Florencia Cirigliano With RedCoach

Intro: [00:00:04] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Brought to you by On pay. Atlanta’s new standard in payroll. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:25] Lee Kantor here, another episode of Atlanta Business Radio, and this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, Onpay. Without them, we couldn’t be sharing these important stories. Today on Atlanta Business Radio we have Florencia Cirigliano with Red coach. Welcome.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:00:44] Hi Lee, how are you? Thank you for having me.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:47] I am doing well. I’m so excited to learn about Red coach. Can you tell us a little bit about it? How you serving folks?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:00:54] So basically, Redcoat is trying to redefine the concept of public transportation, specifically in Motorcoaches. The company has been established 13 years ago. We came from Argentina, where I’m originally from, and we want to establish the concept of affordable luxury in the bus segment. Before that, there wasn’t too many options to travel by bus in a comfortable way. So that’s what we are trying to to do, change the way people think about bus travel. So we offer different routes from Florida, where we are headquartered, all the way to Antonio. This is a new route that we just started, but we covered the whole state of Florida. And also we have routes in the state of Texas.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:43] So you started out in Florida. You were working, I would imagine I’m from Florida. So, um, like a Miami to Orlando kind of thing, or Miami to Tallahassee or where were you going in Florida when you started?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:01:58] Well, the first routes we did with Headquarter in Orlando, because it’s the most central, you know, spot for the whole state. And we started doing routes between Miami and Orlando. But very soon we start serving the whole state from all the way from Miami to Tallahassee. Uh, we go through the East Coast via Orlando, and then we do it via Tampa on the West Coast. So pretty much we cover the whole states. We have routes, all major city, but Jacksonville. But then we cover all all the states.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:31] And then what is the experience like like say, if I’m in Miami or South Florida and I’m going to Orlando, are we going like, where where are we starting and where are we ending?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:02:42] So basically, as I said, we’re trying to change the way people think about bus travel because Redcoat is not your typical motorcoach. Whatever it comes to my mind when you think about bus travel, probably it’s not the best experience could be like a last resource. So what we have is we redefine the concept by removing all the seats. We tailormade it. We brought it from Argentina and the busses only have 27 seats. So imagine the size of a regular coach is 50 seats and we only have 27 seats or 38 in our business class. So basically you can sleep on the bus, you can use the Wi-Fi, the outlets. And what we’re trying to do as well is have very like short stops and everything is very accessible in a way that, for instance, Miami, it’s in Miami airport for later airport. Uh, then we go through the service plazas and it’s a quick pick up and drop off. So the time of traveling is comparable to driving your own car. So that’s how we try to elevate the experience. Not being on a bus for too many hours, but not being that uncomfortable. And be safe with cameras on board tracking. So that’s pretty much the whole experience.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:58] So when you decided to come to Atlanta, where is that the point where people can get on the bus here in Atlanta?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:04:06] So basically Atlanta, it’s very it has been request by by our customers. They want more connectivity with Georgia. So, uh, we decided to stop in downtown Marta Civic Center because we like the idea that it has connectivity to different, um, places via Martha, that that’s one of the, of the things. And then we also serve a lot of students and business people. So that will help with connectivity because it’s located, um, in downtown area.

