We were lucky to catch up with Jeremy Hunt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jeremy, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
In the fall of 2016, after moving on from more than a decade as a partner in a courier business, I faced a pivotal decision: continue pursuing an entrepreneurial path or seek stability in a corporate role. While I was still figuring things out, I was offered a job to work in inside sales for an IT company.
Their business plan was to make a lot of cold calls to get leads, and it made sense to me. I realized that if I did the same thing with my new delivery business startup, I could find my first customers fast.
Excited about this idea, I started reaching out to potential clients with personalized emails. I used my experience to pick businesses that could use my courier services, and that could appreciate a customized approach. It worked quickly. I sent a proposal to the owner of a popular donut shop near my kid’s school, and literally four minutes later he replied saying, “I am VERY interested in this concept. In fact, it’s EXACTLY what we’ve been looking for for the last 4+ years…” Within weeks, we were making our first deliveries, making a steady $200 a week from this first account.
I had closed much bigger deals at my old job, but it was a special feeling to break the ice as a solo entrepreneur. I knew that if I could make my first few hundred dollars a week, I was confident that my sales would soon reach thousands of dollars per week. And that’s exactly what happened. Within two months I had enough customers and weekly sales to hire myself full-time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My love for delivery began at the age of 12 with a paper route, but my entrepreneurial spirit ignited in Central Asia in 2001. Working with young people there, I was struck by their limited opportunities. It lit a fire in me to create a business that not only thrived but also made a difference in people’s lives. I realized that businesses could have a positive impact, just like non-profits. This impact comes from fostering meaningful connections with everyone we interact with. Since that time, I’ve learned that we can achieve this by treating everyone with kindness, respect, and genuine care. I believe that positive impact and community begin with the everyday interactions inherent in conducting business—the “gifts of being in business,” as I see them. It’s how we greet a customer, respond to a vendor, or reply to a job seeker. By prioritizing these interactions and cultivating a culture of genuine care within our company, we can authentically reach beyond our walls and make a lasting difference in the community. Otherwise, our efforts are merely good marketing, and our actions don’t reflect the values we espouse in our mission statements.
Oprah says, “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do,” and that’s exactly what I did. Back in Minnesota, with a young family to support, I was driven to seize every opportunity. My days were a whirlwind – a bread delivery route that started at 3 AM, followed by afternoons spent as a resident repairman and managing a part-time real estate photography business. It was a full-on hustle! I vividly remember one evening, knee-deep in a clogged sewer drain at the apartment complex, covered in grime, but still clinging to that dream of owning my own business. Looking back, those years of juggling multiple roles, facing unexpected challenges, and pushing through exhaustion were invaluable. They instilled in me the resilience and resourcefulness that would later become essential tools in my entrepreneurial journey.
Perseverance and passion paid off and in 2005 a perfect storm hit. A friend with sharp business acumen and investment capital to back it, brought a shared vision for entrepreneurial ventures. Along with another friend who had recently started a courier company, we joined forces, and the rest, as they say, is history. From 2005 to 2013, I was on the fast lane in the courier industry, helping customers like Sherwin-Williams and Panera Bread by delivering products such as 50-lb buckets of paint and catering meals. We went from writing down orders on clipboards, while making deliveries ourselves to utilizing professional courier software and an entire office staff in downtown St Paul. Those years taught me the nuts and bolts of the courier industry, business networking, hiring, and so much more.
I also learned that business isn’t without its challenges. In 2016, it was time to pursue a new direction, which brought me to a crossroads: play it safe with a corporate job or take the leap and start fresh. Those years were invaluable, but ultimately, it was time to forge a new path and build a company that reflected my evolving goals and values. So, I re-entered the courier industry by starting Minnesota Delivery Solutions.
You might be wondering about the core of our services. We ensure the secure and timely delivery of critical items for businesses with demanding schedules. We specialize in same-day delivery, recognizing the importance of meeting tight deadlines. Whether it’s a crucial medical sample for analysis or important legal documents for a court hearing, we guarantee punctual and reliable delivery, allowing our clients to focus on their core operations.
Beyond our expertise in urgent, same-day deliveries, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to diverse needs. These include dedicated routes, scheduled route services, and even full-scale fleet outsourcing. With our fleet outsourcing option, we take over all aspects of delivery management, eliminating the need for companies to purchase vehicles, hire couriers, or handle dispatching and route optimization. This allows our clients to streamline their operations and reduce overhead while ensuring their deliveries are handled with the utmost professionalism and efficiency.
But it’s not just about speed; it’s about people. We genuinely care about our clients, our drivers, and everyone we interact with. We believe in building strong relationships based on trust and respect. That’s what truly sets us apart. Our clients know they can count on us not just to deliver their packages, but to treat them with the utmost care and professionalism. And our drivers feel valued and appreciated, which translates into a more positive experience for everyone involved.
I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built and the reputation we’ve established. We’re known for our reliability, our responsiveness, and our genuine commitment to going the extra mile. We’re not just moving packages; we’re building connections and making a difference in our community, one interaction at a time. Whether it’s taking the extra time to understand a client’s unique needs or ensuring our drivers feel valued and appreciated, we strive to create a positive ripple effect in everything we do. And we’re excited to explore future partnerships with community groups to further expand our impact.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
It’s hard to believe that it was just 2 ½ years ago, the constant ringing of the phone and the relentless pinging of online order notifications felt like both a blessing and a curse. Each sound meant another urgent delivery, another scramble to meet that one or two-hour deadline. My truck was my office, the passenger seat permanently occupied by my laptop. I remember the feeling of my hands gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white with tension, as I navigated through traffic, juggling calls and deliveries. On one hand, it felt good. The adrenaline, the pressure, the constant motion – it was all I knew. My past experiences had conditioned me to equate busyness and stress with success. But deep down, a knot of anxiety was always present, a constant churning in my stomach that I couldn’t ignore.
