A Driving Force: Ride in Style
When you have to get where you’re going, do it in style!
Whether you need a luxury lift from the airport; reliable, comfortable transportation on your tour or day trip; or even need to transport yourself, your friends, and gear for a hunting trip - Ride in Style is the way to travel the west coast of Newfoundland.
Started in Corner Brook in 2022 by Gerald Targett, Ride in Style offers better transportation options for large or small groups in a fleet of high-end vehicles with leather interior, A/C, and lots of legroom.
“Being a small business is tough and rewarding at the same time,” Targett says “To be successful you have to put in the time and hire the right people to get the job done!”
Targett was inspired to start Ride in Style when he shared a ride with several people from the airport and as the group got out of the vehicle, one of the women realized her clothes were dirty from the car. Targett heard one of them comment, “You think they’d have something better than that,” and he thought, “Maybe I do.”
Shortly after, he approached CBDC Humber to talk about funding to start the new business, which would eventually grow to a fleet of vehicles to accommodate any tourist or local group to navigate the west coast.
Ride in Style offers 24/7 service including an airport shuttle, chauffeur service, tours and day trips, all with high-end vehicles capable of handling any weather, with luxury amenities, including leather interior and air conditioning. In addition, the company provides either a 36-passenger coach with televisions and washroom facilities for bigger groups and longer tours and even a truck and 22-foot trailer for hunting trips.
Making his customers smile and “doing it my way, while exceeding clients’ expectations,” is what gets Targett excited about running his business every day. It’s also why he’s so passionate about showing off his hometown of Corner Brook and the natural beauty and history of the west coast.
“The black car service provides our visitors an enriched sense of arrival when visiting the west coast of the province and provides the local surrounding region with an upscaled transportation service option,” Targett says.
To launch the business, which had significant start-up costs, Targett took advantage of the CBDC Humber’s First-Time Entrepreneur Loan, to open his business and has also taken advantage of business counselling through the office.
“After my initial start up CBDC was vital in the expansion of my business,” he says. “The staff are fantastic and their assistance was instrumental in achieving my goals.”
Thank you to our Government of Canada partners at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), who collaborate with us to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Together, we will continue to build a stronger Atlantic Canadian economy, fostering job growth and strengthening our rural communities.