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There's nothing like being the best of the best.
Steve and Diane Geddes of Fibrenew Kelowna know the feeling after winning 2023 Franchisee of the Year at the recent International Franchise Association conference in Las Vegas.
"I knew Fibrenew put our name forward because we're the No. 1 franchise of 305 Fibrenew franchises across North America," said Steve.
"But it was still a surprise and an honour to win."
In all, about 25 different franchises picked up Franchisee of the Year trophies in categories based on market size and type of franchise.
Fibrenew Kelowna won in the service category for franchises in a smaller city.
"We were recognized for really scaling up the business," said Steve.
"When we bought the franchise it was a one-person operation. Now we have 12 employees and besides offering mobile repair services we also have a retail bricks and mortar location (at 210 Lougheed Rd. off Sexsmith Road) with a repair shop and full upholstery services."
Steve is also proud of the diversity of services Fibrenew Kelowna offers being able to repair, re-upholster and-or clean fabric, leather, vinyl and plastic furniture; car, boat, RV and airplane interiors; commercial furniture; medical office equipment; motorcycle seats; patio furniture; and even purses.
As mentioned above, one of three mobile units can come to your home or business to do the work or you can bring the work to Fibrenew's shop on Lougheed Road.
"That's the beauty of Fibrenew -- the depth and breadth of our services ," said Steve.
"Besides consumers finding us directly, we also work with a ton of automotive and marine dealers to do their uphostery."
Before Steve bought into Fibrenew, he had an agency that sold furniture in Alberta.
He's happy to be in Kelowna now with a much-heralded business.
His work has also been featured on the History Channel for the interior restoration of a vintage Plymouth Road Runner.
Meantime, the Canadian Franchise Association has also announced its Recognition Awards winners to be honoured at a lunch during the association's national convention in Niagara Falls on April 2.
Yum! Brands, which has Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell, is the big winner with the Hall of Fame Award recognizing its 65 years of operation in Canada and growing to 630 restaurants.
Peter Thomas picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award for 45 years of developing Century 21 and Dogtopia franchises.
Mary Brown's Chicken was named Outstanding Corporate Citizen and Pizza Pizza wins the Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award.
A whole whack of franchises are recognized as Canadian Franchise Association 2023 Franchisees' Choice Designees.
Some of them that have franchises in Kelowna include A&W, COBS Bread, CertaPro Painters, Days Inn, Edo Japan, FASTSIGNS, Fibrenew, Home Instead, Mary Brown's Chicken, McDonald's, Molly Maid, Motel 6, PropertyGuys.com, Quesada Burritos & Tacos, Ricky's Restaurants, SpeedPro, Triple O's, Wendy's, White Spot, Real Property Management, PuroClean, Print Three, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness, Massage Addict, Ledgers and Jani-King.
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