Community Committee Summits Creating a Buzz for Local Products

Publish Date: November 2006

Participating in Prince George’s Winter Opportunities Summit is opening up new markets for a couple manufacturing specialty products from wood damaged by the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Until now, Arthur and Sharron Scamnell depended on word-of-mouth to sell the beautiful wine and golf ball boxes and serving trays they build with blue pine left behind in the wake of the beetle infestation in Northern BC.

The city’s Spirit of BC Committee gave the Scamnells’ products to dignitaries who attended the Prince George summit in February, creating interest in the couple’s boxes and trays. When Arthur began crafting his products, he made sure they were small so they could be given away at conferences, meetings or tournaments – a perfect strategy for the Games.

Using the Olympic opportunity to sell products was never Arthur’s original intention, given his steady customer base. But based on the response in Prince George, he is very willing to see where the Olympic-related business takes him in the next three years.

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