When Alex Hunter made the leap from a limousine fleet to running motorcoaches, he expected a steep learning curve. What surprised him most was just how much the transition hinged on the relationships he built, especially one with Smart Choice Coach Sales owner Matthew Brown.
“Matthew and I have been talking about the coach business since 2020,” said Hunter, who owns Elite Global Transportation. “But I didn’t meet him in person until this year. We talk on the phone almost every day.”
That ongoing dialogue quickly turned into a strong business alliance. With Brown’s advice, Hunter went from owning a single pre-owned coach to managing a fleet of five, expanding service from Asheville into Charlotte and surrounding markets.
“Matthew and I, we get along, but we’ll argue like we’ve been married 60 years,” Hunter joked. “We push each other, and that’s helped me grow.”
Brown says the dynamic has helped him grow, too.
Building a Motorcoach Business from the Ground Up
Hunter’s journey in transportation began in his teens, working at Elite washing cars. Years later, he launched Queen City Party Charters in Charlotte and, in 2020, purchased Elite in Asheville after the death of his mentor. At the time, buses weren’t on his radar.
“I had 21 limos, I was the limo guy,” Hunter said. “But Matthew kept asking why I wasn’t in buses. When I looked into it, it started to make sense.”
That pivot opened doors to high-value contracts, including work for universities and corporate travel.
The “Coach Sales Guy” Advantage
Brown’s expertise comes from a lifetime in and around the motorcoach industry. Raised in his family’s transportation business, he was buying and flipping cars in high school. After college, he began selling coaches from his family’s own fleet. Recently, he rebranded his dealership from Holiday Coach and Auto Sales to Smart Choice Coach Sales, putting the focus squarely on motorcoach transactions.
“Everyone knows me as the coach sales guy,” Brown said. “It made sense to put the focus on what we do.”
Smart Choice Coach Sales buys and sells nationwide, working with companies of every size. Brown’s experience spans charter sales, fleet operations, and mechanical service — a perspective he believes is rare in the dealership space.
“We operate a charter business and a shop, so we know how these vehicles perform,” he explained. “We don’t just list them for sale, we guide our clients through the process.”
Competitors, Challenges, and Unexpected Support
Breaking into the coach market hasn’t been without resistance. Hunter recalls a breakdown incident where nearby competitors refused assistance after learning who he was.
“One of their employees said to call the office, but when I did and gave my name, they said no,” Hunter said. “At that point, I had three coaches. If they see me as a threat, that says a lot.”
Still, the industry has shown its generous side. Operators like Jenny Williams-Bokhari of Metro Livery and the team at CLT Express offered referrals and advice when he needed it most.
“The people who helped us didn’t have to,” Hunter said. “That showed me how much this industry values connection.”
Branding That Works Everywhere
Brown believes much of business success comes down to your circle.
“It’s not about who you are,” Brown said. “It’s about who you know. If you surround yourself with good people, they’ll bring opportunities with them.”
Hunter recently unified his Charlotte and Asheville operations under the Elite Global Transportation name, standardizing colors, logos, and service delivery.
“I want the colors, the branding, the service — all of it to match,” Hunter said. “That attention to detail matters.”
Sometimes, that branding shows up in unexpected places.
“I take my motorcoach to the grocery store,” he said. “People remember that.”
Despite the challenges, Hunter says he’s only scratched the surface of what’s possible.
“Some of the best things take time,” he said. “And I think we’re just getting started.”
Image & Source: Bus and Motorcoach News
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