His cell phone always seems to be ringing. He only has fifteen minutes in the morning for an interview, and then its off to complete another delivery.
"I started this company eight years ago," the retired miner begins, briefly pausing between sips of coffee and telephone calls.
"A fellow asked if I could deliver a box to Rae-Edzo. He offered $100 for the service. I said sure. After that, I began to think about other people who might need a similar kind of service done. So I started up Howies Small Parcel Pick-up and Delivery."
The phone rings again. Someone is inquiring about whether or not Howie can make a run out to the airport. He tells them to call back in fifteen minutes, after the interview. As he hangs up the phone, he smiles.
"It always happens like that." he chuckles.
He sips his coffee again and continues his story.
"There was a real need for the service back then. Still is."
Howies averages about 35 deliveries a day, a far cry from the 4 or 5 he used to get in the early days. In fact, the demand for delivery services has increased so much, that another company started a few months ago providing the same service. Howard doesnt mind the competition.
"Theres always someone wanting a package delivered somewhere."
For new entrepreneurs, Howards advice is simple: "enjoy what youre doing". In fact, Howard goes one step further by suggesting a good attitude about life is vital to the survival of any business.
"Every business will go through ups and downs. Its important you realize this early in your business. If you have fun at what youre doing, youll do fine." he says, now dashing off to complete another delivery.
