facebook of himself downing a six-pack while on the job).
The marketing process has changed dramatically during the past 30 years. Before, all it took to get in to see a client was a phone call and a briefcase. Or, if you were really lucky (and gutsy), you just knocked on their door unannounced.
In the good old days, that decisionmaker would have been the company president’s executive assistant or travel manager. But in the era of company downsizing, a lot of travel decisions are being made in the procurement department. This means the person who now orders ground transportation has probably just got off the phone from ordering those plastic mats that go under office chairs.
Here are some other ways you can maximize your marketing/PR efforts in 2017 and beyond.
1. Reach out
Emails, phone calls, LinkedIn messages, even Skype meetings all serve a purpose in our “not-enough-hours-in-the-day” business lives. But you should never ignore the power of that rare opportunity to shake a hand, pass out a business card, or look someone straight in an eye unfiltered through a computer monitor. Join local ground transportation associations, be seen at limousine conventions, and make your presence felt at your local Chamber of Commerce. Build your brand by talking to people face-to-face. It’s something no fancy, high-tech, graphics-loaded website can ever compete with.
2. Good PR
There are many key ways to reach potential clients, starting with good public relations. Never think of yourself as being in the witness protection program — you want as many people to know about you as possible, in a positive light, of course. Send out press releases to local publications and trade and association magazines about the good you do in the community, charitable endeavors, new hires, acquisitions, bumps in your technology prowess, your green initiatives, etc. Send them your company newsletter, put them on your e-blast or e-bulletin list, or drop them a postcard.
[PAGEBREAK]
3. The power of the bylined article
Never pass up the opportunity to be branded an expert. There is probably no better verification than to publish in a leading industry trade publication such as LCT. But don’t stop there. Chances are wherever you’re located you are close to a weekly business publication (i.e. in Boston we have the Boston Business Journal). If you have something important to say about your industry, let them know. If you get published, you will be in front of hundreds of potential clients. And don’t worry if you have trouble writing a shopping list; there are people out there who can make you sound good. Once the article is published, it can take on a whole new afterlife. You can put it on your Facebook or LinkedIn page, put on your website, sent via e-blast, reproduced in your newsletter, printed out and displayed at trade shows and business expos, etc.
4. Newsletters
Speaking of newsletters, these can come in two shapes and sizes, but both are effective. Still, there are pro’s and con’s for both formats.
- Electronic newsletters (eblast): Pros: Easy to design through software like Constant Contact. Immediate impact (delivered right to an inbox in a matter of seconds.) Can contain links to both important information and your website. You can track who opens it. Cons: When you turned on your computer this morning, how many emails did you have? Everyone from Amazon, to the magazines, to Viagra for sale, correct? And how many did you delete without opening?
- Printed newsletters: Pros: Graphically more pleasing. They may contain more information without “click to read more.” Longer shelf-life (people keep them around). A more sophisticated look. Cons: Although printing prices have dropped dramatically, you still have to pay printing costs (not to mention mailing costs and perhaps a separate fee to a graphic designer). More labor intensive, so go out more infrequently. Hard to track.
5. Sponsorships
Partnering with professional sports teams can be beneficial. Not only does it give you the opportunity to pick up a client (the team), but also gain access to thousands of potential clients. Most sponsorships come with “perks,” in the form of tickets, signage on scoreboards, program ads, and select nights when you can “woo” your good clients and potential clients, often in private suites. Aligning with a local sports team also gives a boost in credibility. People feel if a major sports team is letting you drive around an athlete worth millions of dollars in human capital, then a level of trust has been forged. I understand for many companies, aligning with the Chicago Cubs or Miami Heat will not be affordable. But you can bet if you’re based in Ohio, the Toledo Mud Hens would welcome you with open arms when they throw out their first pitch next season.
6. Hiding in plain sight
Sometimes the best networking is where you least expect it, like in your company lunchroom. Your own company could very well be a mother lode of networking opportunities. For example, maybe one of your target companies is ABC Pharmaceuticals. But if you don’t ask, you’ll never find out Brenda in your accounting department is married to the brother of the CEO of ABC Pharmaceuticals.
Involvement in charitable events also can generate attention to your company. But being on the board of a charitable event or organization lets you rub shoulders with major players. Plus, charitable events, along with just being a feel-good thing, are media magnets when generating press for your company.
