Picking up on the popularity of a growing sport has earned a Vernon company top nods as one of the best in business in the Thompson Okanagan.
The Pickleball Depot tied for Retail Business of the Year at the first annual Grant Thornton LLP Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Awards at the Coast Capri Hotel in 91大黄鸭 June 14.
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鈥淲e are so proud of our hardworking pickleball team and are honoured to be part of such an amazing business community,鈥 said owner Cara Arding. 鈥淭hank-you to our entire extended pickleball family for the amazing support over this last year.鈥
It鈥檚 the second honour the Vernon store has picked up this year, after being named .
Pickleball Depot has been in operation online since 2012, but only just opened the storefront shop and warehouse less than a year ago next to the Nature鈥檚 Fare head office.
鈥淚n September we moved the whole operation into town and opened a retail store,鈥 said Arding. 鈥淲e鈥檝e only been open to the public for the last 10 months.
鈥淏efore, we were strictly online literally operating out of my garage at my home.鈥
And business is booming.
鈥淭he business has grown leaps and bounds along with the sport,鈥 said Arding, who works with shipping manager Leah Peebles and paddle technicians Ryan Sharp and Steve Stafford.
鈥淲ith the dedicated courts being built in Vernon our traffic in our retail store is picking up.鈥
While the Pickleball Depot was the only Vernon company to pick up an Okanagan Business Excellence award, several other local names were nominated in the various categories:
- (community builder)
- She Devil Delights (entrepreneur)
- The Beauty Bar (entrepreneur)
- (green)
- One Step Foot Care (health care)
- (retail)
- (small business, under 50)
- (business of the year, over 50)
- (business of the year, over 50)
Winners in the other categories are (17 in total):
- Automotive Business of the Year: Current Taxi of 91大黄鸭
- Business of the Year (over 50 employees): Yeti Farm Creative of 91大黄鸭
- Community Builder of the Year: Get Bent Yoga and Dance of Penticton
- Construction & Development Business of the Year: High Street Ventures of 91大黄鸭
- Entrepreneur of the Year: Redhead Mare of Penticton
- Food Production Business of the Year: True Grain Bread of Summerland
- Green Business of the Year: Swiss Solar Tech Ltd. of Summerland
- Health Care Business of the Year: Carrington Dental Centre of West 91大黄鸭
- Manufacturing Business of the Year (tie): Riversong Guitars of Kamloops and Vitalis Extraction of 91大黄鸭
- Professional Services Business of the Year: Refresh Financial of 91大黄鸭
- Restaurant of the Year: The Nest & Nectar of Penticton
- Retail Business of the Year (tie): Main Street Clothing of Kamloops and Pickle Ball Depot of Vernon
- Small Business of the Year (under 50 employees): GetInTheLoop of 91大黄鸭
- Technology Business of the Year: Big Bear Software Ltd. of Penticton
- Tourism Business of the Year (tie): Glow SUP Adventures of Penticton and Sip Happens Wine Tours of Lake Country
- Trades Business of the Year: Duffy Baker Construction of Penticton
- Winery Business of the Year: Poplar Grove of Penticton
The Official Program for the event, which includes information on each finalist, is available online at: .
Grant Thornton LLP was the Title Platinum Sponsor for the event, and Innov8 Digital Solutions is a Gold Sponsor. Category sponsors included RBC Royal Bank, Sandler Training, Business Development Bank of Canada, Diversified Rehabilitation Group and 101.5 EZ Rock Bell Media. Black Press is the Print Media Sponsor for the event, coordinated by Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan newspaper.
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The independent judges were Jim Anderson, Executive Director of Venture Kamloops; Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association; and Anthony Haddad of Penticton鈥檚 Economic Development Office.
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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