Flying Fox Chauffeur Service
Date: 1 August 2024
We met Voksy to learn more about his new business in the Shire.
You recently started a chauffeur service. Can you tell us a little about the business and why you decided to start it?
I offer luxury airport transfers, booked trips to wineries and restaurants, along with chauffeur rates. There is comfortable lounge-like seating for three passengers with massaging, reclining and heated rear seats plus locally made drinks and treats, and paparazzi shades. It’s my first time working since my diagnosis of c-PTSD. I love my car, and I love driving it, so due to the encouragement and support by my Castlemaine family and friends, I’ve been able to convert a passion into a viable business that doesn’t feel like work and I’m loving every minute of it!
Can you share some of the biggest challenges you've faced so far and how you've overcome them?
The initial big challenge for me was dealing with disability support pension/Centrelink. They are not geared towards business ownership, so liaising with them will be an ongoing process. I soon began feeling overwhelmed by the mass of challenges - how to get clients, building a website, what support exists to help me, can I actually cope? How much do I charge? So I reached out to Castlemaine Community House and Ell referred me onto Mount Alexander Shire where Daniel Bone and Jessica McNamara were an immense help. Connecting me with a local business mentor Darren Kerby, and also signing up to Business Mount Alexander (BMA), where I met a number of local business owners who immediately took to what I am offering. If it wasn’t for these supports I would not be anywhere near where I am now and would certainly have drowned in overwhelm.
What strategies have you used to attract your first clients, and which have been the most effective?
My first port of call was Facebook! Castlemaine has a community group that welcomes businesses to share what they do, so my first post soon worked up 140 likes. I've taken a couple of bookings because of this post. Because the other two airport shuttle and transfer businesses have a much larger Google Ads budget than I could ever achieve, I realised that my $100 in Google Ads was going nowhere, so I put the next $100 into getting flyers with a handwritten “15% off first booking” offer on each one. My first letterbox drop brought in 3 bookings which paid for the next 1,000 flyers. My feet still hurt from handing these out! I lastly headed out to the local Castlemaine travel agency and have established a great relationship with them, along with meeting Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation and Millduck Strawbale B&B through connections and BMA. It’s been an equal share of effectiveness with each approach, but definitely the "15% off first booking" has been the drawcard for each strategy.
What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business in the Shire?
Reach out and ask for help! There is a surprising wealth of resources available to new business owners that gets drowned out in the greater internet. If it wasn’t for the wonderful people at Castlemaine Community House and Mount Alexander Shire Council among other individuals, I would not be as empowered in my business as I am now. Having access to business mentoring has enabled me to direct my energy in the right place and gave me the confidence that the service and experience I am offering is where it needs to be. We also are lucky to have networking groups like BMA that not only offer a great place to meet fellow businesses and form relationships, but are also host to business education events like the recent ‘AI, Business and Marketing’ workshop. Definitely recommend becoming a member! Lastly, we are so lucky to be in such a community-oriented region. Word of mouth speaks volumes so introducing yourself, sharing your story and passion will get into the minds of the right people for your business.
How do you ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and repeat business?
My chauffeur business is geared solely around the experience. I’m not here to compete against a taxi or an airport shuttle, instead I’m here to offer an opulent and luxurious experience where people just stop and say “wow”. Sure, before every trip I thoroughly clean my car and ensure all the shiny things stay shiny…but the reality is that if this service was delivered by a self-driving AI powered car, people would still rather the real human connection and the personable approach that makes us feel at home. So I am 100% myself when welcoming people into my beautiful car and I allow my guests to make the journey what they want it to be. People either want the utility of the product or service, or they want the emotional experience of the interaction. Both offer the same final destination, but go down two vastly different roads.