Arctic Spas

History and growth

Blue Falls Manufacturing was founded in the late 1980s as Koko Beach Hot Tub Manufacturing in Edmonton, Alberta. It was purchased in 1997 by its current owners, who were employees of Blue Falls just before its sale in 1994. The new owners soon began producing the Arctic Spas brand.

In 2001 the company moved to Thorsby and constructed a 70000 sqft facility (later expanded to 100000 sqft), largely because land for a new factory was much cheaper in Thorsby than in Edmonton. In 2003, the company purchased a 90000 sqft facility in Coleman, Alberta to manufacture some of their models, which would later close. The company would later open smaller plants in Edmonton, Breton, and Spokane, Washington.

The company relies on winter climate branding and energy-efficient technology; testing by provincial authority Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (then the Alberta Research Council) determined that Arctic Spas hot tubs were thirty percent more energy efficient than the competitors that they tested.

In early 2013 they launched a brand of swimming machine, called the All-Weather Pool.

In late 2023, COLDTUB, a brand of cold water therapy tubs, partnered with Arctic Spas to start selling their products in authorized locations.

Overseas operations

The company focused on the European export market from the beginning, especially the colder climates of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. The company formed joint partnerships in order to maintain control of their brand.

They also opened a distribution centre in Ireland, which went into liquidation in 2007.

Arctic Spas has partnerships with Polarbad for the Scandinavian market, and Arctic Spas UK oversees the stores in the United Kingdom.

Industry recognition and awards

• June 2003: Recognized by Profit Magazine as being in the top 100 of Canada's Fastest Growing Businesses
• June 2004: Ranked by Profit Magazine as one of Canada's 100 Fastest Growing Businesses
• June 2005: Profit Magazine ranks BFM among Canada's Fastest Growing Businesses
• September 2005: Owners named Ernst & Young 2005 Entrepreneurs of the Year (Prairies Region, Manufacturing Category)
• January 2006: Ranks as one of Alberta's 50 Fastest Growing Companies
• February 2006: Named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed CompaniesDeloitte LLP. Canada's Best Managed Companies. "2005 Winners." https://www.canadas50best.com/en/meetourwinners/Pages/2005Winners.aspx Retrieved April 10, 2013.
• May 2006: CAD designer Pete Van't Hoff wins International Business Award (Best Product Developer)
• June 2003 – 2012: Arctic Spas wins 5-Star Best Of Class Awards for the Pool & Spa IndustryPoolAndSpa.com. "Poolandspa.com Announces The 2008 Best Of Class Awards For The Pool & Spa Industry." {{cite web |url-status=dead Best Of Class Awards For The Pool & Spa Industry." {{cite web |url-status=dead
• October 2019: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Prairies winner

References

References

1. Bloomberg Businessweek. ''Investing.businessweek.com.'' "Private Company Search." April 10, 2013. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223250/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/common/symbollookup/symbollookup.asp?region=ALL&textIn=Blue+Falls+Manufacturing&x=0&y=0&lookuptype=private] Retrieved April 10, 2013.
2. "Arctic Spas Dealer Locator".
3. Canon Communications LLC. ''ApplianceMagazine.com.'' "Arctic Spas designed for cold climates: It's always spa season." April 2005. http://www.appliancemagazine.com/np_print.php?article=6380 Retrieved April 10, 2005.
4. link. (2018-09-01 Retrieved April 10, 2013.)
5. Flakstad, Nordahl. ''Canadian Plant.'' "Arctic Spas for northern exposure." April 16, 2010. http://www.californiabackyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Plant-Magazine-Article-on-Blue-Falls1.pdf{{dead link. (October 2016)
6. "Archived copy".
7. Newswire. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1094719/an-all-weather-swimming-pool Retrieved April 29, 2013.
8. "Coldtub".
9. ''The Meath Chronicle.'' "Dunshaughlin-based firm goes into liquidation." September 29, 2007. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2007/09/22/670-dunshaughlinbased-firm-goes-into-liquidation/ Retrieved April 10, 2013.
10. Stevie Awards, Inc. ''The International Business Awards.'' "Blue Falls – Product Developer." http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/171_1830_11289.cfm {{Webarchive. link. (2007-08-13 Retrieved April 10, 2013.)
11. "Archived copy".
12. "Best of Class Awards for the Pool & Spa Industry 2010 - Poolandspa.com".
13. "Best of Class Awards for the Pool & Spa Industry 2011 - Poolandspa.com".
14. "Best of Class Awards for the Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Spa Industry 2012 - PoolAndSpa.com".
15. (2019-10-11). "EY Entrepreneur".