Charlotte entrepreneurs shocked by rising fuel prices

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Ka’Derrio White, owner of Mr. Pull Up, a mobile barbershop in Rock Hill, South Carolina, sits in his customized van. White said he’s been forced to raise prices by $30 to $40 in order to keep up with rising fuel costs.

Rising fuel prices are hitting mobile entrepreneurs hard. 

Spikes over the last month are connected to oil supply shocks caused by the United States’ war with Iran. The fighting – initiated in February by the U.S. and Israel – has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a reduction in global oil supplies. The result is prices over $100 a barrel, causing the national average for gas to surge over $4 a gallon. 

For entrepreneurs who rely on motor vehicles for their livelihood, it’s caused a burden. 

Ja’Derrio White, owner of a mobile barbershop in Rock Hill, South Carolina, said he has told customers they would have to wait on services and in some cases raise prices by $30 to $40 to fill his customized van with diesel fuel, which costs around $120. 

“It’s unfortunate, but I had to raise some of my costs,” said White, owner of Mr. Pull Up, which serves customers across the Carolinas. “The gas prices being so high right now, I had some clients who were used to paying a certain rate, ‘Hey man, I am sorry, but I have to [charge more].’ Right now, the price of diesel is $5.29, and I have to raise my prices to be able to afford the travel.”

According to the American Automobile Association, the average gas price in North Carolina as of early April is $3.93 per gallon, which is slightly lower than the national average of $4.12 per gallon. 

“With gas prices putting pressure on household budgets, drivers can take simple steps to stretch every gallon,” AAA spokesperson Tiffany Wright said. “One of the most effective ways to save money is to slow down, because fuel economy drops significantly at speeds above 50 miles per hour. Using cruise control on the highway, combining errands into one trip, and avoiding aggressive driving like rapid acceleration can also make a noticeable difference at the pump.

“Regular vehicle maintenance plays a big role in fuel efficiency. Keeping tires properly inflated, removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle, and staying on top of oil changes can improve gas mileage by several percentage points. Drivers should also limit idling — if your car will be parked for more than a minute, turning the engine off can help conserve fuel and reduce wear on the vehicle.”

The spike in fuel costs caused White to lose some clientele.

“Some customers, they were like, ‘Hey, man, when the gas prices go back down then I’ll call you back because you are one of the best barbers to ever cut my hair, so I like your cuts, but I just can’t afford the prices right now,’” he said. “So, that's affected me in that way, because I've lost about six or seven people. Well, I won’t say I lost them, but I’m not currently cutting their hair.”

Kwindarius Sapp, owner of Q’s Culinary in Charlotte, runs a restaurant and a food truck. Sapp, who normally travels the region with his truck, admits he has had to take into consideration the mileage to some of his normal set-up spots.

“So far, the gas spike has us being a little more cognizant of how far away events are,” he said. “Of course, you hope all events are successful but now there is additional pressure being added up because the travel expenses are going up.”

Sapp plans to continue business as normal while remaining aware of the distance to customers.

“For most food truck operators, I don’t think scaling back is a solution to combat the rising fuel costs,” he said. “We are all counting on the income to some degree, so using different strategies like having travel fees or incorporating fuel costs in sales minimums for hosts kind of helps offset some of the [costs].”

White said he has other business interests to supplement his revenue, pointing to disruptions like this as to why it’s needed.

“I am a photographer and videographer,” he said. “I have three rental properties. It is a good thing too, ‘cause I have had to pull some money from the savings I’ve generated from those rental properties to cover certain things due to losing clients because of these crazy gas prices.”

Sapp admits he didn’t have a crisis plan in place if gas prices remain elevated long-term. But, as an entrepreneur, he’s thinking about the future. 

“When some of your typical fixed costs rise due to reasons beyond your control, all you can do is try to push through it until normalcy returns,” Sapp said. “Also, being transparent with your guests if you have to increase prices has been something that seems to help keep your supporters in the loop as the effects trickle down from providers to consumers.”

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