Finally, you should also avoid obvious marketing mistakes, like branding your business with a name too long to remember and too hard to type as a URL. When asking people to email you, lose the Yahoo and GMAIL account. Nothing screams “small company” more than a search engine email address.
Effective sales and marketing has one goal: To land customers and increase your bottom line. This can only be achieved if they know you are out there. True, going after prospects is like a battle, but it shouldn’t be a sneak attack. You want them to know who you are and you are coming their way. Let them see the whites of your eyes before you go after the green in their budgets.
Steve White is the owner of Steve White Public Relations in Boston, MA. He has a 35-year track record of providing marketing & PR services to companies from all industries across the country and the UK, including ground transportation operations. He can be reached at SWhite@SWhitePR.com or (781) 254-6204. Please visit his website at www.SWhitePR.com
Keywords
How To marketing/promotions media public relations Sales & Marketing
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2i7mD42
Ready For Affiliate Work: Are You In or Out?
The simple farming we do amid the soil brings growth and bounty — farming in the livery industry is no different. If you like things as they are, then do nothing. But if you want to grow your operation, planting the seeds for successful farm work is a must. With the March International LCT Show looming, ripe for networking, now is the season to till and reap.
Farm work in this industry comes in two ways: In or out. Structures and agreements may vary, of course, but deciding to partner with other operators takes some time and consideration.
The timing of expansion into farm-in and farm out is based on one primary desire: To grow revenue and profits, increase use of resources, and create relationships.
This industry is one of a few that depends on affiliate partners. We are both competitive and cooperative. We look for market advantages and sell against the same operators who we trust to treat our clients with care. It is a balancing act of sales initiative and integrity.
Know Your Local Farmers
Local farm-in and farm-out work is fairly standard, even with small operators simply because this industry must fulfill its promises to clients. When the manifest changes and help is needed, knowing your local operators is critical to your success. Giving a ride away to your local, organic market operator is actually the more profitable thing to do sometimes, depending on the ride and availability of vehicles and chauffeurs. Calling someone in for one ride on a quiet day for a 15-minute ride probably is not profitable. A trusted local company might be the smarter alternative, so keep your competitors close and work together.
On the flip side, local farmed-in rides are often not very profitable, but any local farming must go both ways. Since the industry has a fairly standard discount of 10%, taking a cheap ride might not yield any profits on its own, but consider your internal needs. Farm-ins might fill in the idle hours between rides on a slower day, increasing driver and vehicle efficiencies.
FOR MORE INSIGHTS: To gain affiliates, LCT will offer its B4 Business Speed Networking, Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the International LCT Show at the Sands Expo between the Venetian and Palazzo Casino Resorts in Las Vegas. The session features a time structure that will allow you to practice and perfect your “elevator pitch” for gaining affiliate work. You will come away with actual referrals to help build affiliate connections. Participants want to succeed at the next level. Limited to 100 operators. More info: www.lctshow.com
Farm-ins may be hourly rides or rides in larger vehicles that supplement a group move. These are certainly more profitable, but even a break-even ride helps pay for the cost of the vehicle and operational overhead. If you have excess capacity in idle cars or chauffeurs, expand locally and start covering costs of service delivery. Certainly, chauffeurs will be happy to work no matter whom they represent. There is a symbiosis here that helps both operators grow in healthy ways.
Out-of-Market Farming
Imagine if someone else did your work, and you got paid for it. That describes the farm-out business. Growing your network outside of your market takes effort and commitment, but it can be lucrative. Short of expanding into markets through acquisition, cultivating partners in other markets is an economical way to grow volume, reputation, and business relationships. It’s a smart move when you can get your cut on every ride in another town with little to no costs.
How do you know the players? You must be present — not physically in every city, of course, but be visible and develop the relationships through online presence, occasional in-person visits, and attendance at major shows. The most-oft cited reason for attending the International LCT Shows in Vegas is networking. Not just for friendships or good deals, but for business. If you are walking away from a show without expanded contacts in your clients’ destination cities, you are leaving bushels of money in someone else’s basket.
[PAGEBREAK]
Ask for the Business
Know where your clients travel. You’ve been booking their flights to Norfolk or Boise for years. Find the operators there, and ask if they would like your business (they will say yes). Get the paperwork and insurance covered, and start asking your clients on every ride if you can arrange for a pick-up to their hotel from the Boise airport.
