And The Winners Are . . .
With businesses of all sizes facing challenging conditions in recent times, it’s encouraging to have some good news for a change. At the recent Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce Awards, nine local companies were acknowledged for their innovation and success in demonstrating excellence in the business community. MB’s publisher, Don Flynn, has been meeting the winners and hearing their inspiring stories.
Over 300 guests, including Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and the province’s Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne, attended the recent awards evening organized by the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce. Actively demonstrating how the region’s dynamic business community continues to weather the recessionary storm, a total of nine local companies were recognized by their peers as an inspiration to other businesses.
Seven companies were presented with Business Achievement Awards, including Container Corporation of Canada, FouFou Dog, Kobotic Ltd., Platinum Naturals, SIMAC Canada Inc., Staples Canada Inc. and The Liberal. The PowerStream Conservation and Environmental Award went to Kwality Labels Inc., while the highest accolade of the night – the Mayor’s Award – was won by Suzuki Canada Inc.
Their product portfolios and corporate policies may be varied, but all of these companies share a common attribute: the determination to achieve success through product innovation and reliable customer service, no matter what the current market conditions might throw their way.
Mayor’s Award Winner
Suzuki
Canada Inc.
www.suzuki.ca
The Mayor’s Award is chosen and presented personally by Mayor Dave Barrow. This year’s recipient, the Richmond Hill head office of Suzuki Canada Inc., moved to the region in 1987 when much of the area was just fields. The tenth largest automotive manufacturer in the world, Suzuki Canada operates a network of more than 500 dealers and employs over 3,000 people across Canada.
Suzuki’s corporate philosophy focuses strongly on giving back to the communities in which it operates. In keeping with this, the Richmond Hill corporate head office actively supports several initiatives within the town, donating vehicles to both the fire department and police service, helping these organizations operate an educational program in local schools. At the same time, however, the company believes in carrying out its community activities quietly behind the scenes, helping out when it is needed. Suzuki’s attitude is simple, inspirational and somewhat humbling: if every company did just a little bit of giving back, it would really add up and go a long way towards supporting and improving the communities in which we all live and work.
PowerStream Conservation and Environmental Award Winner
Kwality Labels Inc.
www.kwalitylabels.com
The Conservation and Environmental Award was presented to Kwality Labels Inc. for its innovative, ground-breaking approach to printing flexographic labels for cans and bottles. Set up in 1981 and still privately owned, the company has recently developed a truly ‘green’ alternative to product labelling.
Originally, Kwality Labels supplied labels for sock and hosiery products. As the textile industry moved out of Canada, the company applied its expertise to food labelling. Rejecting the toxic, solvent label varnishes that required high energy to produce, the company developed a high quality, water-based varnish that met all of the stringent industry requirements.
The detailed development process took a few years to complete, and having achieved this, the company then focused on other aspects of its production process in a determined effort to further reduce its carbon footprint. This includes a tankless water system that heats the water instantly and the most energy-efficient lighting system available.
The result of these changes is not only a better lighting environment for its workers, but also lower energy costs and a reduction in the amount of raw materials required.
At Kwality Labels, ‘green’ just makes good business sense because it not only cuts costs; it also takes care of the planet, people and profits.
Business Achievement Award Winner
SIMAC
www.simac.ca
In 2001, a single mother who spent most of her career in the insurance industry saw a need and opportunity for improvement in the way certain industry-related services were being delivered. She decided to risk her life savings to answer that need. Today, Gloria Rajkumar and her company, SIMAC, have become synonymous in the industry with quality, accuracy and superior customer service.
SIMAC is a third-party provider of independent medical assessments. When someone is injured or disabled in an accident, these impartial and unbiased reports are used – generally by an insurance company or employer – to determine the most appropriate path to recovery. This could include such things as disability benefits, assistive devices or treatment options. SIMAC also helps employers identify ways to protect the health and safety of their staff through functional ability and ergonomic evaluations. SIMAC works in conjunction with a roster of nearly 500 highly specialized medical professionals to conduct the assessments.
Determined to position the company as industry leader, Gloria’s focus is on unrivalled customer service and satisfaction. That focus, and her determination to rise to the top, has earned her company a spot on the preferred vendor lists of some of the key players in the insurance world.
