Entrepreneurs who spent countless hours honing business plans and identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for their businesses received the fruits of their labour at Small Business BC's sixth annual business plan contest awards, March 12.
The small-business resource organization divided awards into two main categories: startup and growth. Bonus awards were given for thinking globally and for providing community leadership.
The winners of the growth award and startup award each won $5,000 cash plus in-kind donations from sponsors such as Telus Corp. and the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C.
Each second place finisher won $2,000 plus in-kind donations while third place finishers each won $1,000 plus in-kind donations.
"Small business is rewarding, but it's also very hard so I'm happy for these resources," said Gear Drop owner Jill Kenney, who won first place in the startup category.
She and husband Michael operate a two-year-old hockey gear drying business from Burnaby's 8-Rinks Ice Sports Centre.
Players pay between $33 and $55 per month to drop off their smelly hockey gear. Kenney doesn't wash the gear but she does dry it off-site. She then makes the gear available for the players for their next practice or game.
Contest judges were impressed at Kenney's unique business concept.
They praised her for having a good location with a captive audience that would guarantee high-volume traffic.
She plans to fold her prize money back into the business.
Portobello West Market owner Carlie Smith won first place in the growth category. Unfortunately for Vancouverites, Smith's win means she will find it easier to leave the West Coast for Toronto.
"When I submitted my business plan, I was crossing my fingers, hoping that we could get this because this is funding our move. The money will go directly to our movers," Smith said.
Smith's business has grown to host trade-show-style fashion markets 10 times a year at Vancouver's Rocky Mountaineer Station. Two similar markets take place annually in Calgary and bring together designers, artists and consumers.
Smith plans to expand her business to host 10 similar trade shows in Toronto's distillery district.
She has so-far operated her business from her Vancouver home but will soon move to Toronto and operate her business from Hogtown.
Aaron Van Gaver won second place in the startup category for his Downtown Wellness Centre, which focuses on a holistic approach to health. Adrian Rudzikas and Celeste Lorano won third place in that category for their Gibsons-based Only Empanadas Inc. food take-out venture.
Westcoast Moms Network Inc. principals Lara Leontowich and Jenneil Peters won second place in the growth category for growing their trade show business.
They hosted six trade shows that showcased trendy products for new moms branded Largest Baby Shower across the Lower Mainland in 2008.
They plan to launch the rebranded Bellies to Babies Celebration Tradeshow in Vancouver at the Croatian Cultural Centre on May 3.
Leontowich said the duo plans to expand into Alberta by hosting a similar show in Edmonton this fall.
Courtenay's Dawn McRae snagged third place in the growth category with her Custom Gourmet catering company.
A bonus award for thinking global included a $1,000 prize. It went to principals Randy Bencke and Pat Gemmill at Kaslo, B.C.-based Pics Canada. They import stainless steel to-go coffee mugs that have outer sleeves where drinkers can slip photos. They plan to export these mugs in future.
The final bonus award, for community leadership, also came with a $1,000 prize. It went to MUBI Regenerative Consulting Inc. principal Genevieve Noel.
MUBI stands for Mycelium Urban Biodiversity Interface, and the venture fosters mutually beneficial exchanges between the natural world and our built environment by introducing site-specific and regenerative interfaces such as green roofs and living walls.
More than 100 entrepreneurs and guests attended the gala at the West Hastings street Birks jewelry store.
Many in attendance commented on what a good idea it was for a retail store to donate its premises for an awards gala. Birks closed its store early and also donated security guards. In exchange the jewelry store had no shortage of browsers for its high-end products.