Town & Country

2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2017 S E L K I R K Springfield Country Come Enjoy a Fun Filled Family Day! July 16th 2016 Springfield Curling Club, Dugald Corner Hwy 15 & PR 206 July 15th 2017 204-369-5308 • www.whiteshell.mb.ca/rennie RENNIE HOTEL Large variety beer vendor, beverage room, VLT's licensed dining room and accommodations. Makers of Fine Quality Sausage ALL OUR SAUSAGE IS MADE OF LEAN PORK & BEEF NO MSG, NO BY PRODUCTS, GLUTEN FREE All Our Deli Meats, Made in Store • Large Selection of Fresh Quality Meats • Wild Game Processing 204.268.4288 1004 PARK AVENUE E. • BEAUSEJOUR, MB • BOX 399 • ROE OCO Tuesday - Friday 9 am. - 6 pm. Saturday 9 am. - 5 pm. Drifters ‚ Jct. Hwy. 11 & 313 Phone 204-345-2915 Complimentary Canoes, Paddleboats, Kayaks & Bikes Boats, Motors, Canoes, Snowmobiles #1 Walleye Destination / 2015 Spring Outdoor Canada • General Store • LHK Cabins - with A/C & Satellite TV • Some with Hot Tubs • Lic. Restaurant • Vendor • Boats, Motors, Canoes, Snowmobiles • Large Sandy Beach with play structure • Hiking & Bike Trails • Excellent Fishing • Complimentary Canoes, Paddleboats, Kayaks & Bikes • Open Year Round • Two 3 BR hot tub chalets on the beach! JULY 14, 15, 16 www.agsociety.net ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL AGRICULTURAL FAIR BY DAVID SQUARE T he explosive growth of a Selkirk-based fireworks company has transformed the booming business from a one-man roadside operation near Birds Hill into the largest of its kind in Canada today. "The semi-monthly payroll is now more than all the money I made in my first year of business in 2000," says Blast-Off Fireworks owner Matthew Bialek. Wholesaler Blast-Off services upwards of 3,500 retail outlets across Canada, while retail division Red Bomb Fireworks, which is owned by Matthew's wife, Brandi Bialek, caters to customers at outlets in Selkirk, Birds Hill, Winnipeg and Dufresne. Inspired by his father, Randy, a pyrotechnics enthusiast who choreographed displays for many years, Bialek started out selling fireworks from a renovated school bus parked near Hwy. 59 in the Birds Hill area. A second bus was rolled out near the Trans-Can- ada Highway and Dufresne a few years later. "The buses were positioned to attract cottage and tourist traffic on both highways, and they remain part of Red Bomb to this day," says the 35-year-old entrepreneur. Bialek admits the buses also function as occa- sional retreats when he needs to escape the daily rigours of operating a multi-million dollar enter- prise. Getting away from his desk in Selkirk also lets him connect with customers and find out which products they like and what they'd like to see in the future. "Fireworks have become a year-round business. Demand used to be focused on New Year's Eve and Canada Day. Nowadays people are purchasing fire- works to celebrate birthdays, family reunions, wed- dings and many other occasions." With Canada's 150th birthday coming up July 1, Red Bomb is introducing new pyrotechnics for the occasion, two of which — Strong and Free and The True North — feature Canadian graphics such as beavers, bears and maple syrup on the packages. Over the years, the company has developed its own proprietary fireworks in cooperation with Chinese manufacturers as well as sourcing products from throughout the world, which are sold online as well as in the bricks-and-mortar outlets. By 2004, skyrocketing sales led to the decision to lease a 10,000-square-foot building in the Selkirk Industrial Park to house a Red Bomb retail outlet, provide more room for the growing Blast-Off busi- ness, and increase storage capacity. At that time, annual gross sales were $2 million and the business had 17 full- and part-time employees. Today, the company owns a 21-acre distribution campus in the industrial park, and employs close to 50 people, some of whom are part-timers earn- ing money for university or to supplement house- hold income. Red Bomb and Blast-Off have reached a stage where further investment is required to keep pace with increasing product demand. "When I began the business from a bus 17 years ago, I never imagined my wife and I would end up in charge of such a large and demanding enter- prise," Bialek says. "We've reached the point where we are truly hav- ing fun in our careers." Fireworks business is booming SALES Demand used to be focused on New Year's Eve and Canada Day. Nowadays people are purchasing fireworks to celebrate birthdays, family reunions, weddings and many other occasions."

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