COMOX VALLEY – On January 1 of the new millennium, a tiny new business was launched in the Comox Valley. Founder Ted Dimitrov didn’t realize his custom, small scale delivery service was ahead of its time, a precursor of a new wave in convenience for the new century.
“I just wanted to help people,” he said. In January 2000, when he started, he could see people stretched for time everywhere. There never seemed to be enough hands or enough hours. So he offered a fast, customized, and affordable community-wide pick-up and delivery service.
At first, all he had was a small car and a cell phone. But the demand was there. “It took off pretty quick.” His service was less expensive than a cab and included any errand, no matter how small or how late. “We were willing to deliver anything pretty much anytime.”
Who were his clients? Almost everyone in the valley.
Perhaps parents arrived home after work to feed the family, tuck the kids into bed, and then realized, at 9:15 p.m. that the evening had slipped away and the birthday gift for the next day still needed pick-up.
Perhaps a business urgently needed a part from a supplier but had no one to send. Maybe a meeting ran late but no one could leave to pick-up pizza. A neighbourhood BBQ might need an alcohol infusion, but everyone present wisely declined to drive.
Ted provided an affordable solution, a cheerful, willing attitude, an extra pair of hands, and – most important – an extra set of on-call wheels. His wife Kyla Dimitrov suggested the name Kyte Delivery Service, which was an amalgamation of both their names (Kyla and Ted).
They added another driver. Then another driver. And another…the company now has a crew of 25 to 30 drivers and a reputation for in-town delivery in 30 minutes to an hour. For the drivers, who are independent contractors, the jobs are flexible and accessible. All drivers need is a vehicle, a good attitude, and reliability. Hours can be arranged to match any schedule. “We always need more drivers,” Ted said.
Drivers range in age from 19 to 70-plus. The job is ideal for students seeking part-time work, for parents seeking flexible hours, full-time workers, and seniors supplementing retirement.
The business continued to expand, growing beyond the valley to offer affordable, courier service, from Campbell River to Duncan – and beyond as needed. Service is quick and reliable, with most pick-ups and deliveries completed within 24 hours. The service is accessible, with a 1-800 number, extended hours, and website at kytedeliveryservice.com.
It is also affordable, due to intelligent scheduling that combines pick-ups and deliveries. The company specializes in transporting smaller items – average size is 18 inches by 18 inches – and uses small vehicles to cut costs. Ted notes the service is especially popular with people who buy online and then arrange pick-up via Kyte.
The next step may be development of a custom app, to further streamline the island-wide orders. The couple are letting demand drive their business. “We’re going to go in whatever direction it is taking us,” Ted said.
