Customers of Cowpuccino’s have put the coffee house’s name forward for two 2015 Small Business B.C. Awards, the first time it’s in the running in the competition.
Nominations for the 2015 Small Business B.C. Awards opened on Oct. 1, with more than 407 small businesses throughout the province being nominated by their customers.
Cowpuccino’s was put forward for two Small Business B.C. Awards this year: Best Community Impact, given to a business that’s making a difference in its community, and the Best Workplace Award, which recognizes the business that provides a supportive, happy and healthy work environment to their staff.
Judd Rowse, owners of Cowpuccino’s, said he was proud the business was nominated.
“I was shocked at first, then felt honoured … that people haven taken the time to do that for me,” Rowse said.
“It’s a big award. Just to be nominated is a big deal.”
The 10 businesses that received the most votes in each category before the Nov. 30 deadline will move on to the next round, with the finalists being announced on Dec. 12.
Finalists will have one month to complete a detailed application about why they deserve to win their category, with a panel of judges narrowing down each category to the final five businesses.
The top five businesses in each category will be asked to present a pitch to a judging panel between Feb. 10 and 16, with the winners being announced at an awards ceremony in Vancouver on Feb. 26.
The winner of each category will receive the Premier’s Prize of $1,500, and will be offered access to Small Business B.C. education resources and experts, along with business mentorship from the award sponsor for one year.
Cowpuccino’s has been in business since 1997 and currently employs seven people, four of whom are full time. The number of employees increases to 12 in the summer months.