We were starting to make decent money, and the year-over-year growth always looked good on paper, but at what cost? The stress and the profit margins on those rush orders were razor-thin. It’s easy to start feeling trapped by our own success. We were known for those on-demand deliveries, and it felt like cutting them would be cutting our own lifeline. In addition to that, I really cared about our customers that called us for that part of the business. They relied on us as much as we relied on them, and many of them became friends.
It was a gradual realization. Fortunately, I was finally listening to friends who offered good advice. I was also committed to personal development, reading and applying the lessons from business books. I started tracking our profitability by service type, and the numbers were stark. The pre-scheduled, routed work was where the real money was – calmer, more efficient, and far more profitable. But letting go of those instant-gratification orders felt like jumping off a cliff. The 80/20 rule of business – where a small portion of your activities often drive the majority of your results – was staring me in the face. Those on-demand orders, while numerous, were consuming a disproportionate amount of energy for a tiny sliver of profit. I knew I needed to make a change, but the fear of the unknown was paralyzing. Finally, after weeks of agonizing over the decision, I resolved to take the leap.
I remember the day I finally made the decision. Before making any changes, I made sure to provide my loyal on-demand customers with some reputable options at other companies I knew would take good care of them. Things became so much quieter. It was super hard to let go. Had I made a mistake? Who lets go of thousands of dollars of business? But then… something amazing happened. It wasn’t immediate, but gradually, the calls started changing. Instead of ‘I need this delivered NOW,’ it was ‘Can you provide multiple drivers for pre-scheduled routes?’ We started attracting clients who valued reliability and efficiency over sheer speed. We also started to receive more requests for custom solutions that required us to put a lot more focus and energy on planning and processes vs the constant rat race that often doesn’t lead a driver or a courier company to profitability. Our drivers were happier, our operations smoother, and our profits soared. It was like we’d cleared a path for the kind of business we truly wanted. While we continue to offer 4 hour and Same Day service, letting go of what wasn’t working allowed us to grow and become really good at what we do say yes to. This experience taught me that sometimes, letting go is the key to growth.
And the results speak for themselves: the year following this shift, we grew by 89%! Of course, that growth wasn’t solely due to this one decision; there were countless other factors, strategic choices, and a bit of luck involved. And remember what Seneca and others say, “luck is where opportunity meets preparation!”. But I firmly believe that unlearning those old habits and creating space for a new approach was a pivotal catalyst for our success.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
There are three C’s that have been instrumental in building my company’s reputation: commitment, consistency, and calmness. Let me explain how.
Building a solid reputation happens when we are committed to serving others. In practice, I’ve found it doesn’t have to be complicated; it starts with treating people the way you want to be treated. It sounds simple, but it makes a world of difference. Treating prospective and existing customers with care and respect means doing it because it’s the right thing to do, not just because we want a sale. Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Just like with truth-telling, consistent ethical actions naturally build a good reputation. For instance, I remember working hard to help a potential customer, despite sensing he wouldn’t order from us. And he didn’t. But to my surprise he still gave us a glowing review, impressed with our willingness to help him anyway. Doing the right thing is important, even when it doesn’t directly benefit me. This experience showed me the value of going the extra mile, like pointing customers in the right direction when my services aren’t a perfect fit. That’s true commitment.
Consistency is key. I’ve learned that building a reputation is a marathon, not a sprint. Word-of-mouth referrals are like winning a gold medal, but it takes time to build that kind of trust. Every positive experience adds up, and eventually, people start talking. In my business, each positive interaction has built upon the last, creating a ripple effect that has strengthened our reputation over time.
I’ve also had to learn to be calm and patient. Remember what the Navy SEALs are known to say, “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”. We can’t force growth or portray an image that isn’t authentic. While there are ways to accelerate it, shortcuts don’t always lead to sustainable success. They might not attract the right kind of customers—the ones we really want and need. I’ve learned that we often attract who we are, both in life and business. That’s why I’m intentional about the energy I put out and the kind of people I want to connect with.
As I cultivated commitment, consistency, and calmness within my business, I realized I had to actively share my story. It felt almost like a responsibility—the more people who knew about my business, the more people I could potentially help. So I started embracing opportunities to promote my hard-earned reputation. I began actively seeking feedback, encouraging reviews, and sharing my journey. We started utilizing tools like SEO and social media, and even participating in interviews like this to spread the word. After all the effort I’d put in, it feels good to finally celebrate my accomplishments and share them with the world.
Looking back, I realize that building a strong reputation has been an ongoing journey for me, not a destination. It’s taken consistent effort, but the rewards have been immense. I’ve learned that the moment I think I’ve “arrived” and stop focusing on the fundamentals – commitment, consistency, and calmness – things start to slip. It is a continual process of embracing those three C’s. I’m excited to continue building upon this foundation as I grow my business and serve even more customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mndeliverysolutions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mndeliverysolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MnDeliverySolutions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-delivery-solutions
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mn-delivery-solutions-minneapolis
