When bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic forced business to dry up, David Lowe found himself with a lot of spare time on his hands.
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Looking for a way to supplement his cashflow while his new business was put on hold he turned to Uber.
The ride-sharing app went live on the Border, and across all of NSW on June 26, and Mr Lowe said the demand was so high more drivers were needed to keep waiting times down.
"I had a lot of trips and there were some that tried to book me but subsequently cancelled because with the wait, it was going to be too long given I was already on a prior trip," he said.
"If people can't get a hold of an Uber I would just suggest they be patient.
"I know there are new drivers coming into the pipeline soon and then we should be better able to cope with the demand that exists."
Mr Lowe started up his small to medium sized business advisory service, Seighford Business Solutions, just before the summer bushfires. From there, 2020 hasn't been kind.
"Within a month of starting we had the bushfires, and then along came COVID," he said.
"So, effectively I started it right before the perfect storm.
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"I was left in a position where any businesses that were likely to use my services were either forced to close or were so badly hit economically.
"My service was considered a luxury they couldn't afford, even though I have provided some advice to small businesses in the area on a pro-bono basis during this period.
"My business isn't closed, it's just sitting there waiting for better economic times."
Mr Lowe said his new career move with Uber was also a good networking tool for future business. "I have always enjoyed driving and meeting people, I ended up with a lot of spare time on my hands so I decided why not give it a go," he said.
Being based out of town, Mr Lowe said Uber was another option for those living in rural towns north of Albury.
"Uber is simply another choice for them to consider and the more choice a consumer has in any market the better the chances are that they get the best value for what they are seeking," he said.
"Personally I am happy to provide longer journeys within the region of up to 100 kilometres as a norm and even longer for some special trips such as airport transfers to the snow, Rutherglen, Yarrawonga etc.
"As I live slightly out of town in Jindera, people in my area including places like Walla, Culcairn and areas to the north of the city should see Uber as a good solution."
