Ferndale Company Offers Unique Tours

Rose Szwed, tour guide for Step On Bus Tours, said the Ferndale business was founded December 17, 1993.

Szwed recently submitted information about the business to Patch. If you have a business and want to participate in Patch's Small Business Shout Out you can fill out the form here.

How did your business come to be?: Event planning is my specialty as I have produced major galas. Most have come in from other areas of the state and needed things to do and see -- for adults and children as well as for the press. When I started my company under Szwed Communications Public Relations, I represented many building trades labor unions where event planning was the majority of my work. As time went on, I landed travel and tourism clients. A hotelier suggested that I created a day trip touring division and bring groups of all ages to their location, which I have been doing all along. Then I started offering overnight and corporate party trips. The business is so much fun. I just love it.

What's a fact about your business that most customers probably don't know?: That we offer complete event services for companies and that we work with all budgets. We are able to provide such unique ideas and translate them into fun for everyone. Sometimes, we are needed only for brainstorming, other times we run the entire event including providing photography, gifts for attendees and thank you notes.

What services does your business provide?: Event planning is our specialty for groups and companies. Coming up with ideas is lots of fun as we strive to offer off-the-beaten track kinds of tours. I can take you to almost any city and show you places that you would normally pass by so that you will have an entirely new perspective. To complement our services, we offer the complete range of services from developing the concept, to designing and printing invitations, posters and a full itinerary of the rollout of the event.

What do you want your business to be best known for?: Providing unique and memorable events that include our basic to complete range of services.

What's your most popular product or service?: Coming up with fun and entertaining motor coach trips for groups and companies that are different from the ordinary.

When was the business founded?: December 17, 1993.

Why did you choose to locate to the area?: Ferndale is a special place for many reasons. It's ideally located among the major highway arteries and I can be on 8 Mile, I-75, 696, The Lodge, Woodward, etc in a flash. Also, I like the vibe of Ferndale. It's got a wonderful funky energy that feeds the soul of the business. Plus, our building was a historic hotel from the 1920's. It fits in my love of history.