Lee Kantor: [00:04:37] So then they go to where the the Civic Center Marta station is, and then your bus will be there at the appropriate time. So they just board it like they would like if they were getting into an Uber or something. They can just go on to the bus, they bring their stuff and then after you, yeah, they show the.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:04:54] The QR and then they get on the bus. You have a tracking app, we have a tracking. So you can actually check where your bus is like an Uber, you know, to see, uh, the location. And we have two, two daily routes. So two daily departures in the, in the at noon and at night. Because the the seats are so comfortable, you can sleep on the bus and you save money in hotel or if you have to be early, um, back home and you don’t want to stay in, in each of the places, either Orlando or Atlanta, you can do that. But also you save money because you just get to work in the morning or visit your friends or, or whatever you need to do in either Atlanta, Orlando, Gainesville or any of the destinations we go.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:38] So now, you mentioned that if I was going, if I wanted to go to South Florida, I can go to Orlando and then take a second bus from like Orlando to South Florida.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:05:48] Yes.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:05:49] We do have connections there. They’re very like 30 minutes. And it’s one that, you know, you change busses and because we we change drivers and and I’m clean them. So you get a fresh new coach and you continue. But the layover the stop is like 30 minutes.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:06] And then are, is this kind of an express where you’re going directly to Orlando in one shot or are you stopping along the way?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:06:14] So basically we our route is Atlanta. We have a quick stop in Valdosta and then Gainesville. We stop at University of Gainesville of Florida, I’m sorry, in Gainesville. And then uh, Orlando in Orlando. We do have our own station so that you can relax, go to the restroom, eat something. And it’s located like ten minutes from the airport in Marco Road.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:38] Now, is it something that if somebody uses the bus, then from that point somebody picks them up or they take an Uber, uh, to wherever they’re going or, you know, some sort of transport to wherever they’re going.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:06:49] Yeah, that’s pretty much how it works. People, uh, have someone that pick them up or they they just, you know, take an Uber or something. The train is nearby as well. So if you want to do the SunRail, that’s another option too. It’s like a couple of blocks from our station. Or if you need to connect to the airport and take a flight, uh, somewhere else. It’s like ten minutes from the airport as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:14] So who is kind of the, um, the typical rider? Is it a young person that, you know, is doing this for financial reasons, or are business people doing it because they can leave at night? And that’s pretty efficient way to get there the next morning. Who is your kind of target market for the rider?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:07:33] So basically it’s the you know, our demographic is very ample. We have the students that might go to, you know, college and want to visit friends in Florida. Uh, people, family going to Disney. Uh, we have business travelers going to conventions or meetings. So our older people, they don’t feel comfortable driving. They don’t want to go through the hassle of the airports. So that’s a great option, uh, for older demographics as well. So to be honest, it’s, uh, it’s the the range is pretty, pretty pretty big.

Lee Kantor: [00:08:08] And then you said it’s like, uh, 27 to 38 ish people on the on the bus with you.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:08:16] So basically you have a first class pass, you have a business class pass. And we have the economy option as well. For our Atlanta route, we only have the business class. And basically it’s only 38 seats that you can uh, you have there. So only 38 people there, but you have all this extra legroom and space because, uh, we remove all the seats and, and put more ample wider and, you know, reclines, um, 140 degrees so you can actually sleep on the bus. Um, you can use the Wi-Fi as well. You have power outlets. So, uh, a lot of people work there. And, you know, instead of get home and continue working, they just get everything done on the bus. But most of the people do on the bus, to be honest with you, is sleep. People like to sleep on our busses.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:08] And then, um, is there food or do you bring your own food? How does that work?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:09:13] No we don’t we don’t offer food. But people are welcome to bring their own. You have a restroom? Uh, we also have cameras on board. We have eight cameras that are, uh, surveillance 24 seven, uh, because we believe, like, it’s very important, uh, to feel safe. So we take that, uh, very seriously, and we have cameras on board in order to do that.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:37] And then I’m sure you encourage people to use headphones like it isn’t loud. Like there’s not people talking on the phone. Are you allowed to talk on the phone?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:09:47] You’re allowed to talk on the phone, but people are pretty respectful from the from the ones that have it next to them. So, um, it’s it’s a nice, safe environment.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:58] And then, um, do you cater in any way for families like people with children, like seating together, things like that, where like on an airplane. That’s not always easy to do.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:10:09] No. Yes. We do have reserved seating, actually. So before you get on your you have your already your seat assigned and it’s two and two. So you can have a space. Or if you are traveling in a first class you have just you can have your individual seat so you don’t have to share with anyone. And our children’s are are are welcome. Children under two years old travel for free and children until 12 years old get a 15% discount. And we also have discounts for students 10%. And for people older than 65, we do have 10% plus that 10% per veteran. Everything is year round. No blackouts, nothing.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:50] So, um, what’s your backstory? How did you get involved in this line of work? It’s, uh, it must be pretty interesting, because you’re kind of trying to reinvent an old, um, way of transporting.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:11:02] Exactly. Yeah. It’s been a challenge. Um, I, as I mentioned before, I’m from Argentina. I was born and raised there, and, um, it is a family business that was in Argentina for 50 years. And there was a time that we came here on vacation and we saw that there’s a there were a lot of people we saw that frustrated on the road and we said maybe something like what we have in Latin America or Europe might work here. Uh, the question would be they don’t travel by bus because, you know, people just here don’t travel by bus or because they don’t have a better option that, you know, the ones that have been there for more than a hundred years. And so at the beginning, it was kind of like a huge challenge because people didn’t quite understand the concept. Is it 27 seats? So it’s a smaller vehicle. Is it a charter? Um, but then people start trying. And to be honest, our biggest ambassadors are our customers. But it was, um, a big challenge and it’s but it’s been an amazing ride, and I feel like the whole industry is changing step by step, little by little. There’s there are some other companies that are doing luxury busses. There’s no companies doing affordable luxury busses, as we do, because we have dynamic pricing.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:12:20] In fact, now there’s even a promotion for Atlanta for $15, so you can travel from Orlando to Atlanta for $15. But in general, we have dynamic pricing. So a trip from Orlando to Atlanta could cost you $25, for instance. So we are the only ones doing that. There’s other people in other states doing luxury busses, but at, you know, triple, triple or four times the rate that we offer for the same length of trip. Um, but yeah, it has been it has been really nice because I at the beginning people were trying us as the okay. Yeah, whatever. I’m going to give it a try is the bus. I don’t know, but it’s cheap or it’s affordable or something. But then people change. Like this is, for them, a smart option. This is the way they go now. And, you know, it’s it’s been really rewarding to see that or families saying this is a life saver because now I don’t have to drive my mom to to visit my sister somewhere else. They feel safe and. It’s really nice to hear the stories of the people that traveled to be honest to, to connect them, because at the end of the day, what we do, you know, we connect people every single day.