Visit your corporate travel managers and administrative assistants to let them know you provide full service in their markets. Stress the simpler billing and single-contact service. Take it a step further with the use of travel booking tools to ease the transaction even more. Just know you want to grow, and then nurture these local relationships. Soon, they will be calling you to handle a meeting in Florida or San Francisco while someone else does that actual driving, waiting, and paying for the fuel. It’s a recipe for success.
Farm Operations
This all sounds so easy. It can be, but be sure to consider all the operational aspects of farming. Your goal is to profit by satisfying a client’s fundamental travel need, and your client must feel comfortable in the vehicle, no matter the market. Vehicle type may matter, for example, or having every chauffeur dressed in black and white may be what works for your clientele. Each affiliate represents your brand, a delicate matter, so be straightforward about what level of service you expect. Communicating clear expectations is key to producing a successful relationship for everyone involved.
The gritty side of farming out is the back side of the transaction. The mélange of various internal departments makes for a smooth operation. When farming out, software that integrates well eases accountability and accounting. Dispatchers will need to call to other cities on each ride to ensure the chauffeur is on the way and on location. And billing and collecting credit card payments can take some time — there is work within the office, to be sure. But remember, this work is part of the overhead already there.
Farm-ins are a little different because you are the one representing someone else’s brand. It requires training for all staff and chauffeurs on how to mimic another company. As a trusted representative of another operator, your staff must say they work for the other company if a passenger asks. Logoed signs may be needed on iPads that imitate what a client expects to see in their hometown. Even special neckties may have to be worn as part of the uniform. These are easy to coordinate, and doing it well will ensure more business comes your way.
At the end of the ride, billing must be smooth and accurate. Floating money to an affiliate that does not pay timely is brutal, particularly for small operators who want to grow. Have the credit cards ready and pre-authorized, like for all other transactions.
Is this all too much? It can be. When farm-ins represent too large a portion of your business, profit margins will fall, so monitoring that is important. But farming out is like having independent operators without the burden of providing employment, vehicles, or fuel. All you need is the credit card to pay your affiliate and the operational integrity to deliver in your own market when it’s your turn.
Cooperative farming yields great benefits. For growth outside your home market, it is nearly indispensable. Affiliate relationships are natural symbiotic partnerships to grow your home market garden. Fertilize them with attention, operations excellence, and brand consistency, and you will reap far more than you sow.
Keywords
affiliate networks Anne Daniells building your clientele farm-in farm-out How To ILCT 2017
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Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Google, Ford to Build Self-Driving Cars
According to a Yahoo Autos report, Google and Ford will create a joint venture to build self-driving vehicles with Google’s technology, a huge step by both companies toward a new business of automated ride sharing.
The report says that according to three sources familiar with the plans, the partnership is set to be announced by Ford at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. See Yahoo autos report.
Keywords
autonomous vehicles Consumer Electronics Show driverless cars Google self-driving vehicles
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Pow Wow Smart and miRide Add John Pino to Board of Advisors
Board of AdvisorsFt. Lauderdale, Fla. — Pow Wow Smart, a leading provider of turn-key solutions and data aggregation for ground transportation in connection with meetings and events, and miRide, the on-demand chauffeur-driven application/service for businesses and professionals, recently announced the appointment of John Pino to their Board of Advisors.
Pino is a long-time industry veteran with a number of credits in his career, including CEO of meeting management company McGettigan Partners, founder and CEO of SaaS firm StarCite, and founder and CEO of online meeting and event community i-Meet, which is his current industry focus.
“Innovation drives needed solutions,” said Pino, “and I believe that getting a handle on costs around ground transportation may be one of the last major areas of spend that companies need to complete their SMMP initiatives. It’s been elusive to date, but watch this company and their efforts. The technology, and the professional services around it, is poised to make a major impact on the industry, and I’m very happy to be a part of it.”
“We’re excited to have John working with our team and investors,” said Evan Michaels, CEO and co-founder of Pow Wow Smart and miRide. “We’ve come a long way in establishing our technology as an important tool for businesses desiring to view ground transportation as a spend management category. Having John work with us at a strategic level brings additional knowledge and experience to help us effectively lead in this space, and we’re thrilled to have him on our team.”
