My father, Harry Ward married my mother, Alice Dubois in 1936. He lived across the Red River from Fargo in Moorhead, Minnesota. He was a salesman and mechanic for Burroughs Adding Machine Company. He learned clock and watch repair from my grandfather and used the knowledge on weekends and evenings to supplement his income. After being transferred to California, he worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco. He would come home every day with clocks and watches to repair. In 1952 he quit the bank and opened his own Jewelry store in Oakland. There was so much business generated at the bank they gave him an office that he goes to every Tuesday to take care of bank employee's jewelry needs. At 87 he still goes to the City every Tuesday!

I began repairing clocks and watches as an executive with the Boy Scouts and need a hobby. My dad gave me some old clocks and soon I was repairing clocks and watches on weekends and evenings for friends and for local jewelers.

My goal from the time I was 30 was to retire at 55 and spent full time working on clocks. In 1980 I turned my focus and building, repairing collecting and selling clocks. I dropped the watch and jewelry business.

In 1994, two years before my retirement goal, I read an ad in the Wall Street Journal regarding Kuempel Chime Clock Works and Studio. Soon after, I became a dealer and began building an inventory to open up my shop for business in 1997. I have an 800 square foot shop where I build, repair and showcase over 150 new and antique clocks. Things were slow at first but I was well capitalized, experienced and treated my customers well.

Advertising has been the key to building the business. Service and quality is the key to keeping it. I advertise in the Yellow Pages, church bulletins, local newspaper display ads, fliers, local TV stations during newscasts, radio talk shows & soft rock, and Rotary Bulletins. I belong to the Rotary Club & Chamber of Commerce. My overhead is low and advertising has been as high as 50% but sales increased 800% from 1998 to 1999. I emphasize sales in my ads but most business comes from repair (over 500 last year).

My investment is large ($100,000) but I'm returning a profit in two years. Overhead is low (no debt) and now with the Internet I am shipping nationwide. Word of mouth and reputation are growing. Best of all I'm having fun and I'm making people happy.

My goal is to continue to grow the business with more sales. Kuempel Chime clocks that no one else offers, antique clocks that antique dealers can't guarantee and quality gift clocks that are unique.