Mary Catherine and Rob Moseley have been entrepreneurs ever since they met. 13 years ago, Rob recognized a need for specialty transportation vehicles in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland. A 21 year old lifeguard at the time, he designed and purchased a bus that could accommodated more than the average 10 passenger limousine could handle.
Dating Mary Catherine at the time, the “luxbus” business grew as steadily as their relationship. Four years after their humble beginnings, the Canadian couple married and continued to grow their business together. Now, 11 vehicles and 14 staff strong, Mary Catherine and Rob’s Luxury Transport Inc. business undoubtedly has wheels
How did you start come up with the idea for a luxury transport company?
Rob: It started in 1998. I was at a wedding in Calgary and I realized there wasn’t anything around that’s limousine style that can seat over ten people. At the same time, my aunt was getting married here in Vancouver and she had the same issue of taking 15 people around. So we ended up working with a bus dealer in Langley and designing our own luxury bus.
The idea kind of sparked. Weddings would be good and maybe this would be good for grads. The first year I would take any call I could for example including stag’s and stagettes. There has been some pretty crazy stuff that’s happened but you kind of live and learn. I was dating Mary Catherine at the time who had a background in marketing. From there she came on board and split the business into other avenues evolving it into what it is today.
Being the first in the marketplace with this kind of vehicle, did business grow quickly?
Rob: In the beginning I would drive all the time. Like any business you start off slow, I was working my other job and Mary Catherine was doing the same. We only had one vehicle so we didn’t have much overhead and it’s grown pretty steadily.
Mary Catherine: (Laughing) He used to say, “Just give me two years” I was like, “How do you ask for two years when you’re just dating somebody?” But, we put a plan in place and really started to focus our business to a specific clientele. There is nothing stagnant about it.
Was it an easy decision to leave the security of your former job to work on this full time together?
Mary Catherine: I think so. I loved the people I worked with and it was exciting work but I really wanted to do more, have more responsibility and more accountability. I just wanted more. It was a natural match.
Rob: It is always nerve wracking. It’s pretty risky throwing all your eggs in one basket hoping it’s all going to work out. Lucky enough, it has.
What’s your hope for the future of Luxury Transport Inc.?
Mary Catherine: We always hope it will be bigger. Ideally we’d like to grow the company and we’ll eventually be able to pass it on to our kids and be involved in the family business.
What do you enjoy most about being entrepreneurs together?
Mary Catherine: Working together is a huge bonus. I love having something that’s ours. When you have something that is yours, you’re much more motivated and passionate because it’s your baby and everything you do impacts it. It makes every day a challenge and everyday rewarding. It’s a massive roller coaster.
Rob: It’s nice to have someone and something together – and you can live or die by it. Its good to be able to have someone who understands that and spend time together.
Do you try and separate your work life and home life?
Mary Catherine: I need balance in my life. I’m a work hard play hard kind of girl and he is a work hard work hard kind of guy, which is awesome. The company wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for him. But that is why we also compliment each other so well…there are so many things that we discuss that always talking about work is not an issue.
Rob: I agree. It’s nice to have the balance and family time and get away from it.
What do you enjoy most about running a business together?
Mary Catherine: The challenge of taking on something like this with the person I want to spend my life with. I want to share my life with him and this is part of that. He gets every part of me, he doesn’t just get the work or the lets go have fun part of me, he gets every part of me and I get every part of him in return.
Rob: It doesn’t seem strange or awkward to me, it just seems normal. It’s something we’ve grown to and it’s part of our life. We do things together and it’s just life as usual. It is great.
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Megan
(@MeganDubs) Megan is the Managing Director & Editor at Creative Couples. She works as quickly as she runs.
Jen (12 months ago)
Thats super inspiring…1 bus to more than 10?! I cant believe they were so young too. I dont know if i can ever take such a risk to starting my own business like that, but i admire people who do.
MaryAnne Johnnes (12 months ago)
Im from a really small town in northern Wisconsin, and I can’t tell you for the large weddings I have been apart of up here, a service like this with busses like theirs would be in such good business I’m telling you!
Congratulations to the couple on being such inspiring business owners.
Michael (12 months ago)
I can’t believe he was only 21! I thoroughly enjoy hearing stories like that.
Ive checked out their site and willing for a quote for my sisters wedding next spring. Thanks for the referral.
**** (12 months ago)
Cool couple. Cute too. Ty for sharing.
Sam (12 months ago)
Is that the inside of their bus? I’ve never seen anything like that…I totally thought it was going to be something like a shuttle bus and I couldn’t picture weddings really using something like that – but these “lux busses” are really glam. Good thinking Mary Catherine and Rob!