Henry Kim | Burlington, ON
Five Questions asks Apex Sport's Henry Kim:
How did you get into making paddles for dragon boaters?
I first approached the people at a company called Apex Composites after reading about the Olympic success of their snowboard racing product. I offered to help them commercialize their product and in the meeting, I noticed a paddle leaning in the corner. One thing led to another and I started Apex Sport as a dedicated manufacturer of composite sporting goods. This allowed Apex Composites to focus on their growing aerospace, defense and medical business while I devoted 100% of my attention to the paddle and snowboard markets.
Gerry and Matt from Apex Composites continue to provide technical consulting and advice. We haven't lost their 10 plus years of paddle making know-how.
What is distinctive about your product in the market you serve?
Our products are made in Canada by craftsmen in a small batch facility. That alone sets us apart from any other paddle maker.
We use nothing but the best materials available. For instance, our carbon fiber and resins are certified for use in the aerospace industry.
Finally, every material in our paddles is there for performance reasons. For instance, we do not clear coat, paint or mask our paddles. For that reason, our paddles might not be the shiniest ones on the rack but we think paddlers are more concerned with performance than cosmetics.
How did you get into making paddles for dragon boaters?
I first approached the people at a company called Apex Composites after reading about the Olympic success of their snowboard racing product. I offered to help them commercialize their product and in the meeting, I noticed a paddle leaning in the corner. One thing led to another and I started Apex Sport as a dedicated manufacturer of composite sporting goods. This allowed Apex Composites to focus on their growing aerospace, defense and medical business while I devoted 100% of my attention to the paddle and snowboard markets.
Gerry and Matt from Apex Composites continue to provide technical consulting and advice. We haven't lost their 10 plus years of paddle making know-how.
What is distinctive about your product in the market you serve?
Our products are made in Canada by craftsmen in a small batch facility. That alone sets us apart from any other paddle maker.
We use nothing but the best materials available. For instance, our carbon fiber and resins are certified for use in the aerospace industry.
Finally, every material in our paddles is there for performance reasons. For instance, we do not clear coat, paint or mask our paddles. For that reason, our paddles might not be the shiniest ones on the rack but we think paddlers are more concerned with performance than cosmetics.
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Any interesting anecdote related to your product?
I have a teenage daughter who wasn't very interested in my business. Then she saw the Kardashians using Apex paddles on their TV show and all of a sudden, her Dad's company was pretty cool. What is the biggest lesson you've learned running your business? Stuff happens. Sometimes at the worst possible moment. Ovens fail. Bits break. Processes go awry. You can only survive in manufacturing through persistence and by remaining calm, cool and collected at those critical moments and focusing on solutions. |
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What is your opinion on the future of the sport?
What other sport can be tremendously competitive and physically demanding while at the same time remain safe and social? I can't think of one. I think demographics are definitely in our favor of continued growth in the sport. Boomers and the echo generation who aren't yet dragon boaters will discover the health benefits and the team camaraderie of our sport and become hooked. I'm very optimistic.
Apex Sport offers the most advanced carbon fibre and composite sporting goods in the world. Visit www.apexsport.ca for more information on their innovations.
What other sport can be tremendously competitive and physically demanding while at the same time remain safe and social? I can't think of one. I think demographics are definitely in our favor of continued growth in the sport. Boomers and the echo generation who aren't yet dragon boaters will discover the health benefits and the team camaraderie of our sport and become hooked. I'm very optimistic.
Apex Sport offers the most advanced carbon fibre and composite sporting goods in the world. Visit www.apexsport.ca for more information on their innovations.
Jesse Jay Anderson won a gold medal in the 2010 Olympics on Apex equipment.
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Designed and manufactured by Canadian craftsmen.
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