An Interview With Savio P. Clemente
Sustainable and eco-friendly practices. The travel industry is taking note of the shift towards sustainability in consumers’ lives and making adjustments so that customers can stay consistent with their values while on vacation. Consumers are putting their money where their values are and planning vacation and travel around those priorities.
As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Beth Nettles.
Beth Nettles is a dynamic entrepreneur with a business mind and a creative soul. Her entrepreneurial spirit, deep community commitment and dedication to problem solving have been key to driving KreweCar forward. She is passionate and dedicated to transforming the transportation landscape for families and continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the rideshare industry.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
KreweCar was born from a very real frustration. As a mom traveling with young children, I was constantly battling the inconvenience of lugging heavy car seats and worrying about the safety of my kids in unfamiliar rideshare vehicles. I would often rent a car to ensure my children had the proper car seats — a hassle that added time, stress, and costs. Most times, the rental car company would not have the car seat I reserved and if they did, it was ancient. I realized that other families shared the same struggles, and so KreweCar was created to offer a solution.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
The idea for KreweCar came about at the end of 2018. Thanksgiving day that year, my oldest son fractured his femur. He was 5 at the time and had a plate and screws put into his tiny leg. We had a trip planned in December to go snow skiing. Although he was non-weight bearing and in a wheelchair, we decided to still take the trip. The most stressful part of the vacation was trying to get into the airport from the parking garage with 2 car seats, luggage, our 2 year old pushing the 5 year old in the wheelchair and alllll the things. That frustration led to lots of research trying to solve my personal problem. Realizing better options did not exist propelled me to create one. As soon as we got home from that trip, I dove into figuring out how to start a business to make travel easier for parents. It took a year of intense research, planning and stalking the guy in charge of signing off on the permit. I was so persistent. He finally signed it at the end of Jan 2020, and I thought we were on our way. But, as you know, travel and all things came to a screeching halt in March.
I spent the early days of the pandemic honing my patience. I focused on refining the backend of the business and started building the KreweCar app. I used the quiet time to make sure the technology would be seamless and reliable when the world was ready to move again.
But it wasn’t just the technical side of the business I had to work on. The financial strain combined with the uncertainty about the future, meant that my family had to make some difficult decisions. To make ends meet, we sold our beloved home in New Orleans, leaving behind a city we love, in exchange for a more affordable life in the rural Delta of Louisiana where my grandparents lived.
In the small town where we relocated, I didn’t have the distractions of city life. The slower pace allowed me to think, plan, and ultimately, build the foundation for KreweCar to succeed in the future.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I texted co-workers about this interview and asked them to refresh me on some funny things that have happened. And one thing that came up was how I often have shown up to work with my clothes on inside out and/or backwards! Clearly, my mind is elsewhere when I’m getting dressed. I guess I haven’t really learned my lesson, because it still happens occasionally. The lesson I should learn is to pay attention when I’m getting dressed. When getting dressed, think about getting dressed. Focus.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?
Burnout can be a serious challenge in this industry as well as in entrepreneurship in general. I have found that creating some boundaries around work time helps keep me present for my family. Things like only answering calls and emails at certain times and limiting phone use is helpful to prevent feeling like you’re constantly working. Another thing that helps tremendously is prioritizing exercise. I like to run as a way to relieve stress but any physical activity helps not only with your physical well-being but also mental clarity. In addition, physical challenges you set for yourself help create mental toughness that you will need in the business world.
I set a goal to run a marathon once. Partially self-motivated and partially motivated by someone telling me I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have time to properly train, I was determined to run this race. And I did. I ran it without quitting and without giving up and without any training. I won’t do that again, but it taught me that I can keep going even when I think I’m at my limit.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Although the town where I was raised was known as one of the poorest in the country, it provided me with a very rich childhood…rich in things money can’t buy. Growing up in a small town in the Louisiana Delta with my 3 brothers and easy access to my grandparents shaped who I am today. This idyllic childhood was orchestrated by my parents who worked hard to give my siblings and me a solid foundation for life. I’m eternally grateful for my upbringing and for the people and community there.
