Pole Lady’s a mompreneur
West Kelowna’s Sheri Simson walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to pole walking. The self-described Pole Lady bills herself as a pole walking enthusiast and health and fitness ambassador.
Her Keenfit company and website, Keenfit.com, advocates the walking pole lifestyle, features video tutorials and sells adjustable walking poles in five colours for $80 a pair.
The poles look almost identical to ski poles and thus also see the activity called nordic walking.
Pushing off a pole with every step conditions your arms, chest, shoulders, back, abdominals, legs, butt and heart for an efficient-and-effective aerobic total-body workout, says Simson.
Simson’s savvy as a businesswomen and mom has earned her a finalist spot in the award of excellence category for the 2018 national Mompreneur Awards.
“I’m so blessed to have my own successful business and have flexibility with it so I could also be a mom while my three sons were growing up,” said Simson.
Her sons are now 21, 19 and 15 and need and needed lots of rides to school, sports and tournaments.
In all, 23 finalists from across the country were named in four categories in a Mompreneur news release this week.
The awards recognize the hard work and talent of busy female entrepreneurswho are setting new standards for women in business, inspiring new lifestyle norms and taking charge of thier economic livelihoods and career options, reads the release.
Simson’s competition in the excellence category includes a handbag maker from Toronto, an eco-friendly bath and body products seller from Winnipeg and a chocolate maker from New Brunswick.
The three other categories are momentum, startup and merit.
Winners will be announced March 3 at the sixth annual National Mompreneurs Conference in Toronto.
Winner will also receive $30,000 in cash and business services to grow their businesses.
Simson would love to win so she can update her website and increase marketshare for Keenfit walking poles.
Rocket movers
What exactly does being the official movers of the Kelowna Rockets mean?
Well, for Bekins Moving & Storage it means buying some in-rink advertising in Prospera Place, where the Western Hockey League team plays, doing some on-ice promotions and sponsorships.
And, yes, if players belongings need to be moved in, or out, of Kelowna, it will be with Bekins.
“This partnership is not simply about putting up a banner in the arena,” said Bekins sales and marketing vice-president Joe Gagnon.
“We can help the team if they have any moving requirements or if any renovations take place at Prospera Place, where moving and storage services may be required. People are crazy about their hockey team. Teaming up with the Rockets gives us credibility as well as publicity and recognition.”
The affiliation with the Rockets will also be incorporated into Bekins other advertising, website and branding.
Gagnon recently moved to Kelowna from Montreal, where he owned Westmount Moving & Warehousing.
The company also had locations in Kitchener and Ottawa.
It was with Westmount that Gagnon struck similar deals to be the official movers of the Montreal Canadiens, the Kitchener-Waterloo Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Senators. So, he knows about such partnerships. “With the Canadiens, we did more than $250,000 worth of moving services when players were traded or with moving other players around,” said Gagnon.
“I love working on marketing with sports teams as it is a good way to support the community.”
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.