By the FL Innovation News editorial team · Entrepreneurship
When Marlon Wentworth moved to Tampa Bay from his native Miami, he knew exactly what the Bay Area was missing: fleets of luxury cars lining the streets that are commonplace in South Florida. So in 2019, Marlon and his wife Jessica founded Energetic Exotics, a premier luxury car rental and chauffeur service with hubs in Tampa Bay, Orlando and Sarasota. Energetic Exotics offers a bespoke fleet of high-end vehicles, including Maybachs, Maseratis, and G-Wagons, alongside tailored concierge services. With business booming and more high-end vehicles being added to the fleet to meet the growing demand for their services, we spoke with the couple to see what lessons they’ve learned after entering entrepreneurship and what plans they have for the future.
1. You’ve been business owners for quite some time now. What lessons have you learned into your entrepreneurship journey?
Marlon: Relationships are everything, strong connections with customers, partners, have been instrumental in our success. Trust your gut and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.
2. What would you do differently if you had to do it all over again?
Jessica: Delegate tasks sooner! In the beginning, we tried to do everything. Learning to trust and empower a team was a game-changer.
3. You started doing more promotional opportunities to get your name out there. You’ve been on at least one influencer account. How has that benefited you?
Marlon: Working with influencers has been a game-changer. Being featured on a major influencer’s account gave us a surge in visibility and credibility. Their audience saw our business and people enjoying our cars and it created instant demand.
4. I understand you are about to open a new headquarters. Tell us about that and why did you feel the need to move from your former space?
Jessica: We’re excited and anxious about opening our new headquarters! Our previous space served us in the beginning, but we outgrew it.
Marlon: The new location is more centrally located and offers better facilities, not only for our fleet but also for our team and clients. It will feature a showroom, a lounge area for VIP clients, and an improved workspace for our staff. Moving was about scaling up to meet the increasing demand while elevating the client experience.
4. Any expansion plans? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Marlon: We would love to expand, and provide excellent service nationwide. In five years, we see Energetic Exotics as a household name in the exotic rental industry, with multiple locations, a loyal customer base, and an undeniable reputation for excellence. As we stay true to our core values and continue providing a good experience for our we will meet our future dreams.
