Getting to know Ducky Down
SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE
ISpecial to The Daily Courier
t is hard to believe that it has been 30 years ago that Adriaan and Gwen Boek emigrated from the Netherlands to take over Ducky Down Downquilts in Kelowna. After running the families packaging manufacturing business in Holland it was time for a change.
A small ad in a Dutch newspaper “offering help with emigration to Canada” made Adriaan look into this. They would help you Ànd a business so that you could create your own job. The other way to get into a country is by having the skills or education this country is looking for. Gwen was a Kindergarten teacher and to do that she would have to go back to University in Canada and do it all over.
When Ducky Down came up for sale by Dutch owners Henk and his daughter Irene Bos they jumped to the opportunity. Henk had the one in Kelowna and Irene in Vancouver.,
They bought both businesses and decided to live in Kelowna and raise their nine and 12-year-old here. The first years were pretty tough, with Adriaan driving back and forth to Vancouver all the time. So, after four years, they decided to close the Vancouver doors and concentrate on Kelowna. They moved the down machine into the store. This still is a great feature. People can see how the products are made.
They had a chance to expand to other locations, but decided against this so they can give all of their attention to this store and don’t spread themselves too thin.
"We love Kelowna. This was the best thing we could have done," Gwen says.
They are still going strong on the same spot on Pandosy Street. Running your own small business has its challenges. But, they have persevered and built up a strong customer base.
Their business is so unique, there is no one like it. Their main focus is on making their customers happy. That happens when an old, tired pillow or down duvet is brought in and transformed to a total new to them product. They wash, recover and fill them up if necessary. Custom-making pillows, duvets, duvet covers and even Àtted sheets is also one of their specialties.
Besides all the custom making, they carry a large assortment of bedding, Bamboo sheets, silk and wool Àlled duvets, support pillows and throw pillows. Too much to mention. Just go and visit Gwen and Adriaan and you will be pleasantly suprised!