Every time I travel for a Blades By Crank pop-up, I learn something new. Sometimes it’s about people. Sometimes it’s about business. And sometimes… it’s about how many bags I can actually fit into a rental car without breaking something. 😂
My recent trip to Arizona for the 81st Guam Liberation Festival really opened my eyes—not just about running a business on the road, but about how companies like Alamo Rent-A-Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car operate. And I say this honestly: I gained a new level of respect for them.
I Used to Think These Places Were Just “Vacation Cars”
Growing up in the islands, whenever someone says “Enterprise” or “Alamo,” you think:
- Vacation
- Disneyland
- Visiting family
- That one time your uncle rented a car that he said he was “definitely going to take care of”… but didn’t 😅
I never thought about them for business purposes, especially as a small business owner with pop-ups around the world.
But this trip changed that.
Big Vehicles, Big Storage, Big Help
Traveling with knives, merch, banners, tables, and all the other things needed for an event is no joke.
Usually, people think U-Haul is the only option for big cargo or hauling equipment.
That was me too.
But in Arizona, I learned that Enterprise and Alamo have a whole lineup of larger vehicles:
- SUVs with huge cargo space
- Full-size vans
- Bigger vehicles that can store your booth setups
- And options perfect for small business transport
It blew my mind. I literally stood there like:
“Wait, you guys have hauler-level vehicles too?!”
That was a game-changer.
The Customer Service… Bro.
Let me talk about the customer service.
You know how some places say they care about customers, but you don’t feel it?
With Enterprise and Alamo on this trip, you actually feel it.
From the staff at the counter to the guys prepping the cars, every single person treated me with the type of care you want as a small business owner traveling alone:
- Friendly
- Helpful
- Quick with solutions
- Patient with my 101 questions lol
One lady even told me,
“Frank, don’t worry—we’ll get you set up. We know you’re working.”
And that hit me.
You don’t hear that often.
Seeing What Makes a Business Last
As someone building my own company, I pay attention to how other businesses operate.
Enterprise and Alamo have been around forever.
And now I understand why.
They double down on:
- Consistency
- Customer experience
- Clear processes
- Staff who genuinely care
- Making stressful situations feel easy
These things sound basic—but they’re not.
As a small business owner, sometimes we forget:
people don’t just remember what you sell; they remember how you made them feel.
To My Fellow Small Business Owners — A Few Lessons Learned
Here are some takeaways I got from this trip that might help you too:
1. Don’t overlook everyday companies. They might offer solutions you never knew existed.
I didn’t know I could use Enterprise and Alamo for business transport. Now they’re on the top of my list.
2. Customer service matters more than anything.
People don’t buy products—they buy trust.
3. Systems and processes separate the “good” businesses from the long-lasting ones.
Enterprise & Alamo are smooth because they built systems for everything.
4. Take note of what big businesses do well. Copy what works.
There’s no shame in learning from those who’ve done this for years.
5. Travel smart—your energy matters at events.
Having the right vehicle, smooth check-in, reliable support… all of that helps you show up at 100% for your customers.
Gratitude
To the teams at Alamo Rent-A-Car and Enterprise Rent-A-Car —
Si Yu’us Ma’åse for making this Arizona trip smooth, stress-free, and efficient for me as a small business owner.
Your service kept me moving, kept the knives safe, and helped me show up for our diaspora community at the 81st Liberation.
I appreciate you all more than you know.
Final Thought
Running a business is tough. Traveling for one is even tougher.
But experiences like this remind me that we’re never doing it alone.
There are companies, people, and teams out there who make the journey easier — and it inspires me to show up that same way for my customers.
Stay Shinarp, keep learning, and keep pushing, Keep CRANKIN IT UP!
— si Frank the Crank