Pow Wow Smart has a value proposition that promises to delve into an area that has long been avoided due to its complexity and high labor requirement. With patented technology that improves the process of mapping manifests to vehicle utilization, their approach focuses on eliminating errors, and saving time and money by creating direct relationships with reputable companies that own their vehicles. And by adding miRide to the equation, individual rides in connection with events can be coordinated and master-billed to get a complete view of costs.
Visit powwowsmart.com for more information.
[CD1215]
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Mobility Ventures Rewards Waitress’ Generosity
North Brunswick, N.J. — Representatives from Mobility Ventures along with New Jersey volunteer firefighters, and members of the community, were recently on hand at an event where a new, fully wheelchair accessible MV-1 was donated to the Woodward family of Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
This past summer, while working as a waitress, Liz Woodward picked up the breakfast tab for two volunteer firefighters, one of whom had just come back from working a fire. Taken by her gesture, the firefighters were inspired to action when they learned Woodward had started the “Woodward Strong” campaign to raise money for her father, who had suffered a brain aneurysm some years earlier and was in need of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. In an act of “paying it forward,” the two firefighters helped her boost the campaign from $30,000 to $80,000 and reach over 125 countries.
“When we heard about Liz’s efforts to help her father and the incredible support she’s received from her community, we were deeply inspired and wanted to pay forward her kindness,” says Pat Kemp, Mobility Ventures executive vice president. “We’re happy to have a hand in giving her family back their mobility and freedom, and the peace of mind that comes from driving a safe and reliable vehicle.”
“The generosity and kindness the campaign supporters and Mobility Ventures have shown is really incredible, and I hope this brings hope to others in similar situations and inspires people to help those in need in any way possible,” said Woodward. “We truly appreciate it.”
The MV-1 is the only purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle. The MV-1 redefines accessible transportation with a built-in side-entry power ramp, ample head room, and seating for up to five, which includes the ability to safely accommodate two wheelchair users at a time—one of whom rides in the front and the other in the spacious passenger area—making it the perfect solution for consumers, commercial use, and government fleets.
Visit mv-1.us for more information.
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Livery Management Consultants Group Participates in #GivingTuesday
Manchester, N.H. — Livery Management Consultants (LMC) Group, a nationwide consulting firm for the chauffeured car industry, joined the national #GivingTuesday movement, which encourages holiday season generosity. Just after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday turns the focus from holiday spending on gifts to holiday spending on charitable donations and other strategic ways to give back to the community. LMC was able to give Girls at Work a $2,000 donation, which included matching all funds donated by group members.
A long-time home builder, founder Elaine Hamel realized that introducing girls to this non-traditional activity went beyond teaching them a skill to teaching them to use their inner power tools of strength and courage. In the decade since its inception, Girls at Work has reached more than 5,000 girls through camps and classes. While building projects such as bookcases, birdhouses, sheds, and tables, girls are empowered to meet real-life challenges such as abuse, neglect, parental incarceration, or poverty.
“Our mission has been to empower inner city girls who struggle with little support in their lives. The experience of placing power tools into the hands of young girls opens a door to the limitless potential and power that inherently exists in each one of them, despite the challenges they face. The experience allows young girls to soar to new heights and alter the powerless lens through which they view themselves. They begin to see themselves as powerful and capable!” Hamel says. “Groups like LMC help us bridge the gap and enable us to reach these young girls with a powerful experience. Together, we build stronger girls and women and together we can, and will, change the world.”
The LMC Group chose to donate to Girls at Work because of the important and innovative work they do with girls. As a woman-owned business, LMC strives to support women and girls in the community. Giving back is part of LMC’s core values, and #GivingTuesday was a great way to involve the entire organization.
“We founded our company with the mission of empowering small-business owners by providing them with resources, training, and access to experts to help them succeed,” says founder Kristen Carroll. “We are a values-driven organization, and when we were trying to select an organization to sponsor this Giving Tuesday, Girls at Work was an immediate fit. They are also an organization focused on empowerment, training, resource sharing, and growth, but they are providing these tools and resources to young girls and women in need. We set a challenge to our team to give to Girls at Work this holiday season, and we were thrilled to reach 90 percent participation. I’m so proud of my team, and we all share in the blessing of giving to a great organization that makes the world better, one life at a time.”
