Wil Andruschak

What service does Keys Please offer?

We are a designated driving service. We drive people in their vehicles, operating late afternoons and evenings. One of our drivers takes the person or people in our vehicle and another driver takes the client’s vehicle home, following behind. The cost to the customer averages $7 to $10 more than a one-way cab fare would cost.

I’m assuming that most clients call you because they are over the drinking-driving limit.

For the most part, that is the case. We do daytime rides, which is for people who call in prearranged, which would be for things like day surgery, optometrist offices, anywhere where someone could drive to an appointment but can’t drive back afterwards.

Is Christmas-New Year’s your busiest time?

Yeah. We are fairly busy throughout the year, as well. We get peaks and valleys but they aren’t as extreme as what most people might think.

Is it more troublesome having clients who are inebriated?

No. I can’t say enough good about our clients. They are fantastic, wonderful, responsible people.

Is one of the reasons they are that way because they are being responsible, not drinking then getting behind the wheel?

Absolutely. There are people out there who I’ve heard say, ‘I drive better drunk than you do sober.’ Those aren’t the clients we are taking.

Do you do campaigns?

Yeah, we get people to go around to bars and put up our promotional material.

That’s how I came upon you guys, I found your business card that reads: I can drink my body mass in alcohol; I can be loud and obnoxious; I can walk, staffer or fall down… but I must drink responsibly and call Keys Please.

We also have posters and tech cards and business cards and “Gone to pee,” “Gone to smoke” cards. We put humour into our promotional material. We don’t think drinking and driving is a laughing matter but it makes people pay attention.

Do most people call from bars or homes?

Most are from bars but we do get residential calls, as well.

Is business booming for you during this recession as opposed to the boom?

No, there’s less. I’m not really sure why that would be.

Have you ever had a client who was belligerent?

Umm, I’m sure we have but we haven’t had a safety issue with it or anything like that.

You haven’t had to call the cops?

No.

That’s amazing. Are there times when your employees are just sitting around, waiting for calls to come in?

Yeah, there’s downtime like anything else.

Do people tip quite well?

Yeah, I guess if the driver provides a good service.

Do all of your drivers drive standard vehicles?

One of the two on the team must drive a standard.

What’s the average length of trip?

It’s 10.6 km.

Are most picked up from downtown?

Everywhere. We pick up all over the city.

Do you have more males than female clients?

Probably more male-driven based. It’s about 65 per cent.