The Hemphill Brothers Coach Company knows a thing or two about how celebrities live on the road. The Nashville-based trailer company, run by brothers Joey and Trent Hemphill, has been building and equipping luxury tour buses for 40 years, promoting a list of clients ranging from mega stars like Taylor Swift, Oprah, Dolly Parton and Beyonce to former US Presidents.
“2020 was going to be our best year. It was already marked as our biggest year in the history of our company,” said Trent Hemphill, when CNBC first met Hemphill in October.
But when the coronavirus pandemic led to the abrupt cancellation of shows across the country in early March 2020, $ 30 million in RV rentals for touring musicians went out with them. “My brother and I went through a lot together in this business, but nothing like that,” said Trent Hemphill.
American Bus Association data estimates that between 75% -80% reduction in tour bus travel has been canceled since mid-March 2020 due to the pandemic, a loss of nearly $ 5 billion to the entertainment bus industry in the United States. USA, which includes motorized bus operators and tour companies.
The Hemphills grew up touring as a successful evangelical family group before borrowing money from their father in 1980 to buy their first rental bus. They now have more than 100 buses. Hemphill Brothers Coach Company is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
Brothers Joey and Trent Hemphill entered the trailer business in 1980 with just one bus. Its Nashville-based fleet now includes more than 100 coaches and more than 200 employees and has a long list of celebrity A-list customers.
Hemphill Brothers Coach Company
During the first five months of 2019, business was growing: 95% of Hemphill’s fleet was on the open road. But in early 2020, “not a single trailer left the parking lot for three months,” said Joey Hemphill. “We were considered an essential form of transportation for the government. But there was no business available.”
“The most painful thing we ever had to do was fire employees. We had to be very agile and cut costs immediately and find a way to get through the other side,” he added.
So, the brothers put their heads together and decided to do something they had never done before: create a social media presence and start selling their buses to the masses.
“We deal with tour managers. Dealing with the general public is something we have never done in our 40s. So it was all new to us,” said Joey Hemphill.
“We said that our equipment can be used by the general public, who don’t even know we exist. We just have to get the message out,” added Trent Hemphill.
To increase the buzz, the brothers coined the phrase “travel like a rock star” to sell their luxury RVs to American tourists and travelers looking for an alternative to air travel during the pandemic.
“It was a way of generating revenue not only for the company, but also for our employees and drivers,” said Trent Hemphill. The “rockstar experience” went viral – and the Hemphills said they completed dozens of tourist travel rentals in the past year and in 2021.
The buses are very similar to being in a five-star hotel and passengers can choose from several floor plans. The “star bus” can accommodate up to 12 people and even pets, and each part of the bus can be closed for privacy. The brothers said that every bus is “extremely customized” and “no two buses are the same”.
RV celebrities from the Hemphill Brothers are equipped with top-notch materials and embellishments, such as genuine leather, wooden floors, granite, marble and quartz. The elaborate buses serve luxury travelers who seek maximum comfort on the road.
Hemphill Brothers Coach Company
In true celebrity style, Hemphill buses offer travelers a journey in the lap of luxury: each RV is equipped with sophisticated finishes, including genuine leather, wooden floors, granite, marble and quartz.
Campers’ rental costs start at $ 1,200 to $ 1,500 per day, depending on mileage. Drivers, fuel and extra expenses are included, and drivers can receive travelers at their homes anywhere in the continental USA
Trent Hemphill said the benefits of traveling on the road instead of an airplane are many. “You only need to pack your bags once,” and passengers wake up at their next destination in the morning, while the bus spends the night, “he added.” Our drivers are very good at offering a smooth ride. You don’t even know you’re moving. “
“I personally sleep better on a bus than at home,” said Joey Hemphill.
So who else slept on a Hemphill bus? The same company that made superstar Taylor Swift’s first tour bus created the last of country legend Merle Haggard.
The buses are sterilized before each trip and drivers are tested by Covid before any trip and are in pre-arranged accommodations between destinations. Prices may vary according to an individual’s schedule and itinerary, or travelers may choose a travel route tailored to them.
The Calderon family said that when their trip to South Africa derailed due to the pandemic, renting a Hemphill bus for the same price and taking a trip across the country was one of the best decisions they have ever made.
“We’ve been all over the world and had an incredible vacation. I think we had no idea that we would go back and say that, of all the trips we’ve taken in our lives, this was our favorite,” said Karla Calderon.
Karla, her husband Rafael and their two young children took the Hemphill bus west for a 12-day trip, starting in Nashville and ending at Yosemite National Park. “We always want to travel outside the United States and see all of these things. [trip] reminded me that this country is incredible “, said Rafael Calderon.
The Hemphill Brothers said they also increased other sources of revenue from selling used equipment and custom interior modifications and conversions to external customers. The company said it helped offset some of the loss of rental income during the pandemic and allowed employees to get back to work.
Even when the live shows return, the Hemphills said they plan to keep part of their fleet for tourists.
“We went through a storm and we had to regain control of the company. And we realized that we can still do that.” said Trent Hemphill. “It has been a challenge, but it has also been a little invigorating for him and me to see that the decisions we make on a daily basis can affect the outcome of our business. Just like in the beginning. It makes you feel young again. “