By: Mark Eckel
Engagement Insider
Ellis Hobbs’ NFL career ended on a kickoff return for the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants in November, 2010, and with it went his celebrity status.
“I figured it would be a smooth transition for me,’’ Hobbs said of his playing career coming to an end that day because of a neck injury. “I had it together. I saved some money. I had never gotten that huge contract, but I felt pretty good about myself.’’
Then he tried to go to the Super Bowl, and the Super Bowl parties, that January, and got a life lesson that ultimately led to his new life.
Four years after his NFL career came to an abrupt halt; Hobbs has been involved in making a movie and is the co-founder of Prive Society, a concierge service geared toward professional athletes, successful businessmen, or anyone who likes to live like one.
Hobbs’ story from young, promising cornerback/returnman to successful entrepreneur took a lot of interesting twists along the way.
Here’s how it began.
“The Super Bowl was being played in Dallas that year, Green Bay and Pittsburgh,’’ Hobbs, who is from Dallas, said. “I figured I’d go and at least go to the parties and have a good time. When I got hurt I got rid of my agent over some issues, and now I couldn’t go anywhere. I was shut out. The Super Bowl is in my backyard and I can’t get in. I’m locked out of my own house.’’
Undaunted, Hobbs went on line, Googled “Super Bowl parties’’ and fortunately picked a site operated by Michael Dean.
“I got lucky,’’ Hobbs said. “Michael had played in the league for a year as a wide receiver and knew who I was. It’s kind of funny because he was asking me a lot of questions to see if I really was who I said I was. Finally, he believed it was really me and we talked some more.’’
As it turned out Hobbs didn’t even go to the Super Bowl, but that phone conversation with Dean was like winning the Lombardi Trophy.
“I had gone back home (to Philadelphia) and my wife and I decided we were going to move to Atlanta, start anew,’’ Hobbs said. “It’s the week we’re leaving and I get a call from Michael Dean. He just wanted to see how I was doing. He said he enjoyed our conversation and wanted to talk to me more about a business idea. He said he would fly me out to meet him. I asked him where he was located, and he said Atlanta. I told him I’d be there in a few days.’’
When Hobbs met with Dean he liked what he heard and the beginnings of Prive Society was unleashed.
“It was a great concept,’’ Hobbs said. “I knew what it was like being a professional athlete and the services that were provided for you. We’re doing the same things for people. We’re giving you the best of the best. If you’re travelling, if you want to buy something, whatever it is you need, or want, we can do it for you or get it for you.’’
Hobbs breaks down what Prive Society does into three levels. Time efficiency – they save you the time of having to do anything yourself. Premium pricing – they saved one member close to $10,000 on a watch in the $50,000 neighborhood. And access – they can get things for you that you may not be able to get yourself.
“There had never been anything geared to the athlete before,’’ Hobbs said. “But it’s more than that. We have CEOs, top businessmen, entertainers, some regular down-to-earth people who just like luxury. It doesn’t matter if you’re a NFL wide receiver or the CEO of a corporation, you want to go on vacation and you don’t have time to plan the trip, we do it all for you.’’
One of the members of Prive Society is Quintin Mikell, who Hobbs became friends with when both played for the Eagles in 2009 and 2010.
Mikell, a starting safety for the Carolina Panthers last year and currently a free agent coming off a foot injury suffered in the Panthers’ playoff game against San Francisco, loves the freedom Prive Society provides him and his family.
“It allows me to live stress free,’’ Mikell said. “I mean it takes care of everything from planning a vacation to every-day things like shopping, or making reservations for dinner. You make one phone call, or send one text, and it’s done. Right now, they’re planning my brother’s bachelor party in Vegas.
“I remember when I played for the Eagles. If I wanted tickets to a basketball game or a show, it was easy to get them. Now, it still is. I call and I can get tickets, dinner and a car service, if I want, all at once. My wife uses it all the time, too. They’ll find babysitters for you, screen nannies basically whatever you want.’’
Hobbs is proud of the fact that last year Prive Society did over $1.3 million in sales and he’s happy that the flamboyance he had as a player can remain in retirement.
“Because of this my lifestyle hasn’t changed one bit,’’ he said. “I love it.’’