“Tired of lugging luggage” spawns new business

By Mike Switzer

Published February 2, 2024 at 6:30 AM EST

Have you ever found yourself needing to check out of your hotel many hours before your flight and wondering what to do about your luggage while you got out and enjoyed the local sights one last time? Our next guest has and she decided to do something about it by forming her own luggage logistics service. And it was recently recognized with the 2023 InnoVision Small Business Award. Mike Switzer interviews Amanda Sheridan, founder and CEO of Charleston Bag Valet in Charleston, SC.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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