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Limo service owner enjoys rideFormer firefighter saw a few early bumps, but new venture taking offBy Mike Rasor Beacon Journal business writer On Christmas morning, limousine service owner Tim Bagley wasn't sitting next to a fireplace drinking eggnog. Instead, he was hunched over, blowing on his limousine's frozen lock to defrost it so he could open the door. His business was only eight months old. He could not afford to be late. This was a new life for Bagley. After two back surgeries, Bagley, 41, was forced to retire from his firefighter job at the Canton Fire Department. It wasn't easy changing careers, he said. ``After I got over the initial shock, it put me in a position where I could pick and choose what I wanted to do the second part of my life,'' Bagley said. So after discussing it with his wife, Bagley started a limousine service from his Canton home in April 2004. With help from a business partner, he launched Lamry Limousine and Concierge Services. The company name, concocted by Bagley's wife, Nikki, was a mix of Bagley's middle name, Lamont, and the first name of his partner, Gary Edmunds. Lamry had revenue of $12,000 in its first year.So far in 2005, the company has doubled that amount, Bagley said. Lamry has six employees and four vehicles. As far as progress for a young venture, Bagley says he is pleased. ``We have been blessed so fast,'' Bagley said. ``It's unbelievable.'' Bagley's goals include adding a few more limos, which would give him the ability to be one of the premier limousine services in the area. ``We're definitely headed in the right direction, but as a small business we know there is more room to grow.'' However, Bagley said he has concerns other than the bottom line. ``I'm not in this to make a lot of money,'' he said. ``Money is always great, but it's all about giving people that experience.'' The most rewarding part for Bagley is when he is hired for a wedding proposal or a couple uses a limo to celebrate their anniversary. ``That's one of the reasons why I got into the business,'' he said. ``Anytime you think limousine, it's always a happy occasion. When you pull up, everybody's smiling.'' Bagley said his thoughtfulness is what separates his business from others. It might be coordinating the limo's napkins with the wedding colors or advising a groom-to-be on how to pop the question. ``We try to make it a special experience, not just a ride,'' said Nikki Bagley, who runs the concierge part of Lamry. Along with the increasing revenue, this year has been easier on Tim Bagley. One of his fellow members in the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce suggested a nearby garage that could be rented inexpensively to house his limos. ``I persevered and was definitely blessed by that garage,'' Bagley said. ``And now I don't have to worry about (frozen locks) anymore.''
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