Seventeen years in corporate life had left Bethany Thomlinson looking for more – a fulfilling career. So when she found Driving Miss Daisy she felt an immediate connection.
“I came across Driving Miss Daisy, and I could really relate to the service,” Bethany says. “I had witnessed my parents support my grandma in her late years, taking her to medical appointments, the library, helping provide access to her community. If it wasn’t for them, she couldn’t have stayed at home.
“I was looking for a career with purpose, and I always liked supporting people in the community. A Driving Miss Daisy business made sense – it sang to my heart,” she adds.
“This is a great option for someone looking for a meaningful business because you are adding to people’s lives.”
Companionship driving service is community-focused
Bethany stresses that the companionship driving business provides so much more than transportation.
“It’s about building relationships, adding value to somebody’s day, enjoying a conversation with someone who might not speak with anyone else that day, or carrying groceries into their home.”
As a Daisy, Bethany has been empowering individuals in Wollongong to get out in the community since 2022. Some journeys might be solely providing safe and reliable transport to work, or so a client can do their weekly shop. Other journeys are all about connection, she says.
“For some people it’s creating an adventure, knowing they will be out of their home for three hours. It could be errands, a coffee, or going for a drive but knowing a Daisy will turn up, it’s a real highlight for our clients,” she explains.
Each trip is tailored to a client’s needs, and that reliability, and the relationship between Daisy and client, can ease stress and anxiety.
“We support one client who every day for 28 days will be having radiation. Knowing that we will be there, stay with her, and return her home, removes unnecessary worry,” Bethany says.
Bethany’s goal when she started out as a Daisy was simple: to help elderly clients get out and about.
Driving Miss Daisy focuses on the client’s needs
It’s proved to be so much more. Now she handles all the bookings and allocates drivers from her team of 11, across five cars supporting the community.
“I didn’t come in to build an asset – that’s just happened; I’ve been doing it from a heart-centred approach, and growth has been organic,” she says.
Bethany outsources work to her team first, and steps in if there’s a late night, early morning or weekend booking that can’t otherwise be met.
“I find out what the client needs and the team delivers on that. I try to do the first booking to get to know the client, to find out what’s going to work, and what won’t. It’s all about building relationships,” she says.
“We listen to the client’s needs and tailor their services. If they prefer a female driver, or want to travel a particular route, we arrange it. If we are supporting a client with dementia we stay with them the whole time. We assess their needs and work with care coordinators and family for each client.”
A brilliant business model provides a winning formula
The personal touch is backed up by an efficient business model: Driving Miss Daisy’s excellent customer relationship management system for bookings and customer data.
“Head office is really good at making sure we have all the training and systems in place, and then just checking in. They are always available to provide support, and the network of franchisees are great too.”
Bethany understands the importance of community connection and networking for her business, whether that’s with community groups, through expos or with medical professionals.
And the bright and cheerful Daisy vehicles double up as a brilliant marketing tool, she adds.
“Our vehicle with the Daisy speaks for itself and people comment on seeing the vehicles. I’ve trained my drivers to wave to people. It’s a great way to get our name out there. We are a companion driving service, but it means so much more than the slogan,” she says.
A heart-centred approach pays dividends
The impact a Daisy can have on local community is the driving force of the business, and it’s something Bethany recognises every day.
“One of our clients is a husband whose wife has dementia, and they live in two separate nursing homes. We pick up the husband and take him to visit his wife every Wednesday for an hour and a half, so he can see her midweek when his adult children are working.
“This means when the family visit they can spend quality time with their parents. Everyone wins,” she says.
Bethany may have come into this business with modest goals, but she has proved her heart-centred approach is a winner, scooping up the brand’s Franchisee of the Year award for two years in a row.
“I never thought that within four years I’d have 11 staff and five vehicles. When you start you say yes to everything, then get to a point where you can put on a team member. And there is plenty of room for growth,” she says.
“Once you get a client in once, you are almost certain of a return visit; some of our clients use our services up to six times a week. The key is being reliable and holding to your promises.
“I’ve never worked so hard but for me Driving Miss Daisy is not hard work, it fulfils me,” she says.