Arctic Spas is Blue Falls Manufacturing's flagship brand of hot tubs, developed as a niche product for cold climates.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.Mattern, Ashleigh. The Regina Leader-Post. "Hot tubs offer the ultimate in Relaxation." March 26, 2013. https://leaderpost.com/story_print.html?id=8154485 Retrieved April 10, 2013. The hot tubs and All-Weather pools are made and manufactured in Canada and the United States, and are sold in showrooms throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
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.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 Retrieved April 10, 2013.
In 2001 the company moved to Thorsby and constructed a facility (later expanded to ), largely because land for a new factory was much cheaper in Thorsby than in Edmonton. In 2003, the company purchased a facility in Coleman, Alberta to manufacture some of their models, which would later close.Industry Canada, Small Business Branch. SME Statistics. "Blue Falls Manufacturing: Turning Market Knowledge into Competitive Edge." 2006, modified June 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2013. 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.Newswire. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1094719/an-all-weather-swimming-pool Retrieved April 29, 2013.
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.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.
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)Stevie Awards, Inc. The International Business Awards. "Blue Falls – Product Developer." http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/171_1830_11289.cfm Retrieved April 10, 2013. June 2003 – 2012: Arctic Spas wins 5-Star Best Of Class Awards for the Pool & Spa IndustryPoolAndSpa.com. "Arctic Spas Receives 2007 Best of Class Award." Retrieved April 10, 2013.PoolAndSpa.com. "Poolandspa.com Announces The 2008 Best Of Class Awards For The Pool & Spa Industry." Retrieved April 10, 2013.PoolAndSpa.com. "Poolandspa.com Announces The 2009 Best Of Class Awards For The Pool & Spa Industry." Retrieved April 10, 2013.PoolAndSpa.com. "PoolAndSpa.com Announces The 2010 Best Of Class Awards For The Swimming Pool And Hot Tub Spa Industry." Retrieved April 10, 2013.PoolAndSpa.com. "PoolAndSpa.com Announces The 2011 Best Of Class Awards For The Pool And Spa Industry." Retrieved April 10, 2013.PoolAndSpa.com. "PoolAndSpa.com Announces The 2012 Best Of Class Awards For The Swimming Pool And Hot Tub Spa Industry." Retrieved April 10, 2013. October 2019: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Prairies winner EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. 2019 Prairies Region Winner Manufacturing And Overall. "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019."
References
External links Arctic Spas