Meet Rashad Wallace of Novelty Rides in Irving

Rashad, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a child my grandfather was one of my biggest influences. He instilled in me that as a man I should always take pride in my ability to protect & provide and if you don’t work then you don’t eat. These principles caused me to be business-minded even as a kid. Elders and those who preceded me would always tell me that I had a knack for making money but I never understood what they meant until I was much older. Whether it was washing cars at my grandmother’s house, cutting grass, or selling candy/snacks at school and around the neighborhood, I was always willing to do whatever necessary to put a few dollars aside. Until this day I keep those very same principles near to my heart. Although I have a career in education, I’m always on the lookout for additional streams of income whether it be entertainment (party buses), the transportation industry, basketball training, or real estate. I try to keep my options open and myself available at all times.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not easy at all. I come from very humble beginnings in Gastonia, NC. My life journey brought me from poverty, homelessness, living in shelters, group homes and foster homes, to where I am today. Needless to say, my childhood experiences were everything but smooth. At the age of 15 I left everyone that I love and everything I knew behind in NC and moved to Texas for a better  life. To this day I still consider leaving my family behind in NC as one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made and I’m grateful that it worked out in the end. I always knew that I was put here for a greater purpose but this was a hard concept to grasp at a young age while experiencing surmounting troubles, trials and tribulations. Along the journey I made a lot of decisions that didn’t reflect the person I truly was nor the way that I was raised. Although those decisions had some negative consequences they proved to be some of the best lessons that life could offer a me as a young man. I’m thankful that God blessed me with loved ones and a close-knit support system that always chose to see the good in me even when I couldn’t see the good in myself. Their prayers, words of wisdom, genuine love, and positivity were enough to see me through.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Novelty Rides – what should we know?
Novelty Rides is an entertainment/transportation bus service which provides a whole new level of excitement and endless fun for passengers of all ages. We specialize in safe and affordable entertainment for our clients.

Novelty Rides is also known for networking with other business though out the DFW which we believe redefines many of the fundamental elements of business networking. For example, Novelty Rides partners with Townview Realtors to provide transportation for their Home Buyer Experience. The attendees are able to relax while participating in q&a sessions to learn more about the home buying process. This all happens while they’re being safely transported to various open houses. We find this to be not only a positive learning experience for potential homebuyers, but also a comfortable environment in which these clients can network with each other.

As a business owner, I am most proud of the positive feedback that I receive from my clients as well as the admirable reputation that Novelty Rides has developed within the DFW. I believe the conscientious effort and the supreme level of detail we put into our clients’ events are what truly sets us apart.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Of course! Providing safe and quality transportation to our clients is our top priority here at Novelty Rides. In addition, we pride ourselves in serving a diverse market of clients and various types of celebrations without sacrificing top-notch customer service and positive client interactions-  this has contributed to the success of Novelty Rides.