This month the Summerland Chamber is once again pleased to welcome a diverse range of new businesses to Summerland from entertainment to childcare.
In the agricultural sector, Van Doren Sales North, Inc. has set up a base in Summerland to provide a northern arm for their company, which has almost 70 years of experience designing and building custom fruit and container-handling equipment for cleaning, waxing, sorting, packing, and boxing fruit.
If you are looking for entertainment there are two new businesses in Summerland that can help. The Kelso Entertainment Agency offers a diverse range of services from entertainment through bands, tribute shows, solo artists, variety acts, and children’s entertainment, to key note speakers, emcee’s, DJs all combined with an in-house photographer and graphic designer.
For her own company, classically trained singer Rochelle Dionne brings her voice both as a performer and a teacher to her business by providing private and group lessons to students of all ages through Sing Your Song Studios, after honing her skills at a number of Canadian music schools.
Closer to home a new addition to help families is Fox and Fairy Child Care, a licensed daycare facility offering care for small groups of children.
For those with house maintenance needs Duri Services Inc. is a new construction company that specializes in home renovations, landscaping and property service throughout the Okanagan Valley.
For business services, Complete Copywriting’s Julianne Diubaldo provides all your online promotional requirements including search engine optimization (SEO), web design and the full portfolio of marketing options.
If friends are visiting or you’re looking for an experience for staff or friends, experienced tour guides Ogopogo Valley Tours have started their own company delivering year-round sight-seeing and wine tours for groups of four to 14 day or evening.
When you next go to see a Steam game at the arena meet one of our new businesses, Keen’s Catering, who provide catering and concession services for the facility.
Businesses make the news
In the past month local businesses have been making the news as they have embraced some old traditions. Okanagan Crush Pad was featured this week on CTV News Vancouver to discuss the debate over using concrete rather than oak barrels, particularly for red wine. Crush Pad discussed how their wines “raised in concrete” processes highlight the tastes unique to the region rather than using the traditional oak taste of a barrel.
On Global TV two local cideries were the focus of a profile talking about the rise in the sale of cider in BC Liquor Stores by over 20 per cent since 2014. Both Ron Vollo of the Summerland Heritage Cider Company and Mike Harris of Dominion Cider Co. discussed their love of cider, the heritage of cider apple growing in Summerland and the growth in popularity of craft cider alongside the increased interest in farm-based products.
Raising profiles
Local businesses have been raising their profile through everything from more customer-friendly, responsive websites to new videos.
This month The Beanery Café launched a crisp and visual website that fully captures the feel of the location, highlighting their staff and their product.
Thornhaven Estates Winery also launched their new website with an online shopping cart to make purchasing their wine easier, even from the comfort of your own home.
A few days ago the Summerland Waterfront Resort launched a short video that includes sweeping aerial shots, intimate interiors and their large range of amenities, whilst highlighting its extensive activities and beautiful location.
New services
Two of our businesses in town are offering innovative new services to make their customers lives more aesthetically pleasing and convenient. The Dog Den, a licensed grooming, day care and u-bathing facility operating in downtown Summerland for the past four years has added luxury new services to its business. Jenn Peters has opened her own shop within the Dog Den called The Wag Spa. As suggested by the name Jenn will be providing both regular grooming and ‘Spa Packages’ including blueberry facials and oatmeal ease baths.
For beautifying the human, Brenda Yunker’s Eyes4You Eyewear has now launched its mobile eyewear store to help you choose your style bringing their services to you at home – her new website will give you a quick preview of what’s on offer.
Anniversaries
On Sept. 19, Local Lounge Grille celebrated the six-year anniversary of serving their first guests in 2009 at the beautiful lakeside location. Their menu, that blends classic styles with seasonal Pacific Northwest inspired ingredients, has encouraged people to support their mantra of “Eat Local. Drink Local. Be Local.”
On Sept. 28, Okanagan Crush Pad celebrated their fourth anniversary. The last four years has seen them meet significant milestones including Switchback Vineyard receiving organic certification this year and the expansion of their production and services. Their unique use of traditional techniques, such as concrete vessels, has proved influential and has raised their profile within the wine industry.
Vicky Jones is the communications and membership coordinator at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.