It has also led to incredible growth. In just over nine years, SIMAC has grown from a one-woman operation to a firmly established and trusted organization, with three locations and a full-time staff of 22. Gloria’s emphasis on strict operating guidelines and the highest service standards has led to her recognition with this award, as well as the Guyana Award for Business Excellence, which she will receive at a gala dinner on May 29, 2010.
Business Achievement Award Winner
Platinum Naturals
www.platinumnaturals.com
A real success story, Platinum Naturals has grown from sales of $2 million just five years ago to $7 million today. A natural health product supplier, the company focuses on product innovation to set a new standard for supplements designed to help people live healthier lives. The company is the creator of Omega Suspension Technology (OSTR), described as a breakthrough in boosting absorbency to deliver more active ingredients and nutrients to the body. Believing that absorption is a major problem, especially as people age and their ability to break down and absorb nutrients weakens, founder and president, David Khang, believes ‘you are what you absorb.’ Having developed a more efficacious product, Platinum Naturals has built a reputation among retailers as a premium supplement range.
Determined to lead rather than follow, the company focuses heavily on research and development, investing approximately 5% of its budget in this endeavour. Khang stipulates that all new products must either fulfil a need not currently being met, or fill a particular need better than products currently available.
Credibility is a major factor in building a successful business, according to Khang: “If you look after your customer, the money will come.”
Business Achievement Award Winner
FouFou Dog
www.foufoudog.com
Like many entrepreneurial endeavours, FouFou Dog was born out of a personal perception of a gap in the market. When pet owner, Cheryl Ng, became exasperated at the lack of good quality, competitively priced, fashionable dog clothing on the market, she soon realized she was not alone and decided to do something about it.
Inspired by her own Maltese dog called Ernie, she came up with her own brand of ‘doggy apparel.’ As a result, she discovered a niche clientele of people just like her who were looking to dress their pets without losing their shirts.
Six years on, FouFou Dog is pursuing markets not only across Canada, but also in the USA and Europe. The major distributors and big box pet stores are all in Cheryl’s sights.
FouFou Dog’s focus may be on keeping pets fashionable, but even more importantly, the emphasis is on the pet’s comfort and protection, ensuring the items are easy to put on with built-in durability to withstand frequent washing.
Recognized as one of Toronto’s first doggy wear designers, Cheryl has designed FouFou Dog as a one-stop shop for quality designer fashions, as well as an assortment of plush toys, collars and accessories. At the same time, she is one of a growing number of young Canadian designers breaking ground in this emerging market.
Business Achievement Award Winner
Staples Canada Inc.
www.staples.ca
In a business climate that has seen some of its main rivals decline significantly, Staples continues to go from strength to strength. The stationery and office products retailer launched its Canadian operation with one store in 1991. Today the group has over 300 sites across Canada and is listed among the top 10 non-food retailers in the country.
The focus is on customer service, as the local Markham store actively demonstrates. With that in mind, the company continues to move towards being a complete supplier – a one-stop shop for all office needs – especially for small- to mid-size businesses. The company prides itself on listening to its customers, and as customer demands become more sophisticated and all-encompassing, so the range of services on offer continues to expand as well. From high tech units and systems to a convenient repair service, from installation to warranty, Staples provides companies with the convenience of their own IT department at the end of the phone.
The message from Staples is that this is an office supply store – and much, much more.
Business Achievement Award Winner
Kobotic Ltd.
www.kobotic.com
Founded in 1993 by experienced entrepreneur, Kam Ko, Kobotic Ltd are engineering, design and automated welding specialists. It is in this latter category that the company has built up particular expertise, specifically through the use of multi-axis robots, custom built welding cells, research and development, fixturing components and other process-related manufacturing capabilities.
Over the years, Kobotic has grown in both size and capabilities, with its new 23,000 square foot facility well equipped with the necessary tools and systems, as well as the highly trained and qualified personnel needed to manufacture products that meet, and hopefully exceed, customers’ expectations.
Kobotic’s diverse portfolio of components appeals to a variety of industries – from construction, automotive, furnishing and medical to high-end fitness equipment.
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
