case studies

The proof is in the proof.

We're confident that we can help change the way your business looks at transportation. We may not be the suit-wearing types (maybe you aren't either), but we've been watching the macro trends, keeping an ear to the wall, and tracking patterns in business transportation. What we've found is that the face of business is changing. Cabs are costly, rentals are inconvenient, and at the end of the day all any one is looking for is a viable, sustainable, and cost effective way to get from A to B.

Twitter – San Francisco, CA

"Zipcar is one of my favorite ways to get around San Francisco. Its simplicity, community, cost & crafted experience make it a joy to use." That's the "tweet" Jack Dorsey, founder and Chairman of the Board, sent us about why Twitter uses Zipcar. [+] expand

Great minds shouldn't always have to think
"I appreciate services that you don't have to think about to use," said Jack. "Zipcar has made it easy to sign up, reserve and get a car, so you can go about your day." Zipcar simplicity means everyone at Twitter can get wheels when they want them, from a mobile phone or on the Web. But simplicity is only one of the keys to Twitter's and Zipcar's success.

There's time, money and travel. "We wanted to avoid the cost of taking taxis everywhere or the time delays of mass transit," said Jack. "Zipcar's the fastest, easiest way to get around town." And not only do the people of Twitter use Zipcar around their hometown of San Francisco, they use it when they travel to places like New York and Boston because Zipcar is available in more than 50 cities across the US and the UK.

A personal and philosophical proof of concept
When we asked how he learned about Zipcar and why he chose it for Twitter, Jack explains, "I used it personally. Because of that, I could recommend it on personal terms."

What does Zipcar have to do with a business philosophy? "It's a shared space, a shared resource," Jack noted, "And that can help reinforce best practices within our company. At Twitter we're all sharing a resource and working for the same goal." But Jack also described Zipcar in slightly less philosophical terms… in 3 quick words, "Simplicity. Craftsmanship. Value."

Shepley Bulfinch – Boston, MA

"Numbers tell a story," says Edward P. Hughes, CFO of Shepley Bulfinch, a company renowned for innovative, sustainable design solutions. "We used to lease three company cars," he went on, "but after looking at the cost it became obvious we shouldn't be in the car rental business." [+] expand

Zipcar - a simple solution to driving down costs
Ed knew the designers and architects needed reliable transportation to and from job sites and client meetings, often at a moment's notice. Not to mention the flexibility to take vehicles that could carry architectural models. But the costs associated with company cars went beyond just leasing expenses. "Oil changes and regular maintenance costs add up," said Ed.

In his search for a cost-effective solution, Ed found Zipcar. According to Ed, "We had a very good initial meeting about how Zipcar works and how it could benefit the company." With two cars about to come off of lease, they decided to try it. With Zipcar, they discovered a reliable way to get their employees to meetings and job sites, while eliminating insurance and maintenance expenses. And they gained other financial benefits as well, "We've cut the time my people used to spend tracking expenses and managing the company cars by 95%."

Building client and principal satisfaction
As a leader in sustainable architectural concepts and technology, Shepley Bulfinch has also found Zipcar fits in well with its clients. "Many of our clients and staff are very sensitive to 'green' issues. With Zipcar we have the option of taking a Prius to meetings."

All three of the company cars have now been replaced with Zipcars. And in Ed's words, "One of the principals who was concerned about getting rid of the fleet has become the most frequent user. He likes the MINI Cooper."

We asked the CFO of Shepley Bulfinch for three words to sum up Zipcar. His reply? "Available. Cost-effective. Reliable."

Improv Asylum – Boston, MA

"It's convenient, there's only one account to deal with, and there's an insane choice of cars nearby." That's what Norm Laviolette, co-founder of the Improv Asylum, award-winning comic, and savvy entrepreneur, had to say about using Zipcar for Business. [+] expand

Running a comedy club is no joke
When the office staff, actors, comedians, set designers, writers (and even the props) of the Improv Asylum have to travel, they go in a Zipcar. It gives them a choice of vehicles - fuel-efficient cars for office errands around town and bigger vehicles when the whole cast needs to get somewhere.

But they've got more sense than to use Zipcar for convenience or choice alone. "It's cost-effective," says Norm. "We used to use rental cars for weekend performances. While we haven't done a formal cost analysis yet, I know we're saving money with Zipcar. There's no car rental agency around here that will let you rent a car for a Friday night and not charge you for a second day."

