Check out features on recently profiled Strathcona businesses. Have a story you want told? Contact Us!
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 Woven Creative Agency
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Eos Lightmedia
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Invoke Media |
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Au Petit Chavignol |
Boardroom Eco Apparel |
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Out to Lunch Catering
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Bruce Carscadden Architect |
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Shirtland Drycleaners |
Celebrating 21 Years in Strathcona
For 21 years Kona Bikes has operated their sole Canadian office right here in Strathcona. Founded in 1988 by Jacob Heilbron, Dan Gerhard and Joe Murray, Kona Bikes is best known for designing and manufacturing high-performance mountain, touring and racing bicycles. In a cavernous Railway warehouse, the company runs its marketing, design and Canadian sales department with around 30 staff. Although not as large as its competitors, Kona does business in over 52 countries and is widely respected by downhill competitors and hobbyists alike."Our marketing is so successful that sometimes our clients don't understand that we can't turn around product like larger firms do," notes Michelle Gault, Product Manager.
Along with bikes and apparel, Kona is well known for its advocacy. Smiley Nesbitt, Sports Marketing Director is involved in improving local bike route safety and increasing ridership. Kona has also developed a wildly successful program called AfricaBike which provides single-speed cruisers for AIDS workers in rural Africa, where a bike can be the difference between treating two patients a day, or 20.
To bring cycling to a variety of skill levels and locations, Kona has developed partnerships to establish bike parks on mountains where previously only winter activities existed. The first park was created about 13 years ago at Whistler Blackcomb. "It's a great way for a ski hills to take advantage of the increase in tourist traffic in the summers," notes Nesbitt. Kona is the official mountain bike supplier to more bike parks than any other cycling company in the world.
The Vancouver office incorporates material reuse into their design process and currently donates excess metal to a North Vancouver sculptor. About half of the Vancouver office bikes to work but aims to grow that number. Nesbitt comments that "the commute might be a smelly one," noting the seafood and chicken processors but adds that's also what makes Strathcona the neighbourhood to work in. "The variety of people who choose to work here - it's a great combination."
Product Manager Gault has worked on Railway Street for the past eight years has seen the area change immensely. "For the most part it's a lot safer. The businesses that have chosen to open here over the past few years wouldn't be here if they had seen it 8 years ago." She noted all businesses need to be on the same page with supporting a safe and clean business community. "Specific businesses don't believe in what's going on here and that's a shame." Both note the need for more open air social spaces and improved bike racks in Strathcona and throughout the city.
On your next trip out of town plan to check out a Kona Bike Park and see what all the fuss is about. We look forward to seeing Kona Bikes celebrate another 20 successful years in Strathcona.
www.konaworld.com
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Woven Creative Agency, 1275 Venables
Local Fashionistas Join Forces
Founded by three independent Vancouver fashion designers, Woven Creative Agency is a collaborative studio that houses 10 local designers in 2,200 square feet of open concept workspace. We sat down with three of the designers Tiffany Ho, Meghan Irish and Breanna Soo to find out why Strathcona is the best place to power through an all nighter with crushed velour and coffee.
About two years back Ho and Irish saw the bulk of studio space in Gastown skyrocket in price and get repurposed into high end retail and lofts. As studio space for independent designers dwindled it was time to look elsewhere. After touring 1275 Venables they knew they had found the spot. "Seeing that freight elevator and the three loading docks we knew we were home," said Irish.
Overall the shared space works out well. "We've found 10 women who can all work together in a space. That's saying something," jokes Irish. Crazy timelines with production can test everyone's nerves though. Irish participates in an annual artist market that runs for 12 days. " The hard part is making sure you have enough product to last the 2 weeks." Ho adds that for the month of November every table in the studio is covered in men's t-shirts, part of Irish's Identity line that depict Canadian icons such as a beaver or curling stone. Tensions can run high with deadlines but the shared space offers plenty of benefit. Sdio. Plus you always have a second opinion. "Since we all work witourcing from wholesalers is easier when there are multiple designers interested in a product. The shared space also allows for a cutting table which is a must have for designers but a tough fit for a solo stuh the same medium we can ask each other technical questions," says Soo a recent Kwantlewn graduate whose line, The Penniless Fashionista, earned recognition in the Georgia Straights 2009 Best of Vancouver Awards.
The open concept space divides individual work stations with wood pallets and fabric curtains. "We don't buy anything new", says Ho. "Everything is secondhand or found." The designers donate scrap material to an elementary school for projects. "In this industry there will always be waste so we try to do our part by being aware of what we use and source items and services locally," says Irish. 1275 Venables is home to furniture manufacturers and other fabric based businesses as well as Russell Foods & Quest Metal Works. "Seeing large loads of product coming and going keeps us productive," notes Ho whose lingerie line, Love Made Me, was recently picked up nationally in the states by Anthropologie.