I know you said “a particular person” but it’s just too hard to narrow down, so I’m going to keep going…
My husband has sacrificed so much for MY dream. KreweCar would not be possible without his support and him allowing me to put everything into this business. And, of course, my biggest supporters and inspiration…my 2 boys. They are so encouraging, so interested in what I’m doing and so proud of what we’ve accomplished. I have a drawing they made congratulating me on the first ever KreweCar ride hanging in my office.
Outside of my incredibly supportive family, I have many friends and mentors that continue to help and guide me. A dear friend from college and her husband have been instrumental in the formation and continuation of KreweCar.
If we were at an awards ceremony, they would be playing the music by now so I’ll stop.
Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?
KreweCar is addressing a critical gap in family travel and setting new standards for safety and convenience. We differentiate ourselves by offering vehicles equipped with high quality car seats. Traveling families no longer need to carry bulky car seats, making travel with kids more manageable. Families are empowered to explore destinations more freely without being constrained by transportation limitations. By addressing a niche yet significant need in family travel and combining it with user-focused technology, KreweCar has the potential to transform how families navigate urban and vacation destinations.
Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?
Have you ever carried a car seat or even worse, multiple car seats to and from airports? If so, you definitely understand the pain point. The light ones weigh at least 19 lbs each. It’s close to impossible to carry all the things into and out of the airport when traveling with kids. It’s also very logistically challenging. KreweCar aims to allow parents to be able to hold their child’s hand, not the heavy car seats, when traveling. Travel lighter — physically and emotionally. Not having to travel with car seats and knowing you have a safe ride booked allows parents to travel with less things and less stress.
How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?
I envision KreweCar disrupting the status quo by addressing unmet needs, creating new customer experiences and reshaping market dynamics. By providing vehicles with car seats, we are removing a significant barrier for parents and caregivers. By making safety a part of our core identity, we are positioning ourselves as a trusted service provider. We are disrupting the traditional reliance on private cars or rental vehicles for families traveling with children, providing a seamless alternative that reduces stress and logistical challenges. We are not just improving ridesharing. We are creating a new category in family-focused travel.
As you know, COVID19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers will prefer to travel?
1. Personalized experiences.
I think that AI and data analytics will steer consumers to crave more personalized experiences.
2. Sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
The travel industry is taking note of the shift towards sustainability in consumers’ lives and making adjustments so that customers can stay consistent with their values while on vacation. Consumers are putting their money where their values are and planning vacation and travel around those priorities.
3. Blended travel (work and leisure).
With the return of business travel as well as the rise in remote work, companies will start to cater to travelers who are blending work and play.
4. Family travel.
With the increase in blended travel mentioned will also come an increase in family travel. Families will be joining in on work trips. Family travel is already the largest segment of leisure travel and is expected to increase over the next 5 years.
5. Wellness travel.
While the pandemic was a setback for the travel industry, it ignited wellness tourism. This trend does not seem to be going away anytime soon and is rapidly growing.
You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?
It starts in the planning phase. It creates anticipation and excitement as you consider the possibilities. My idea of a perfect vacation experience has a combination of adventure and exploration mixed with leisure and relaxation. I love the natural world so incorporating lots of time outdoors in nature is ideal.
Can you share with our readers how you have used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I think being able to bring goodness to the world starts at home. My most important measure of success is how well my kids are doing. Raising good kids is the most significant way to contribute to the world in my opinion. I learned the most about doing good deeds from watching my grandparents. So often, when I visited them, I witnessed them giving money to pay someone’s electric bill or car repairs. They didn’t know I was watching. Their small acts of generosity made a big impact on me. I hope my kids see that from me.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I spent a lot of time in the medical field and got to see first hand how broken our system is. The medical world is much more focused on treating patients once they are sick as opposed to putting emphasis on prevention. Patients have become accustomed to getting shots or medicine every time they visit a doctor. They expect something other than the doctor’s expertise and knowledge on an illness. The movement I would start would be to change our medical system to focus on how nutrition, exercise, sunshine and healthy habits can prevent many of the illnesses patients face today. Nutrition and functional medicine would have a place in traditional medical schools. Don’t get me wrong…I am not opposed to all medicine, and the scientific advancements in medicine are nothing short of amazing. Medicine has saved my life and the life of my son. However, I do believe that our system is set up to push treatment over prevention. And I would love to see that changed.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
We are on instagram and facebook @krewecar
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Beth Nettles Of KreweCar On The Future Of Travel was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.