Miles and Isabel Powell believe in the simple things in life, and their Destin business, 5ride is proof of that.
“Everything is simplified,” said Miles. “Just the concept and the service.”
The Powell’s transportation business, that just celebrated its one year anniversary, offers flat-rate group transportation throughout the Destin area for just $5 a person.
“It’s a simple process, $5 per person takes you anywhere in the primary area,” said Miles. “It works just like our slogan, ‘It’s like a taxi or shuttle, but better.’”
Miles explained that the primary area encompasses approximately 20 miles spanning from Sandestin to downtown Fort Walton Beach, but the company offers airport runs and special event bookings by request.
“We have customers pre-book or call for on-demand rides,” he said. “If we have groups that want to go down on 30A for a dinner excursion we have tiered fares for each of the coastal community’s along 30A.”
“We’re pretty flexible when people call us,” added his wife Isabel. “We give the option that they can rent a van by the hour or charge the basic $5 per person.”
5ride’s 15-passenger blue vans are hard to miss, and for frequent customer Whitney Smith, that is exactly how she discovered them.
“I saw them driving by one day and called,” she said. “Now we use them all the time.”
Locals and tourists alike take advantage of the affordable service, the most frequent requests being for bachelorette parties and dinner outings.
“A bunch of us girls went out to the wine festival, and they took us from the beach house to the festival and back,” said Smith. “It’s more fun to get a group of people and all ride out together.”
As for the Powell’s, originally of northern Alabama, they say the locals are the core of their business.
“We came over to Destin to become a part of this community,” said Miles. “We go out of our way to take care of our locals.”
When asked what the most common question they receive is, Isabel said, “The cost. People always call and say, ‘Is it only $5 for anywhere along the Emerald Coast?’”
The Powell’s ensure the price stands.
“We have a totally different business model that allows us to provide an excellent value with an excellent service,” said Miles.
“It’s an easy sell a good value and a good service, it’s what we like to call a win, win, win scenario.”
WANNA RIDE?
5ride is located at 303 Azalea Dr. Suite 2A. For more information call 424-7442 or visit www.facebook.com/The5ride