And the winners are...
Current Taxi truly is a rising star. Since opening eight months ago, Kelowna has embraced the company for its environmentally friendly and oh-so-cool fleet of Model S and Model X $100,000 Teslas.
“We’re B.C.’s first and only all-electric taxi fleet,” said Current Taxi owner Dale Conway.
“We’re humbled to be recognized after just eight months in business.”
The recognition to which Conway is referring is the Rising Star accolade for the best new business of the year from the Kelowna Business Excellence Awards.
Awards in 10 categories were handed out Thursday night at a banquet at the Delta Grand hotel. The other winners are: – Business leader of the year: Lane Merrifield of Wheelhouse Ventures and FreshGrade (also one of the founders of Club Penguin, which sold to Disney for $350 million)
– Large business of the year: Northside Industries
– Mid-size business of the year: Newcap Radio (K96.3 Classic Rock and 100.7 New Country)
– 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
– Excellence in agriculture: B.C. Tree Fruits
– Social impact award: Volinspire
– Arts and entertainment award: Rotary Centre for the Arts in need.
The pact with the Baeumlers doesn’t extend to exposure on their HGTV show.
“That would have to be a separate deal with HGTV,” said Amis.
“I might get to work on that next.”
As a social enterprise, Haven gives one mattress to charity for every 10 it sells.
Haven is a completely e-commerce business.
The mattresses are made and shipped anywhere in North America from the manufacturer in Moncton.
Amis lives in Kelowna and this is where HavenMattress.ca takes orders.
Being an online business means Haven doesn’t have to pay distributors, wholesalers and retailers and can sell a premium product for a competitive price.
A queen-size mattress sells for about $1,000, shipping included.
To ship, mattresses are compressed, rolled and vacuum sealed to the size of a set of golf clubs.
The foam plumps right back up when unpacked.
What makes the Haven mattress special is its proprietary design of high-density supportive memory foam that contours to your body and doesn’t sag.
The renewable bamboo fibre topper has venting and cool-gel wicking technology to keep your body temperature regulated for a restful night’s sleep.
For 15 years before getting into the mattress business, Amis was the general manager at Kelowna BMW.
He made the career switch when he came across what he calls “an innovative, life-changing mattress.”
Amis’ brother also happens to own the factory in Moncton where Haven mattresses are made alongside brands for Sleep Country and The Brick.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.