Profile: Grad brings portable storage to Northwestern Wisconsin

By Shane Arman '10

After 15 years as a corporate employee, Andrew Mielke’s move from Madison back to Oshkosh sparked an idea for him to launch his own business. In the process of moving, Mielke ’93 stumbled upon Portable On Demand Storage (PODS) and realized the service didn’t extend to Oshkosh.

“Because it was a franchise, all the nuts and bolts were there. That meant I could dedicate myself to the things that I really care about, like customer service,” Mielke said.

Packerland Portable Storage primarily serves residential homeowners and renters in northeastern Wisconsin by delivering storage containers at a convenient time and place for the customer. The customer then loads their items into the container and Mielke’s drivers pick up and transport the container to a storage site or the customers’ next destination.

“It’s a stress-free method of moving that offers flexible month-to-month renting,” Mielke said.

Although Packerland offers easy ways to move, the process of opening a business wasn’t completely stress-free for Mielke.

That’s why he appreciated his continued communication with UW Oshkosh professors and advisers, such as Interim Dean of the College of Business Burk Tower, who offered guidance and a listening ear.

“I certainly had to step up my marketing and think of more creative ways to reach customers,” Mielke said.

Mielke emphasized a few key points that any future entrepreneur should take into consideration, including making sure a market exists for the product or service. But more importantly, he said, starting a business takes determination and resourcefulness.

“If you have a passion for it, you just need to figure out a way to get it done,” Mielke said. “And that’s exactly what I did.”