Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Hunter.
Susan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began my transportation career driving a school bus for Pearland ISD. I gained my commercial license with them. Within 6 months, I moved to a limousine company in Houston that was recommended by a friend and was hired immediately. I learned about the limousine industry while working for this company. They had quite a bit of business and prestigious accounts. After a few years, I purchased a vehicle which I could use to launch my own limousine business.
I finally decided to launch on my own and a friend in the business said he would help me with building my business. I had pushed him into the industry a few years earlier. Come to find out limousine companies farm out some of their work they cannot do themselves. So with his help and signing up with Limos.com, I was on my way to start the business. While on Limos.com system, I chose to expand my driving distance to 80 miles and Galveston, TX popped up. I was not deterred in driving that far because I realized 30,000 customers per weekend visit the cruise ships. I began doing a few trips down to Galveston and soon had gotten a few good referrals and my reservations began to climb. There was no transportation to the island back then and so I was very popular. We have been handling all year round in Galveston for about 6 years. Most of the Galveston work is Saturday and Sunday mornings so that leaves the weekdays open to other clients that I have accumulated over the last 6-7 years. I also have several clients who keep me busy regularly each week. This all sounds good but some of the overflow business fell off at the end of 2016. I have always used other independent drivers to help me with my overflow.
So I also provide business for other independent drivers. I have been blessed to have enough business but certain times of the year do get slow like Summer and Christmas. I have not wanted to expand to provide more services like vans or Sprinters. I spend enough time taking reservations, doing accounting and doing dispatch to my drivers. This gives me some spare time to relax. When I was younger I could do more but prefer to keep business steady now. Some trips can be in the middle of the night or early morning which can interrupt your sleep and schedule. So you have to be flexible with what the customer wants and needs. We love all our customer and take each customer as a VIP. Many of them come back year after year. This is a good business to be in if you’re a people person. The industry has changed over the years as the oil industry fall out, the establishment of Uber and Lyft and that the cruise port decided to charge limousine companies $20 to drive through the port. I have to pass those fees on to my customers. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft don’t have to pay these fees so they can offer better rates. The Houston Cruise Port also closed in the Spring of 2016 after 3 years of cruise ship business.
We are still going despite all these changes. We offer good service and keep our 5-star rating going. We just make sure we are there for each of our reservations and offer a friendly voice. This is a great business and one that was rather easy to enter back then. But I spent some time learning the business. I also have a Business Management degree from TAMU which I’m sure helped in my choosing to take the risk to enter into a small business. I don’t get all the perks of corporate people like healthcare or paid holidays, but I don’t have a boss telling me what to do and I’m not on the 8-5 time clock. Glad I made this decision and hope to continue providing 5-star service in future years.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Struggles are balancing personal vs. business expenses. It takes a lot to run the business and what’s left over after that goes to my housing, food, etc. sometimes not much left over.
Also I never really know my schedule. I have to plan my life around my business. Some days I don’t work and some days and weekends I have no personal time. It’s hard to get out of town as I’m always working.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lady Bird Limousine – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The fact that I am a woman in a man’s industry sets me apart from other companies. There are probably only a handful of female limousine drivers. It’s not exactly a job most women would like. I drive about 50,000 miles per year. Most people drive 12,000 miles per year. I have to get oil changes every 4-6 weeks. I guess driving does not really bother me although my legs do give me some problems.
I’m proud that I am able to have my own company and have the freedom to choose what I do each day. Driving is like being outdoors which I enjoy. My office is my car and my view is out my front window.
I named my company partially after Ladybird Johnson, former First Lady. She contributed to beautifying America and Texas by cleaning up our highways. No more tires and trash being thrown on the highways. Adopt a highway now in Texas. She also beautified out highways with wildflowers, bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes all over our state. When I say Ladybird – most people think of Mrs. Johnson which helps me get business. It’s also a good Texas name.
I also love Victorian design and birds are all over fabrics and wallpapers during that era and even still today. Just check out Roundtop, TX during the Antique season. Birds, nest, and eggs are popular there. A ladybird is really a ladybug but my idea is more like birds that are females which is all species of birds. Lady Bird has been a great name for my business. Birds fly like cars.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
No big changes for my limo business except joining with another company to provide services for larger groups up to 12 passengers. Currently, we only serve up to 7 passengers with sedans and large SUV’s.
I have decided to pursue my realtor’s license and was licensed last year. I’m slowly making progress with this career in my spare time. This will be my career for the future. Looking to spend less time in the car and more time with my feet on the ground.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ladybirdlimousine.com
- Phone: 832-896-1748
- Email: ladybirdlimousine@gmail.com
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