Visit liverymanagement.com for more information.
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Deem Announces New Wave of Operators for Next-Generation Cloud Network and Mobile Application
San Francisco — Deem, the leading commerce-as-a-service (CaaS) company, recently announced another wave of chauffeured ground transportation operators who have signed agreements with Deem for Deem Car Service, the online and mobile reservation network for the chauffeur transportation market. Following the announcement of a groundbreaking strategic alliance with the National Limousine Association (NLA), Deem said it has signed agreements with scores of operators, including nearly 70 percent of the top 100 operators by volume.
The latest round of operators is headlined by Diva Limousine and also includes BLS, About Town Limousine, Isaac Alan Xport, Unique II Limousine, AAA Worldwide Transportation, Cordial Limousine, T-Star Limousine, Brentwood’s DET, Class A Transportation, Drivers Unlimited, Gem Transportation, and All Roads Transportation, amongst others. These operators join EmpireCLS, Music Express, Carey International, Pure Luxury, Flyte Tyme, Arrow Limousine, Gem Limousine Worldwide, Mosaic Global Transportation, Universal Limousine, Presidential Worldwide Transportation, U.S. Sedan Service, North Point Transportation, AJL International, and Sterling Limousine, who are already on the network.
“The buy-in and trust of the industry reinforces the drive the Deem Car Service team comes to work with every day,” said Patrick Grady, founder and CEO of Deem. “Diva Limousine is one of the latest operator partners to join the Deem network and adds yet another top 100 operator to what is already the largest chauffeured transportation network on the planet.”
“Our industry has been under siege and in need of a technology solution to match the upstart TNCs for years now,” said Bijan Zoughi, founder and chairman of the board at Diva. “Patrick and the team at Deem have shown not only the willingness to work with all the partners and players in our industry but also the dedication to ensure that the solution they build works with every layer of the chauffeured transportation industry to deliver the complete solution we need.”
In addition to agreements with new operators, Deem has been working with other technology providers in the chauffeured transportation space as well as with industry groups to help drive industry-wide education about the benefits of Deem Car Service and to expand the footprint of operators able to easily join the network and integrate with Deem’s technology. Deem has signed an agreement with Limo Anywhere, one of the industry’s largest cloud-based and mobile software providers, to establish bi-directional coding between their respective platforms, allowing Limo Anywhere’s customers who sign up with Deem to accept and send affiliate reservations over Deem’s Affiliate Connect network. Deem also received the endorsement of the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) as the official technology provider for its hundreds of association members.
Visit deem.com for more information.
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PRLA Hosts Annual Holiday Event
Trevose, Pa. — Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) held its 7th annual Monte Carlo Night at Twining Hall, on December 9. Platinum sponsors included Don Brown Bus Sales, P.A. Post Agency, Lancer Insurance, Research Underwriters, Lakeview Custom Coach, and Royale.
The holiday event welcomed association members, supporters, and industry operators alike. Chauffer Driven’s Editor Madeleine Maccar and Assistant Editor Rob Smentek were both in attendance for a night of fun, food, and games of chance.
PRLA President Steve Rhoads, who will continue his position in 2016, briefly spoke to the group, and thanked everyone for their work on behalf of the association throughout the year. Later, PRLA Director Anthony Onorata and Vendor Member Peter Corelli assisted Rhoads with the raffle and distributing prizes.
The next PRLA meeting will be held January 13 at Maggiano’s in King of Prussia, Pa.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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UMA Holds Safety Seminar, Looks Ahead to January EXPO
Ashburn, Va. — The United Motorcoach Association (UMA) held its 12th annual Safety Management Seminar December 2 and 3 at the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) training center in Ashburn, Va. UMA has held the seminar on a yearly basis since first identifying a need within the ground transportation industry. Its specific topics vary based on current demands but always aim “to assist motorcoach operators with safety and compliance,” according to Terri Tackett, UMA’s marketing and membership director.
In addition to agency updates from the NTSB, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the day-and-a-half seminar also featured educational sessions.