The studio's Strathcona location is well situated between the designer's homes and industry services, providing close access to fabric wholesalers, printers, photographers, pattern makers, etc. Irish notes that the area sets itself apart from other industrial spots in the lower mainland. "When I walk from home [downtown] I know when I've hit Strathcona because the birds are going nuts. The area has a good community feel while still accommodating a healthy industrial sector."
Check out local boutiques for your own Strathcona made garments.
Love Made Me: www.lovemade.me
Identity T's: www.identitytees.ca
The Penniless Fashionista: www.pennilessfashionista.com
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Presidential Tweets
Established in 2000, Invoke Media is the Strathcona-based award winning interactive agency that created Hootsuite and Memelabs. Invoke provides branding and product development via online advertising, viral campaigns, mobile advertising and social application development. Through these projects, Invoke is able to create stand alone products like Hootsuite.
Hootsuite is a social media dashboard that lets you run multiple accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc). Two months into its release it was already winning awards and now has over 300,000 users including the White House, ESPN, and Disney. The edge is in the analytics which shows return on investment- this speaks to companies who are wary of the merits of using Twitter and other social media tools. Following the mega-trends of mobile, social, and real time networking is Memelabs, a top-ranking video-contest platform. Invoke was one of the first on the viral video contest train and remains a leader.
Partner Dario Meli says "Invoke's greatest strength is our well roundedness and that we consistently get to have fun with our work," adding the past three years in Strathcona have been great. "I love the neighbourhood," says Dario, noting the proximity the Invoke office has to a number of like minded companies in the tech industry. Invoke is currently working on a marketing campaign for US based Ben & Jerry's to promote their products in Asia.
With Invoke's impressive client list and a staff of over 30 and growing, they are here to stay.
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Eos Lightmedia Cooperation #320 - 825 Powell St.
Green Light
Eos Lightmedia is an award winning lighting and media design firm with over 25 years of worldwide experience in environment creation. Eos creates visual environments for architecture, themed attractions, exhibits, museums, presentation centers, and public art. Energy efficiency, without compromising design, is a significant focus of the team. Eos believes that being green should be beautiful, and light can be used innovatively to meet the requirements of both good design and eco-consciousness.
With just over a year on Powell Street Eos is pleased with the location. "As a start-up company, Eos needed a neighbourhood that was in close proximity to downtown without the downtown prices. Strathcona was the perfect choice and we couldn't resist the incredible water and mountain views," explains Joel Marc, Senior Manager of Business Development.
Launched in 2008, the Eos team has completed over twenty major projects such as the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Vancouver Host City Pavilion & Alberta Pavilion for the 2010 Winter Games. Eos Lightmedia is a name that will be associated with innovative and eco-conscious lightmedia design for years to come.
Check out one of their most recent light makeovers at the newly reopened Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Boardroom ECO Apparel 1201 Franklin St
Corporate Apparel Goes for Gold
About 5 years ago Mark Trotzuk, CEO and owner of Boardroom ECO Apparel had no idea if his product was damaging the planet or not. After a heads up from a competitor Mark learned that clothing production has a huge environmental impact attached to it, even if it was manufactured right here in Strathcona. He decided it was his responsibility to ask the right questions of his suppliers and follow the process from start to finish. Boardroom now uses independent, third-party auditing agencies to certify its supply-chain is accountable.
Today Mark is an industry leader in performance and private label apparel, recently signing on as a designer for the Winter Games 2010 Corporate Apparel through HBC. Boardroom has taken steps to produce a line of active wear with the highest environmental standards possible and the lowest environmental impact available in North America. Mark says he is inspired by his daughter, ”we have to tread lightly or we won’t have anything left for my daughter’s generation.” Mark is committed to the environment and wants others to understand as well - he recently completed The Climate Project training led by Nobel Laureate Al Gore. Boardroom sells it’s apparel primarily to the promotional products industry but the fashion forward Rio Rain line can be found in stores at locations in West Vancouver, Richmond, and Kelowna.
http://boardroomecoapparel.com
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Au Petit Chavignol & Les Amis du Fromage
Wine, cheese and charcuterie bar Au Petit Chavignol, and cheese shop Les Amis du Fromage have opened on the 800 block of East Hastings. Already a well known name in Kits and Park Royal, Les Amis has a dedicated following among foodies and cheese lovers alike. The owners saw the need for a larger space to host events such as the frequently sold out Les Amis wine and cheese tasting. Joe Chaput, Operations Manager, added that they were drawn to the low rents, historic buildings and sense of community that Strathcona has to offer.
