Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Mwangi.
Andrew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
How I started has much to do with leveraging upon my leadership experiences and entrepreneurial spirit, I previously worked in e-commerce for 8 years, where I developed an ability to be cognizant and seize digital opportunities.
In this decade lifespan, I developed and launched a number of digital business platforms, but Southbendtaxi.com was the more organically explosive platform growing through digital channels – web, social, word of mouth, and online user reviews and recommendations.
I started the business 2 years ago, noticing a deficit of rapid, reliable, convenient, prompt, door to door ground transportation from South Bend IN to Chicago IL and all the Airports in between.
Southbendtaxi.com provides airport shuttle and city taxi cab services to its clients. I was a shuttle driver at first, then jump-started the digital side of business as I enrolled in graduate school at Northwestern University in Chicago IL. My major is intricately parallel to what I am doing in digital – my studies are in Information Design, Digital Design and Business Analytics.
I wanted to have flexibility in my schedule, going through grad school, and operating a driving business, and what better way than to experiment in a startup digital business while studying digital design and business analytics. Today, due to great design and integration of analytics, I’m now able to appeal to the end user, and have the data needed to learn their behavior and keep them coming back – grow and retain my commuter clients.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s unusual to encounter a smooth road in business. Challenges come, challenges are healthy and necessary for business augmentation, iteration, and growth. Every business has its trials and pains.
The airport shuttle, NEMT transportation and private car business does incur overhead costs due to state and commercial transportation business regulations, some red tape, and vehicle maintenance and depreciation. These are our highlight pains:
We consistently adjust to regulatory requirements, we are evaluated on an annual basis by city governance. We also watch our online competitors closely, as most of our business leads and requests are generated through online requests and reservations.
Online business development is a never ending task, learning and implementing new techniques, tools, and technologies to be a cut above competition. Change happens, and we need to be a nimble organization to maneuver change, fit regulatory demands, all while doing what is best for our clients, keeping them happy with consistently pleasurable experiences.
South Bend Taxi – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Southbendtaxi.com provides exceptional quality reliable shuttle service for commuters within greater northwest Indiana, and between South Bend and Chicago. Our business heavy destinations include St. Joseph, Notre Dame, South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, New Buffalo, Michigan City, Merrillville, downtown Chicago, and Chicago’s airports.
We also offer a growing NEMT (Non-emergency Medical Transportation) service for medical clients needing to be shuttled from Indiana region to Chicago hospitals. And recently launched a luxury car, executive car concierge service for our luxury and corporate audience whom requested black car services from Chicago to Notre Dame, Chicago to South Bend, Chicago to Elkhart, Chicago to Goshen and additional luxury car services within these major industrial city, business, and educational centers between Chicago and Indiana.
A larger portion of our business is Airport shuttle transportation for our beloved regular travelers and business commuters, campus commuters, and inbound conference and events visitors. We also serve weekend excursionists to our multiple tourist spots and casinos through the Lake Michigan Shores from New Buffalo, Michigan City, and Chicago, IL.
We are unique in that we offer a clean, professional, and dependable service, with knowledgeable concierge chauffeurs covering a large region around Lake Michigan. We must be cognizant of all the attractions around the lakeshore from sports venues, to resort venues, and cultural venues. We need to be knowledgeable of our business and industrial centers and business savvy due to the large number of business clients visiting our regions entrepreneurial and collegiate centers. Online, we are fortunate enough to be highly rated and reviewed too.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success can be interpreted subjectively depending on people’s various backgrounds, culture, environment, and beliefs. Personally, I define success as the ability to have liberty and afford a sustainable standard of living, with enough for your family, and a portion to give to those in need.
Success for my business means becoming the top ranked and best rated go to airport shuttle, city cab, and luxury car service for South bend to Chicago commuters. I’m looking out for opportunities to grow our digital brand first through online channels, solidify its online search dominance, improve its social audience reach through 3rd party platforms, and thereafter grow exposure through print and other offline ads localized to our region.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southbendtaxi.com
- Email: shuttle@southbendtaxi.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/southbendtaxi
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/southbendtaxi
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/south-bend-taxi-south-bend
- Other: https://plus.google.com/100471457278326791857?hl=en
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
