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Kelowna has recognized Kristian de Pont, the founder and president of Good Sorts Property Services and Prime Concrete Coatings, for his success in two distinct industries. Both companies recently won “Best of Kelowna” Gold awards, an achievement de Pont attributes to the support of the community and his dedicated team.
“We kicked off Good Sorts right in the thick of COVID,” de Pont recalls. “I remember going out for our first job on a Sunday afternoon, and now we’ve grown to a team of 35.” Founded in 2020, Good Sorts specializes in janitorial services, catering to various clients, including property managers, professional spaces, medical clinics, and childcare centres. The company’s growth has been rapid, which de Pont credits to its “one-stop-shop” approach. “We’ve consolidated a lot of services into one relationship for our clients, making it easier for them to manage their properties.”
One of the key innovations that sets Good Sorts apart is its use of technology. de Pont introduced a proprietary software system called Checkmate, designed to streamline communication and quality assurance. “We wanted to do away with the old cleaner’s notebook, where clients would leave notes about issues like missed bins,” de Pont explains. Instead, Checkmate allows both the Good Sorts team and clients to document and address issues digitally, complete with photo evidence. “It helps us keep a close eye on the buildings we service and takes a lot of pressure off our clients.”
In September 2022, de Pont expanded the portfolio by acquiring Prime Concrete Coatings, a business that specializes in epoxy and concrete flooring solutions. The company originally focused on residential clients, but de Pont has since expanded its services to include commercial projects, such as traffic systems for parkades and flooring for breweries, wineries, and food processing facilities.
“We’ve built on the brand that was already there and added new service offerings,” de Pont says, mentioning the use of advanced materials like cementitious urethane and Polyaspartic coatings. “We can still do the glossy, beautiful garage floors, but we’ve really broadened our scope to include commercial clients.”
As a Kiwi who moved to Canada in 2015, de Pont’s journey to entrepreneurial success wasn’t without its challenges. He admits that starting Good Sorts in a new country, with limited business connections, required grit and determination. “There’s a certain element of resilience that you need to succeed in business,” he says, reflecting on his initial challenges in Kelowna. But that persistence has paid off, and de Pont is now looking to take the next step in growing his business.
With a successful model in place, de Pont is ready to franchise Good Sorts, with plans to expand into other parts of British Columbia and beyond. “We’ve found a repeatable recipe that works,” he says. “We’ve got raving fans of our business here in Kelowna, and we want to help other potential franchise partners create something similar in their communities.”
de Pont believes the ideal franchise partner is someone who is deeply connected to their community and has a background in sales or customer service. “We’re looking for people who want to tear away from their 9-to-5 and build something for themselves,” he says. While Good Sorts is initially focused on expanding within the BC Interior, de Pont is open to the right candidates from across Canada.
Franchisees can expect comprehensive support from Good Sorts' head office, including training programs, access to proprietary software, and a robust brand identity. “We’ve worked really hard to build a brand that is values-driven, not just focused on what we do, but on who we are as a company,” de Pont explains. “We’ve got the tools, the training, and the support in place to help new franchisees succeed.”
As de Pont reflects on his journey from New Zealand to Kelowna, it’s clear that his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to quality service have been key to his success. And with plans to expand Good Sorts through franchising, his story is just getting started.
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