So how does Zipcar's service stand up?
"Good customer service is cutting out having to deal with customer service," says Norm. And that's been his experience with Zipcar. In his words, "It's hassle free." Of course, when they do need a question answered, they can call anytime or use the web. According to Norm, "My sales rep Becky is terrific."

So which three words come to mind for a stand-up comedian/businessperson when asked to describe Zipcar? "Easy. Convenient. Close by."

Swedish Medical Center – Seattle, WA

"We have 7,000 employees commuting daily, including people in direct patient care who work shifts around the clock. Our goal is to eliminate single occupancy vehicles. But how can I convince them not to drive in, if I'm driving myself?" asked Karen Lee Kimber, Manager for Parking and Transportation for Swedish, a leading non-profit health care provider in the Greater Seattle area. [+] expand

Leading by example and innovation
"I haven't driven to work regularly in 22 years. This really is my cause," said Karen. But she knows that doctors, nurses and staff need the flexibility to attend meetings and travel between hospitals whenever necessary. In her words, "A doctor can't say to the patient, 'Excuse me, I have to get to my car pool.'"

That's why Swedish uses Zipcar. Now employees know they can get to where they need to be anytime, day or night. All they have to do is pick up the phone or go online to reserve a Zipcar and in minutes they're on their way. And Zipcar gives Karen the leverage she needs to convince virtually everyone to leave the car at home. "We have vice presidents who use it, nursing staff, and people in billing and HR."

How to save spaces and money
Today, Karen manages five garages. No one needs to tell her about the time and expense of providing adequate parking. So it's good to know that every Zipcar can take 15 to 20 privately-owned cars off the road (national average). Cutting down on parking has the potential to save Swedish tens of thousands of dollars.

But Zipcar does more than take pressure off the garages. Swedish lets employees use Zipcar for business and personal travel, which allows them to eliminate the hassle and expense of mileage reimbursements. So how does someone who has made alternative transportation her 'cause' describe Zipcar? "Easy. Convenient. Practical."

Poopbags.com – Chicago, IL

"Rentals are a pain. There's the credit card, proof of insurance, and the license. It all seems to take hours. With Zipcar, you sign up once, get the card, and you're ready to go," said Paige Penningroth, marketing director of Poopbags.com. [+] expand

The scoop on poopbags.com and Zipcar
For Poopbags.com, choosing Zipcar was all about ease, convenience and choice. In the words of Paige, the marketing director who does it all, "There are cars right down the street. The printer broke the other day and is one of company's lifelines; it was such a relief to book the Zipcar and drop it off. And I don't have to worry about parking." But the good people at poopbags.com, the company that markets biodegradable bags for picking up what the name implies, also use Zipcar for more than office errands.

"We have to run to suppliers and sometimes you need a pickup truck to move large (or several) items all at once," said Paige. With Zipcar, they can go green with a hybrid or take a large vehicle when they need it. As Paige said, "Any way you look at it, you don't have to pay for insurance or gas. The burden is washed away from the company."

What else is easy about Zipcar?
"The Zipcar website is easy to use," said Paige, who also has experience with website design. "The site completely explained the pricing structure. It was right there in bulleted form." And that goes a long way to explain why Zipcar has an 89% customer satisfaction rating among small business members.

So what three words would a marketing director use to promote Zipcar? "Easy-to-use. Convenient. Well-maintained."

lucy – Portland, OR

"Some days I run around a lot. We might have a press check in the morning and a photo shoot in the afternoon. Sometimes I only have a few moments before I'm off again," said Leslie Forness, Creative Services Production Manager for lucy Activewear – a fashion forward women's apparel company.
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On the move, after the move
lucy designs apparel that inspires women to go the extra mile. And no one is more on the go than Leslie. "We moved to downtown Portland in April. It's a lot more fun and exciting to be here, but there's no parking." Even with a more central location, Leslie is out of the office more than ever. And when she's on the road, she takes Zipcar.

"Zipcar is easy and convenient," said Leslie, "There are so many Zipcars around, and it works great." Using Zipcar also means that Leslie can keep taking the bus to work and then use Zipcar for company business. It eliminates parking and gas expenses, yet still gives her the freedom to travel whenever she needs to.

Brands that fit
"Zipcar is brand right for lucy and vice versa," said Leslie. Both companies are concerned about the environment and committed to green solutions. That's why Leslie takes the Prius whenever possible. (She did mention that she didn't know how to start it the first time, but help was only a phone call away). "Zipcar's customer service is great," said Leslie.

So how does an incredibly active Creative Services Production Manager describe Zipcar? "Easy. Convenient. Zippy."