“We kicked the seminar off by discussing proactive approaches to loss prevention, which included strategies and discussions on prevention programs, such as safety committees, cause analysis and establishing safety cultures,” said Vic Parra, UMA president and CEO. “We also had a session on OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).” One of the other sessions, “Drivers Wanted: How to Get Them Coming to YOU,” was popular, as it seems that everyone needs drivers and there are not enough of them. This topic shared some successful strategies that will help set the companies that attended this apart from the competition and it will make drivers take notice.”
Other topics included “The Politics of Safety,” “FMCSA Update,” and an Electronic Learning Device (ELD) panel, “What the Salesman Didn’t Tell Us.”
“The seminar is capped at 140 attendees, which allows for a small, personal gathering where individual questions and concerns can be presented, so operators can walk away with solutions to real-life problems,” said Ken Presley, UMA vice president of industry relations and COO. “There’s a fairly even split between those who frequently attend the seminar to stay on top of changes in the industry and its regulations and those who may not necessarily be new operators but are participating in the event for the first time.”
“It was definitely a success this year,” Presley added. “The event was sold out, and many attendees gave us great feedback and said that it was the best program that we have had so far.”
UMA’s next big event will be Motorcoach EXPO, now in its 31st year, in Atlanta, Ga., from January 31 to February 4.
“The UMA EXPO show floor is 99 percent sold out, and each year UMA completely overhauls the entire program to make sure every education topic is current and helps meet today’s demands. This year, the show also has new networking programs. We also have brought back the FMCSA listening session to the UMA State Association summit.”
“The UMA Motorcoach EXPO is a show that can benefit not only those in the motorcoach industry but also livery operators who are interested in expanding their fleets to include buses.” Said Parra.
“For [chauffeured transportation] operators, it’s a great venue if they’re thinking of getting into bigger equipment,” he said. “They can see the vehicles on the show floor, and they can attend our sessions to learn about them. The motorcoach industry does transport passengers, but it is a different world with all the regulations this industry needs to think about, so this show is a great learning resource for anyone starting out in the bus and motorcoach business.”
Visit uma.org for more information.
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TLPA Limousine & Sedan Steering Committee Sets Future Course
New Orleans — The Limousine & Sedan Steering Committee of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) met in New Orleans for a full-day planning session on December 2, 2015. Co-chairs Ira Goldstein of the Black Car Fund and the Black Car Assistance Corp in New York, N.Y., Mike O’Connor of Transdev/SuperShuttle/ExecuCar in Phoenix, Ariz., and Paige Coker of Transportation General in Birmingham, Ala. led the discussions.
Much of the morning was spent discussing the changing customer expectations that limousine and sedan operators now face. To address those prospects, many of the committee members reported they are taking the following actions: Creating customer loyalty programs, offering more hands-on management of large group events, offering more flat-rate fees or even zone-based fees, focusing more on VIP clients to ensure they always receive the best service, figuring out ways to effectively involve chauffeurs in customer recruitment, adopting e-training that can be accessed by chauffeurs during their wait times, making certain the customer receives timely service even if that means turning the trip over to a licensed competitor, expanding marketing on social media, and other steps.
The committee members discussed a variety of educational topics that could be presented at TLPA’s Spring Conference & Expo in New York City, April 21-23, and decided on the following four topics: 1) “Driver recruitment and retention”; 2) “How to organize and manage social media”; 3) “Call center out-sourcing”; and 4) “‘Cooperition’ for cooperatively competing.” The titles of the four sessions are self-explanatory, with the possible exception of the fourth one. “Cooperition,” a term frequently used by Ira Goldstein, refers to transportation companies that compete with one another in recruiting clients/customers but pool resources to make certain customers receive prompt service.
During the afternoon, the committee focused on state and federal legislative issues. Its members reported that they expect legislation addressing TNCs to be addressed in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. On the federal level, TLPA expects a push to address the concerns of sharing-economy proponents, including Uber. TLPA’s position is that local transportation is a state concern and that Congress should respect state rights and let this issue be resolved at the state or local level of government. Additionally, TLPA is monitoring Congress to see if it is going to take any action on the employment status of sharing-economy workers. The legislative discussion ended with the committee members reaffirming that TLPA’s 2015 position paper on TNCs addresses the key issues and no new issues need to be added to the paper.
The committee members ended their deliberations by focusing on TLPA’s public relations program. The committee endorsed Community Connections and TLPF’s Transportation On Patrol (TOP).
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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