"The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success." ~ Bruce Feirstein
Have you ever had an idea that others told you wouldn't work? Something so clear in your mind that others couldn't see? What did you do? Did you go for it?
"It's a super cool, funky looking old vintage shop. Once you're down here, you feel like you've gone back in time. The building is turquoise with colourful signs and paddleboards outfront, so it's tough to miss. It's kind of old school."
Eileen Meehan is the owner of Sun n' Sup, a paddleboard shop in an old gas station in the beautiful village of Naramata. She’s recently opened the doors in time for her fifteenth season.
"It's hard to believe it's been that long already. When we first opened in 2011, paddleboarding was relatively new to the area. Naramata isn't very big, so people thought we were out of our minds. But it's worked out great!"
Eileen's background in the ski, retail, and grocery industries has given her a keen business sense. Since paddleboarding was just becoming popular, she saw an opportunity no one else did.
"My husband Pete and I bought a couple of paddleboards, figuring we could rent them out easily enough. My friend owned the old gas station, so I phoned him up and said, "Hey, you wouldn't want to rent that old gas station out during the summertime, would you?" He liked the idea, and so we got started. That was in April, and I was managing a beach shop in Penticton at the time. We opened the doors in May, and by the end of the month, I'd quit my job and haven't looked back."
Given the size of Lake Okanagan, having a strong knowledge of the area and its weather patterns is essential when operating a watersports business. Living right downtown, Eileen knows the winds and the lake better than most, so it didn't take her long to figure things out.
“There are two bays, and depending on the wind, one bay can be calm, and the other windy. So, it was easy for me to figure out that this was a good spot, right in the middle. We ended up putting the boards on little carts so people could pull them to where they wanted to launch from. You can see the water from the shop, so whichever way you decide to go, it's a short walk. We get a mix of levels and abilities, so there are plenty of options. Some people don't want to go far. They just want to have a little fun and make a nice day of it. Manitou Park is an excellent place for them. It's a seven-minute walk with washrooms and plenty to do for kids. Others want to go a bit further, which is great because we cater to both sports or leisure seekers."
Setting up a fun business in a stunning place like Naramata would be tough to beat. For Eileen, it's a lovely blend of appreciation and passion for what she does and where she lives, the perfect little recipe for happiness.
"I love Naramata. I can't imagine living anywhere else. It's amazing! We're so close to the water and the mountains. And I love what I do. Every day gives me a reason to smile. In the morning, I usually go around the block to check the water and think about going for a paddle at some point. Then, I go to my niece Ashley's little coffee shop, Just Baked, for some fuel. I talk to so many people along the way that it can take me fifteen or twenty minutes to get to work, if not longer. When I get to the shop, I always laugh and say the traffic is horrendous! The store itself is a lot of fun. I open up the garage doors and pull everything out - the paddleboards, chairs, signs, clothing, all of it. The community here is so lively and vibrant. It's a huge part of my life, and I love it when locals pop by. Also, I'm very interested in people, so talking with visitors and finding out where they're from is a daily highlight. It's such a fun atmosphere!"
Along with rentals and lessons, Eileen also has a great deal for sale. From high-performance equipment to clothing, the shop is stocked with a wide range of high-quality gear.
"In the ski industry, we sold a lot of high-end equipment. It wasn't just the glitzy stuff, it was durable. If someone invests in quality gear, it's more likely to last longer, which means they're happier. It also means less waste. Buying cheap products that don't last long means more going into the landfill, more production, more shipping, and so on. The faster things wear out, the larger their footprint. I approach Sun' n Sup in the same way. From boards to apparel, what we sell lasts. And I spend a lot of time researching brands that have strong environmental values. How is it made? Where is it coming from? Will it last? It's a lot of work, especially when large companies buy smaller ones. You have to stay on top of it. For example, if an outdoor brand is absorbed by a larger entity and they change their manufacturing process, I could end up with an inferior product. That means returning items or replacing them, both of which involve shipping and waste. Each order I make takes a lot of time, but it's worth it. Good gear means happy customers and a happy planet."
Due to recent events, Eileen's lengthy product research process has become a little more complex.
"Everything's so weird right now. There's a huge push to buy Canadian products, which is awesome. People are really concerned about food especially, paying more attention than ever to where their groceries come from. But it goes beyond that. I stock as many Canadian brands as possible, but surf and paddle gear mostly comes from California. There are plenty of businesses out there with good values and who do incredible work, like Patagonia or even Prana, who I've been carrying for years. I went to great lengths to stock brands with similar values as mine and have built solid relationships with suppliers. Yet now I'm not sure what to do. If I take a gamble and order stock as usual, there's a chance people won't buy what isn't from Canada. That's an expensive risk. But there isn't that much choice for surf apparel in Canada, especially trying to match my values. It's difficult to know what the best move is."
Eileen's values aren't exclusive to Sun n' Sup. It's how she lives her life.
"People don't realise how easy making small adjustments are, and those little things make a big difference. My parents wasted as little as possible, so it's always been part of my life. Also, my husband Pete refuses to throw things away. He repairs everything! He won't just buy a new one or throw something out. He'll pull things apart and make sure very little is wasted. He might swear a lot while he's doing it, but he's so good at it. Also, regarding food, I prefer to shop in season. I won't buy tomatoes in plastic, for example, especially out of season. In fact, I don't eat tomatoes all winter. I grow them in my garden and will happily wait until then. They taste better like that anyway. We're really fortunate to live in this area, actually. The growing season is really good, which is awesome!"
Like all the locals we speak to for these Spotlights, Eileen can't say enough good things about Naramata.
"Unlike the old mining and logging towns that have to reinvent themselves, we're lucky to have such a wonderful natural landscape. The lake, the KVR, amazing mountain bike trails, places to hike and snowshoe, all of the wineries spread across the Bench, there's so much to do. And Naramata is this wonderful little hub for all of these activities. There's a coffee shop, a general store, a pizza place, accommodation - it's such a cool spot!"
Eileen paints a pretty incredible picture, doesn't she? That's easily done in an area with so much to enjoy, and we haven't even touched on wildlife.
"Bald Eagles are my favourite. There's something so majestic about them. We see bears and plenty of other animals, too, but I love Eagles. It's the coolest thing to see when you're out on your paddle board, and an Eagle swoops down in front of you and grabs a fish. The first time Ben saw that happen, he was blown away."
Ben is part of the Sun n' Sup team, who can't seem to get enough of Naramata.
"He's a wonderful young man who worked for me last year. He's from Wales where they get a fair amount of rain, so being out on the lake in shorts, soaking up the sun while taking in all this beauty was enough for him to come back again this year. I've had staff from everywhere work for me over the years, France, Ireland and so on, but having Ben back is a real treat. He worked at a paddleboard shop in Wales, so he has plenty of knowledge and experience. It's going to be a fun summer!"
Eileen's right; it is going to be a fun summer. There's been a lot in the media in recent years warning people not to come to the Okanagan because of fires. As important as it is to be aware, news reports aren't always reflective of the actual conditions on the ground. Along with checking the weather and the news, getting in touch with locals, such as Discover Naramata, is a great way to get an accurate update on the conditions.
"Every day I write down what the temperature and wind is like, if it rained, if it's smokey, local events, anything notable. I track the conditions closely and last year we didn't have any fires or even smoke. We love when people come here so we can share what we have. Come see us this summer. You'll love it!"
Ready for a paddle in paradise? Sun 'n Sup is located in Naramata Village, just across from the general store. Head down to see Eileen, Ben and the team. It'll be an experience you won't forget.
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