Lee Kantor: [00:13:32] Now, you mentioned like Atlanta to Orlando or I’m assuming both Orlando to Atlanta. There’s a stop in Valdosta and a stop in Gainesville. What does that make the length of that trip? Like if I was to drive in my car, how long would that be? And then how long would it be on Red coach?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:13:50] So basically if you depend depending of of how fast. But basically if you go on red coach the whole trip, it’s um one uh seven hours and 30 minutes. But if you, if you drive, it’s probably six hours and 30 minutes. So it’s not too much because we just do quick, uh, drop off and drop off. Yeah. Pick up and drop off. You know, it’s like ten minutes stop or 15 minutes stop. It’s not like you get off or or something. Um, so. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:28] So those stops, so those stops are just, um, so people can get on at Valdosta if they wanted to go Valdosta to Atlanta, there’s a that’s a choice too, right? Like if because the bus will be coming from Orlando. So if you’re in Valdosta and have to get to Atlanta, this is an option for those folks too.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:14:48] Exactly.

Lee Kantor: [00:14:50] Well. How exciting. So, are you looking to, um, obviously you’re going to Atlanta. Are there any other stops on your roadmap in Georgia, or are you primarily going to be in Atlanta and then use that maybe to launch to other southeastern cities?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:15:06] Atlanta and Georgia has been always very exciting hub, you know, to think about. It’s close to Florida. It’s our borders. It’s it’s organic, you know, to go there. So we’re definitely will look into other cities from from Atlanta. We want to just start to to see how people react, how, um, people from Atlanta use Red coach. And for sure, we were looking to just expand in the southeastern region. Uh, we we want to take that red coach concept everywhere.

Lee Kantor: [00:15:39] Well, congratulations on all the momentum. If somebody wants to learn more about Red coach, what’s the website? What’s the best way to to learn more?

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:15:47] So they can look at look at that, a red coach Usa.com. And then also on social media you can follow us and Red coach USA, TikTok, um, Instagram, Facebook. Those are where we are.

Lee Kantor: [00:16:02] Well, congratulations again on all the momentum. And, um, you’re doing important work, and we appreciate you.

Florencia Cirigliano: [00:16:10] Thank you so much for having me. And, uh, it’s it’s been a very exciting ride, for sure.

Lee Kantor: [00:16:16] All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Atlanta Business Radio.