After a full renovation of the 1920’s era heritage building, once used by the Royal Canadian Naval Reserves, the space brings new life to the block and already has established itself as a local crowd pleaser in a few short weeks.
Green elements such as a roof garden and heat recirculation from compressors are ideas in the mix for the future; right now both venues make great use of the natural light from floor to ceiling windows and skylights. The kitchen vents were locally sourced and installed by fellow SBIA member Quest Metal Works.
Check it for yourself at 843 & 845 East Hastings.
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Out to Lunch Catering - 1175 Union Street
A Strathcona catering company serves up a green kitchen
Since 1985, Out to Lunch Cuisine has served up fresh gourmet food for Vancouver’s catering needs. OTL has been rapidly expanding over the past 24 years and now has a dedicated staff of over 80 and a green mandate. Three years ago the catering company moved from their Main Street location to a larger facility at 1175 Union Street. With a fresh start in Strathcona, General Manager Laurent Glasroth saw the opportunity to make some major changes in how OTL operated.
Changes to the building have included upgrades to the AC unit as well as the plumbing, electrical and lighting systems. BC Hydro was enlisted to retrofit faucets and spray jets with low-flow equipment. Locally sourced green cleaning products have replaced ones with harsh chemicals. Ongoing programs include sorting organic waste for composting offsite and facility wide recycling. Indoor bike parking helps encourage employees to cycle to work.
The company has received great feedback from clients on the green steps being taken, some even cite it as the reason for repeat business. “It not only makes us feel good but rewards the client as well” explains Glasroth. Since taking over as the GM and stepping away from the role of chef, he has found that taking on sustainability projects has been a rewarding experience as it is hands on, like cooking. “You can see the progress and feel you’ve made an impact. It’s quite rewarding.”
Book your next event with Out to Lunch Catering and be prepared to see the smiles when your guests arrive.
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Bruce Carscadden Architect 715 E. Hastings
Keeping Green on a Budget
What a difference a year can make. Once an abandoned karaoke bar in a state of major disrepair, 715 East Hastings has been home to Bruce Carscadden Architect for just over a year now, and renovations intended to bring this little building back to life continue.
A coat of paint and a clean window did wonders to improve the exterior image of the building, and people in the neighbourhood have noticed – walk-ins are not uncommon (but always friendly)! Renovations inside haven’t been much more complicated since Bruce stripped the interior to its bones last winter, but the entire building did require all new heating, lighting and water access before computers could be plugged in and work could begin.
BCA’s investment in 715 East Hastings continues, and will continue for many years, as Bruce and the team’s commitment to creating a healthy, sustainable work environment manifests. The process has so far consisted of little things, like using low-VOC paint and tearing up asphalt in the back to plant grass and trees, but visions of solar panels, sophisticated rainwater collection and a bright and open basement library will eventually become reality.
The firm’s focus is on finding practical sustainable solutions that fit their budget, so 715 East Hastings might not be the greenest building Vancouver – or even Strathcona – but BCA is hoping that it might be the greenest on the block.
Learn more at carscadden.ca
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Shirtland Drycleaners 746 Powell Street
Shirtland Drycleaners has been a Strathcona landmark since the 1960’s. In the late 90’s the Jiwani family took over the business and for the past three years son Talib and his wife Julie have worked to re-brand Shirtland as an eco friendly dry cleaning service. Powell Street, a largely commuter based route offered the opportunity to take on a shift towards retail service after years as a commercial laundry.
Roughly 90% of Canada’s dry cleaners use a cleaning method involving the liquid solvent perchloroethylene (perc), which is a known air pollutant and is toxic to the environment. With environmental and health concerns, rethinking the dry cleaning process was a logical next step. Talib and Julie invested in new machines which allowed them to sidestep harsh chemicals and opt for biodegradable cleaners, create less waste, cut water and gas bills up to 50% and with the green edge Shirtland is seeing customers come from across the city to do business in Strathcona.
On a recent tour Talib demonstrated an automated bagging machine. Instead of using the traditional 40 or 52 inch bags, which generally involves more length than necessary, the machine cuts the biodegradable plastic off just below the garment. This saves Shirtland about 6 pounds of plastic a day. Other waste reduction measures involve a hanger return program. Between large commercial accounts and a high volume of walk in customers, Shirtland uses about 1500 hangers a day, of those about 25% have been returned for reuse. Eventually the plastic bags and hangers will be replaced by a reusable cloth bag, which will be able to accommodate 15-20 garments at a time.
Over the past three years at Shirtland Drycleaners, Talib and Julie have noticed significant changes in the neighbourhood citing cleanliness and increased foot traffic and are excited about seeing Strathcona take on new and larger businesses.
