It started with one bus.
Actually, it started when Brandon Floberg and Butch Wright brought out the calculator and added up the money they and other Shaunavon parents were spending to get their kids to and from their tournaments.
“I thought it was just crazy,” he says. “So we bought a bus from an auction sale and it kind of took off from there.”
It turns out that southwest Saskatchewan was more than ready for a reliable, clean and locally-owned bus service. Here & There Charters was launched, and after adding additional buses and a large van to the fleet, the company has grown to serve Shaunavon, Swift Current, Maple Creek and more communities in the region.
Floberg, who also owns and operates Floberg Seeds, says Here & There Charters has already become the go-to option for local minor hockey, seniors organizations, football teams, ski clubs and other groups and organizations in the southwest.
“We’ve also done weddings; we’ve done grad parties. So we kind of do everything,” he says.
He also points to basic logistics as a reason why his bus service has become so popular so quickly. A non-local company, for example, has to drive empty all the way to Shaunavon or another town, pick up its passengers, drop them off and then return empty to their point of departure.
“They have to charge for those kilometres,” he explains. “For us, we’re already in the southwest, so we’re saving you quite a bit of money by not driving empty. We also offer great deals to minor hockey and seniors’ hockey teams, and it’s also a safe ride for them.”
Floberg emphasizes that each bus goes through the shop when they get back from a trip, and that safety inspectors perform random checks. Peace of mind and cleanliness are important to riders, most of whom prefer to support local businesses as well.
“Our plan is to build a shop in Swift Current and keep growing this,” he says. “I also always try to employ the southwest with jobs that pay pretty good rates.”
He adds that additional plans include facilitating transport to Rider games and even providing a transportation option to WHL teams.
Floberg tries to respond to queries for quotes within an hour, though he acknowledges that it’s reached the point where he needs to think about expanding Here & There Charters’ managerial personnel.
“I’d actually like someone to manage the whole thing,” he says. “I had fun starting it up, but I’d like someone to take it over.”
Given the business’s success, he may also be on the lookout for additional drivers before too long. It may have started with one bus, but the positive response has seen Here & There Charters grow quickly into something the whole region can now rely on.
To book a bus or request a quote, call or text (306) 297-7475. Prospective and existing customers can also reach out to Here & There Charters via Facebook.
