Zorba9
03-01-2004, 11:27 PM
Last week while in Florida on off-road Segway business, I stopped and visited with our SC friends, Tom & Janie Jacobson. They are the owner/operators of "Florida Ever-Glides", a most unique Segway Tour operation that has been reported about here on SC previously.
I was more than just a little amazed at the planning and the organization that the Jacobson's have put into their Segway business.
The safety of their tour customers is the paramount importance to them. Satisfaction with the tour ranks a close second.
I have demoed different model Segways to over 700 people in the last year. I have never seen such a quick and extremely efficient method of demoing as Tom and Janie have worked out. Something else I've never seen is that almost NO-ONE ever "bobbles" the first time they get on a Segway!!
The first tour of the day starts at 9am (7 days a week). 8 customers who have usually booked ahead 2 or 3 weeks in advance, start their tour by watching an "abbreviated" version of the Segway training video (all the parts that are applicable to the glide they will soon be doing - no stairs, hoses,or wet grass, etc.) All of Tom's Segways shine like they are brand-new (from twice-aday cleaning) and his helmets are dis-infected (spray cleaner) between tours. Soon everyone is in the parking lot divided into 2 groups of 4 apiece. Tom teachs one group while Janie teachs the other, the first "basics" of the black key. Soon they are all riding around some orange cones and after a quick discussion between themselves, Tom and Janie place the "strongest" rider in the back of the line, the "weakest" rider in the front, behind Tom. As Janie stays behind and waves goodbye, off they go in "single-file" following Tom like a mother duck on their black keys. The tour starts in the "old quarter" of Sarasota with Tom stopping and starting the group at various points of interest along the way. Soon all the riders are becoming more familiar and capable with handling their Segways. Now they are ready to cross some busy streets and are soon at the Sarasota waterfront on the Gulf of Mexico.
Here they take a quick break, drinking water and eating some "trail-mix" the Jacobsons keep in the 12.0 bags on all their Segways. Tom asks if anyone wants to glide faster? Of course they all do and Tom moves them all up to the yellow key. When they return to the office at 11am, all want the tour to continue and I'm sure more than a few go home and buy their own Segways!
Florida Ever-Glides is a "model" example of how to run a Segway business. The city fathers and tourism board of Sarasota love this new business because it is done right and the elderly tourists love it! Their average age is 70 years old and they don't go to waterparks and Disney World like the younger tourists that have their families with them. This is perfect for the older generation, a very informative and sedate tour, with a chance to "play" with some of the greatest technology to come along in years!
After cleaning helmets and machines, plugging in all the Segs to charge-up for the 1:30pm tour (all tours are booked pretty much weeks in advance)Tom, Janie and I went and ate some lunch after which Tom bought a new pair of "Z-Coil" shoes. He is on his Segway at least 6 hours a day, 7 days a week. His tired feet and ankles need some relief!
Tom and Janie love people! They are always full of enthusiaism and genuinely enjoy what they are doing. My hat is off to them! Thanks for letting me glide along at the back of the tour Tom. Good luck my friends!
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=801437
KOG
Zorba9.....
I was more than just a little amazed at the planning and the organization that the Jacobson's have put into their Segway business.
The safety of their tour customers is the paramount importance to them. Satisfaction with the tour ranks a close second.
I have demoed different model Segways to over 700 people in the last year. I have never seen such a quick and extremely efficient method of demoing as Tom and Janie have worked out. Something else I've never seen is that almost NO-ONE ever "bobbles" the first time they get on a Segway!!
The first tour of the day starts at 9am (7 days a week). 8 customers who have usually booked ahead 2 or 3 weeks in advance, start their tour by watching an "abbreviated" version of the Segway training video (all the parts that are applicable to the glide they will soon be doing - no stairs, hoses,or wet grass, etc.) All of Tom's Segways shine like they are brand-new (from twice-aday cleaning) and his helmets are dis-infected (spray cleaner) between tours. Soon everyone is in the parking lot divided into 2 groups of 4 apiece. Tom teachs one group while Janie teachs the other, the first "basics" of the black key. Soon they are all riding around some orange cones and after a quick discussion between themselves, Tom and Janie place the "strongest" rider in the back of the line, the "weakest" rider in the front, behind Tom. As Janie stays behind and waves goodbye, off they go in "single-file" following Tom like a mother duck on their black keys. The tour starts in the "old quarter" of Sarasota with Tom stopping and starting the group at various points of interest along the way. Soon all the riders are becoming more familiar and capable with handling their Segways. Now they are ready to cross some busy streets and are soon at the Sarasota waterfront on the Gulf of Mexico.
Here they take a quick break, drinking water and eating some "trail-mix" the Jacobsons keep in the 12.0 bags on all their Segways. Tom asks if anyone wants to glide faster? Of course they all do and Tom moves them all up to the yellow key. When they return to the office at 11am, all want the tour to continue and I'm sure more than a few go home and buy their own Segways!
Florida Ever-Glides is a "model" example of how to run a Segway business. The city fathers and tourism board of Sarasota love this new business because it is done right and the elderly tourists love it! Their average age is 70 years old and they don't go to waterparks and Disney World like the younger tourists that have their families with them. This is perfect for the older generation, a very informative and sedate tour, with a chance to "play" with some of the greatest technology to come along in years!
After cleaning helmets and machines, plugging in all the Segs to charge-up for the 1:30pm tour (all tours are booked pretty much weeks in advance)Tom, Janie and I went and ate some lunch after which Tom bought a new pair of "Z-Coil" shoes. He is on his Segway at least 6 hours a day, 7 days a week. His tired feet and ankles need some relief!
Tom and Janie love people! They are always full of enthusiaism and genuinely enjoy what they are doing. My hat is off to them! Thanks for letting me glide along at the back of the tour Tom. Good luck my friends!
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=801437
KOG
Zorba9.....