Hockey mom cleans up smelly gear
Published Tuesday April 14th, 2009
Patti Flecknell wasn't looking to start up a new business when she read this column several months back.
Being a hockey mom, however, she was curious about a new hockey development company in the Saint John area that was profiled in this column last December called Ozone Hockey.
When she Googled the company name, however, she stumbled across a website that piqued her interest. The website was about a new process that uses ozone gas to rapidly oxidize odour-producing bacteria from sports gear.
Flecknell knew only too well the smell that comes from used hockey gear. Her daughter used to play and her 17-year-old son still does, this year for the Saint John Phoenix Flames in the midget C division.
When she read about this ozone-using system, she thought it might be a side business for her family.
"To be honest, it's the smell that got me interested," said Flecknell, who opened Sani Clean in January. "You're at the rink and all the kids are coming out of the dressing room and all the parents are like, 'Oh, the smell.' "
Flecknell got her system from a Quebec company. Sports gear is placed inside the machine, which is then filled with ozone. The gas rapidly oxidizes the odour-producing bacteria, safely deodorizing and disinfecting the gear, before safely converting back into oxygen. The gear is then fogged with tea tree oil to attack any remaining bacteria.
"It's a dry sanitizing process so the gear is ready to go in 20 minutes," she said.
"You can put in a smelly hockey glove and when you take it out you can put your face right in it and there's nothing there. It smells like a brand new glove."
The process also makes it safer for athletes. The bacteria that thrive in dark and damp environments can cause infection if exposed to an open wound on the skin. Flecknell has heard of several local hockey players who developed bacterial infections from their equipment.
The cost is $35 for a hockey player's gear, including the hockey bag, helmet and skates. For goaltenders, it's $45. Flecknell recommends that the gear be done twice a year - at the end of the season before it is put in storage, and halfway through the season.
"It's been busy this week now that hockey is over, so hopefully it will continue."
But Flecknell said the process is good for all kinds of sporting equipment - not just hockey equipment.
"It's good for motorcycle jackets that you don't want to put in the wash," she said. "You can even put in stinky sneakers or bowling shoes."
Flecknell said people can make arrangements to drop off their gear at her East Saint John home by calling 653-8733. Or they can drop it off at The Box Sporting Goods store at 14 Bayside Dr. The gear will be ready for pickup the next day.
entrepreneurship roundtable
What's one of the best ways to learn about opening and running your own business?
Talking to other entrepreneurs, of course.
That's why Enterprise Saint John is holding its first Entrepreneurship Roundtable on Thursday. It will be an informal session where entrepreneurs can exchange their knowledge on the business of owning a business.
The roundtable will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Happinez, 42 Princess St. For more information, contact Sarah Johnes at 648-4640 or email her at sjones@enterprisesj.com.
effective networking secrets
Women business owners in the Hampton area are invited to attend the fourth anniversary celebrations for Hampton Networking Opportunities for Women (Hampton NOW) on April 21.
Dave MacKenzie will be the guest speaker at the event, being held at the Hampton River Centre, and will talk on the top five secrets of effective networking.
Door prizes, provided by a number of local businesses, will be awarded.
The cost is $10 to attend. Email Trudy Kelly Forsythe at info@trudykellyforsythe.com or call her at 832-0338.
getting media exposure
How can your company gain some media exposure?
Enterprise Saint John is holding a small business seminar session on getting press coverage, on April 22 from noon until 1:30 p.m. The session will look at the reasons why some companies get coverage in the media and others don't. It will also give instruction on how to write a good press release and how to catch the attention of Saint John reporters. The free seminar will be held at the Business Resource Centre, 40 King St. To register, email Sarah Jones at sjones@enterprisesj.com or call 648-4640. Space is limited to 25 people. Lunch is provided.
Erin Dwyer writes the Developments column for the Telegraph-Journal. It appears Tuesday. To make a suggestion about a new business, email her at dwyer.erin@telegraphjournal.com.
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