Rose Transportation: 5 surprising facts behind Charlotte’s most successful corporate car service
If you ever use a corporate car service, it’s highly probable you book with Rose Chauffeured Transportation. This family business does $10 million in revenue driving bankers, church groups and all sorts of celebrities around CLT.
It’s a fascinating business story. Here are 5 facts that may particularly surprise you:
(1) No more limos: What once was a core business for Rose became too expensive and too sporadic, with most business coming from weekend parties and weddings. Today, it’s all about sedans, vans, motorcoaches and mini-buses – transports used 7 days a week. Side note: When Rose did more weddings, its drivers would give the bride a rose.
(2) Bold publicity: Founder H.A. Thompson isn’t afraid to be a bit cheesy. Back in 1989, Thompson and his wife bought the limo once used by disgraced televangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker and drove it to their trial in uptown sporting Jim and Tammy masks. Everybody took pictures.
(3) Career switch: Thompson used to be a deejay on WSOC and talk show host on WBT radio. But as he hit middle-age, he knew he wasn’t long for that world. So he and his sons began driving newlyweds on the weekend.
(4) Safety first: Each car is equipped with GPS that will warn drivers if they’re going too fast.
Congrats to Rose Chauffeured Transportation for winning the 2015 LCT Charter Bus Operator of the Year! #LCTShow http://t.co/y3xxVohlBO
— Lancer Insurance (@LancerInsurance) March 20, 2015
(5) The Famous: Everybody has used Rose, including Michael Jordan, Hugh McColl, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers, Sean Hannity. Autographed pictures line the Rose headquarters in Pineville.
Photos: John D. Simmons/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Rose Transportation: 5 surprising facts behind Charlotte’s most successful corporate car service."