‘Absolutely amazing’: Fieldnotes Market crowned 2023 Enterprize Challenge victor

Top 3 take home more than $50,000 in prizes; PV BLVD Coffee named People’s Choice Award Winner

VERNON, BC—The house lights dim as the spotlight illuminates the centre stage. Nearly 200 people sit silently on the edges of their seats. Suddenly, the crowd erupts in applause as Hannah and Pamela Janek walk into the spotlight, hand-in-hand, smiles stretched across their faces.

After months of preparation and a night of nerve-inducing pitches in front of friends, family and a panel of volunteer judges, they’ve done it. They’ve won the 2023 Enterprize Challenge and more than $35,000 in prizes.

“We’re running on adrenaline right now, because we open our store next Saturday, May 27,” says Pamela Janek, owner of Fieldnotes Market alongside her daughter, Hannah. “It’s been super crazy busy, but such a great experience and a great team both at Community Futures and with all of the other contestants.”

Presented by VantageOne Credit Union and Community Futures North Okanagan, the 2023 Enterprize Challenge culminated in a night of live, Dragon’s Den-style pitching as finalists vied for the podium.

Fieldnotes Market is Armstrong’s newest general store founded on a love of nature and provides a curation of quality European-inspired home goods, local arts and crafts, unique pre-loved housewares and specialty local and European pantry food. The Janeks took home start-up capital, one year of free business banking, a free radio and print campaign, business consulting and mentoring, a chamber of commerce voucher, tuition credits and legal, accounting, video, graphics, marketing and web packages.

“We’re just really thankful for Community Futures for this amazing experience. Because it was so aligned with our store opening, we were really able to hone our business idea and what we could really do to serve the Armstrong community,” Hannah adds. “We’re working with local artisans and we can just feel that there’s a lot of room for growth.”

Fieldnote Markets was one of seven finalists and 28 challenge participants showcasing the remarkable innovation of entrepreneurs from across the North Okanagan.

“We have such a wide variety of businesses here, and we applaud you all for stepping up and taking on this challenge,” says Michele Hill, chair of Community Futures’ board of directors. “Best of luck to each of you today and in the future.”

PV BLVD Coffee–Armstrong’s newest coffee shop that blends the comfort of a local hangout with weekly arts and yoga classes–claimed second place and Chef Lauren Vincent–a Red Seal chef creating custom meal prep for her clients–scored third.

“The Enterprize Challenge gave me the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs, talk to other people and learn how to grow my business,” says PV BLVD Coffee’s Kristy McLennan. “I’m super happy about the opportunity and excited for the future.”

McLennan and Vincent each ended the night with one year of free business banking, a chamber voucher and several great business packages.

“I can imagine how difficult it was to be a judge for this competition. The innovation we have seen this evening both at the showcase and in the final pitches is very impressive,” says Dianne Grebinski, VP of commercial banking at VantageOne Credit Union. “The display of entrepreneurship in the program is to be commended and we congratulate all of those who participated as well as all seven of our finalists.”

As the judges deliberated, the public cast their votes and awarded PV BLVD Coffee as this year’s People’s Choice Award-winner. In addition to her second-place prize, claimed a $750 advertising package from Castanet Media.

“Thank you to all who came through the challenge for having the ambition and courage to put yourselves forward for this competition,” says Beach Radio’s Brian Martin, emcee. “We wish you great success in all your future businesses.”