The current taxi is really a rising star.
Since opening eight months ago, Kelowna has recognized the company with a $ 100,000 award for Teslas for its eco-friendly and oh-so-cool fleet of Model S and Model Xs.
“We are BC’s first and only fully electric taxi fleet,” said current taxi owner Dale Conway.
“We are humble to be recognized after just eight months in business.”
The recognition Conway is referring to is Rising Star’s award for Best New Business of the Year at the Kelowna Business Excellence Awards.
Awards in 10 categories were presented on Thursday evening at a banquet at the Delta Grand Hotel.
The other winners are:
– Company Director of the Year: Lane Merrifield of Wheelhouse Ventures and FreshGrade (also a co-founder of Club Penguin, which was sold to Disney for $ 350 million)
– Big Company of the Year: Northside Industries
– Medium-sized Company of the Year: Newcap Radio
– Small Business of the Year: Hybrid Elevator
– Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Andrew Gaucher from G Group and Catalyst Land Development
– Marketing Campaign of the Year: Crew Marketing Partners
– Agricultural Excellence: BC Tree Fruits
– Social Impact Award: Volinspire
– Arts and Entertainment Award: Rotary Center for the Arts
*****
Sometimes a cold call works in the dark.
Scott Amis, the president of Haven Mattress in Kelowna, unsolicited sent one of the company’s high-density memory foam and renewable bamboo mattresses to HGTV stars Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, hoping for the best.
He soon received a call from the couple’s agent telling him the Baeumlers loved the port and were interested in becoming brand ambassadors.
“They are a popular, attractive Canadian couple who star at Bryan Inc. on HGTV and also do some charity work,” said Amis.
“You are the perfect partner for Haven Mattress.”
Right now, the couple are scraping their Haven mattresses on their Instagram accounts, which have 150,000 followers.
They will also be present at a future charity event where Haven will be giving mattresses to those in need.
The pact with the Baeumlers does not extend the awareness of their HGTV show.
“That should be a separate deal with HGTV,” said Amis.
“I could work on it next.”
As a social enterprise, Haven gives one mattress to charity for every 10 mattresses sold.
Haven is a complete e-commerce business.
The mattresses are manufactured and shipped throughout North America by the manufacturer in Moncton.
Amis lives in Kelowna and this is where HavenMattress.ca takes orders.
As an online business, Haven doesn’t have to pay dealers, wholesalers, and retailers and can sell a premium product at a competitive price.
A queen-size mattress costs around $ 1,000, including shipping.
For shipping, the mattresses are compressed, rolled, and vacuum-sealed to the size of a row of golf clubs.
The foam fills immediately when you unpack it.
The special thing about the Haven mattress is the in-house design made of high-density, supportive memory foam that adapts to your body and does not sag.
The renewable bamboo fiber topper features ventilation and cooling gel wicking technology to keep your body temperature regulated for a good night’s sleep.
Amis was General Manager at Kelowna BMW for 15 years before entering the mattress business.
He switched careers when he came across an “innovative, life-changing mattress”.
Amis’ brother also happens to own the Moncton factory that makes Haven mattresses alongside brands for Sleep Country, Sears and The Brick.
*****
The driving force of the Canadian, BC and Okanagan economies will be celebrated October 16-20 with Small Business Week.
Small businesses make up the bulk of economic activity, recruitment and innovation.
One of the receptions for the week is Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Futures offices on the second floor of the Landmark 3 building in Kelowna.
******
Steve MacNaull is the business and wine reporter and columnist for Okanagan Weekend. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.
