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Subject: Information Sources For Starting a Valet Business

Author:
Dennis S. Vogel

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Date Posted: 16:33:03 07/28/09 Tue
In reply to: mark w 's message, "Re: Value-added Valet Service" on 15:01:14 07/27/09 Mon

My inclusion of the URLs below doesn�t indicate or imply my endorsement or the currency & accuracy of the information.

Customers could be anybody who can afford the service. If it�s not free (paid for by clients); it can be expensive for some budgets & cheap for others, like this example:

http://www.monroecounty.gov/airport/parking.php Airport Valet ... We Park, You Fly! (Airport Valet is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.) Airport Valet has a one time fee of $20 plus a $12 daily parking fee.

For upper class customers, you may share clients with party & event planners, caterers, chefs, bakers, banquet halls, florists, ice sculptors, bartending services, cleaning services, wedding chapels, musicians/bands/disc jockeys, artists, etc. They may be able to give you specific demographics & provide valuable contacts. �Etc.� may be secretive though.

Here�s an example of an elaborate banquet service, including valet parking. It�ll give you some idea of the money involved & how high customers� income may be. Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Banquets & Weddings http://www.oak-brook.org/weddings/

Valet Parking Guidelines & Procedures http://www.cambridgema.gov/Traffic/Valet.cfm (Other cities, counties or states may have similar information available.)
Valet Parking Ordinances http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Transportation/Valet+Parking+Ordinance.htm

www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/licensing/valet.pdf
For big budget clients, I was thinking you could leave little gifts in the customers� vehicles or offer them in person. But then I thought maybe not. Not so fast Dennis & Mark, don�t dismiss this idea so quickly, read this:

http://www.panynj.gov/pr/106-98.html Mr. Kelly noted that if they wish, customers can arrange to have roses, a box of chocolates or other gifts -- including a teddy bear -- waiting along with their vehicles.

"Focus groups told us this would be a very convenient way of picking up gifts to bring home from a trip for friends or relatives," he said. "We are in the midst of the most ambitious program in our history to improve customer service at all three of the metropolitan area's major airports," Mr. Kelly added. "Valet parking is a major element of that program."

That (above) can be applied to gifts for valet customers &/or a shopping service combined with valet service.

Here�s another possible type of work: http://dtts.ors.od.nih.gov/parking/parking_faqs.htm What is Attendant-assisted Parking? With attendant-assisted parking, unlike valet parking, first arriving employees will self-park and lock their cars in the existing striped spaces (as currently). Once the facility is full, attendants will direct employees to established parking locations where parkers will leave car and ignition key, and receive a claim ticket. Vehicle keys will be secured by attendants using key security locks. As self-park spaces open, stacked cars will be moved into available spaces.

Departing stacked employees will present ticket and attendants will unsecure key and move any blocking vehicles.

Tandem/Stacked or Valet Parking. Providing the required parking spaces in tandem or stacked parking arrangements or offering valet parking service reduces the amount of land devoted to parking. The City of Portland, Oregon, allows stacked parking or valet parking if an attendant is present to move vehicles. If stacked parking is used for required parking spaces, some form of guarantee must be filed with the City of Portland to ensure that an attendant will be present when the parking facility is in operation.

Applicability: Parking lots and structures http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/docs/smart-growth-parking.pdf

Consider Valet Parking at the Performing Arts Garage http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/planning/neighborhoodplans/pdf/MO_CCPS_recommendations.PDF

If the Performing Arts Garage began to regularly reach capacity during the daytime, valet parking could be considered, as at Civic Center Plaza Garage. As a rule of thumb, valet parking increases capacity by 25%. This would make 147 additional spaces available.

Some of the examples above indicate the kind of events valet parkers are hired for. The kinds of events indicate who may attend & be a parking customer.

You can get some background information about valet services from http://bestvaletparking.com/

Dennis S. Vogel thrivingbusiness@email.com
It�s vital to know what drives people to do things & how to channel their drives to their satisfaction. Here's free information to help you & your customers get great results.
http://www.lakefield.net/~thrivingbusiness/
http://www.voy.com/31049/

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