Taxi Driver Online

Blow for Pink Ladies cab firm


Kerry KatonaAN all-women cab company promoted by Kerry Katona has closed two branches.

Pink Ladies was launched in Warrington last year to offer a safe cab service only for women members.

I'm A Celebrity star Kerry was the public face of the firm, which opened franchises in London and Carlisle. These have now closed.

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Co-founder Andrea Winders said Pink Ladies Warrington would carry on in business. "It has re-structured its business, without interruption to services for members or inconvenience for staff."

The company has been lobbying Westminster over a change in the law which threatens the business. It requires that they are licensed in the same way as private hire taxi firms.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

By restructured I wonder what the lady means? What would happen if I was a member in Carlisle and still had credit in my account?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How would the pink ladies be "threatened" by licensing?

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Former taxi driver

It seems, according to the local press here, that the origional company has now called in the receivers after those that bought franchise rights began to take legal action. I saw a couple of their cars out yesterday but I think it's now just a matter of time before pink turns to more of a reddish blush.

Bill

Those that bought franchises possibly because they thought they could operate unlicensed?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Nah. They were just taken in by all the hype, a nice web site and a pretty face.

At the end of the day the business has to use the same basic economics that apply to all other taxi companies. Underneath all the glitz it's still just a small company with not enough demand to justify the numbers and hence not enough income to cover fixed costs.

My feeling about this licensing stuff is that it’s just an attempt to find something to blame for the basic failure of the business, which is understandable if you have loads of people wanting their money back.

Bill

Could do with seeing the pretty face, all ive seen is Ms Katona!

Notice all the iceland posters have been defaced in town? Someones taken it a step further, no need for it really.

http://www.malefirst.co.uk/45042004.htm

she seems to be a troubled person

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Now you see em
http://www.bsn.org.uk/view_all.php?id=11376

now you don't
http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/news/friday.html

Businessman John Ottaway claims to have purchased the Hull area franchise for £22,000 only to discover that the business plan was flawed.

Just think he could have saved himself 22 grand by just logging onto here.

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IDFIMH

I thought the Hull franchise bought less vehicles than the lady from Carlisle.

Indeed, isn't 'John' a mans name? So men can own a franchise but not drive the vehicles?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi firm puts itself into administration
By Stephen Bailey
Comment
PINK Ladies Ltd has put itself into administration - and one franchisee has said he is suing the company.

The women-only taxi company is based in Hawthorne Street, Bewsey and has franchises around the country.

The Hull, Carlisle, and London franchises have gone out of business. Pink Ladies' website says it has franchises in Liverpool, Manchester and St Helens.

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Andrea Winders, Pink Ladies' co-founder, of Rosemary Drive, in St Helens, said: "Pink Ladies has re-structured its business, without any interruption to services for members or inconvenience for staff.

"The closure of the Carlisle and London offices involved issues outside the control of Pink Ladies Warrington.

"Pink Ladies continues to expand while upholding the high standards of service provided, and plan to keep looking for better ways that Pink Ladies can work with members and staff.

"At this point in a young company's life we ask for support from our local community, and trust that the people of Warrington are behind Pink Ladies."

The administrators, Bond Partners of Alcester, did not return two phone calls by the Guardian.

John Ottoway, the Hull franchisee, said he paid £22,000 for his franchise and was told he would need seven cars and seven staff, with a potential income of £12,000 a month. He said, instead, he was taking £700 a month. The London franchisee, a 24-year-old who asked not to be named, said he has taken legal action for £100,000 for a lack of support and inaccurate information on potential earnings.

He said he was told he could expect £12-15,000 a month but was getting less than £500.

"It's going to take me five to 10 years to recover from this," he said.

"They have never responded to our legal letters."

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Pinkies on the move?

Women-Only Taxi Company For Tehran

December 10, 2006 8:16 a.m. EST


Som Patidar - All Headline News Staff Writer
Tehran, Iran (AHN) - Iran will launch a women-only taxi company, 'The Ladies' Safe Trips,' in Tehran is aimed at women who feel uncomfortable riding in close proximity with members of the opposite sex. The company will only employ married female drivers.

"My main motivation for driving in this company is to create ... security for other women who always have to sit stressfully in taxis," a female driver employed at the company said.

In shared taxis, women and men are often forced to squash together in certain conditions. During trip many women feel stress and insecure in the presence of opposite sex person, a local newspaper reported Saturday.

In Iran men and women travel in separate sections of public transportation, such as buses. Being forced to sit closely to men in taxicabs makes some women uncomfortable, Pakistan's Daily Times reported Sunday.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well they all lasted a long time then?

And to think people we're concerned that they would eat into their business.

Ta ra.

Are you suggesting a lesbian element?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin