After 25 years in business, Polar Tech is changing hands.

Owner and founder Gord Olson has turned the business over to the storeSA国际影视传媒檚 manager Joey Sutton.

SA国际影视传媒淚 started Polar Tech 25 years ago in 1994, so 2019 is the 25th year,SA国际影视传媒� said Olson.

SA国际影视传媒淚t started from a toolbox and grew to the biggest recreation store in the Northwest Territories and the North. JoeySA国际影视传媒檚 been working with me for about four, five years and he showed interest in buying the company and I thought well, heSA国际影视传媒檚 got some great ideas and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a chance to put a new set of batteries into Polar Tech.SA国际影视传媒�

Olson is a licensed small-engine mechanic who built the business on service and even designed and built the building himself.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we sell, we service,SA国际影视传媒� said Olson. SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 sell you something and then turn around and say, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to fix it. There's nothing we canSA国际影视传媒檛 fix, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something a box store will never get.SA国际影视传媒�

After over two decades running Polar Tech, Olson said heSA国际影视传媒檚 looking forward to some time off but will still be around to help out the new owner.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to get back out there and start enjoying some of the toys that ISA国际影视传媒檝e been selling for the last 20 years,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to step back now and mentor him for a few years to help him ease into the business a little better. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to throw away that 25 years of experience just yet, so ISA国际影视传媒檒l be around to mentor him from afar and watch Polar Tech grow from afar.SA国际影视传媒�

The official handover was on Wednesday, and Olson said they have plans for a send-off celebration in the summer, once the parking lot is free of snow.

At first, it was scary to step away from the business, Olson said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 mean this was my baby, I did birth it 25 years ago and itSA国际影视传媒檚 grown,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t grew up to 18 people working for me now.SA国际影视传媒�

But Olson felt Sutton is the perfect person to take things forward, and both of them feel Polar Tech is well-positioned for future growth.

In terms of the future, Sutton said he plans to continue bringing in new products and diversifying the business, which already sells everything from Ski-Doos to solar panels.

SA国际影视传媒淲e just opened a new sewing company within Polar Tech to do wall tents and tipis and boat canopies, boat tops, travel covers,SA国际影视传媒� said Sutton. SA国际影视传媒淚f it needs sewing weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to do it here. As far as the business goes, ISA国际影视传媒檝e been here almost five years and if I had to write a story of a perfect foundation I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think ISA国际影视传媒檇 be able to write it as good as what ISA国际影视传媒檓 being left with here.SA国际影视传媒�

Sutton has been the manager for a few years and feels he has a good understanding of it.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut ISA国际影视传媒檓 a little bit nervous for sure,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is a big wheel, we sell hundreds and hundreds of things downstairs so there's a lot of things we have to know. We have to be product experts in so many things.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 his twenty-five-year stint,SA国际影视传媒� said Olson with a laugh.

Olson was previously a director at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and is also involved in Skills Canada, which he plans to dedicate more time to now that he's not running a business.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I help with skills and apprenticeship, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the guys working in the shop and we can compete nationally. So JoeySA国际影视传媒檚 guys I can hopefully mentor them to compete on a national basis for small engines,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

One thing that wonSA国际影视传媒檛 change under the new owner is their commitment to helping people have fun. Their slogan, SA国际影视传媒渨here the fun beginsSA国际影视传媒� is embroidered above the left breast pocket of their shirts, and speaks to the core of their store, said Olson.

SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 wait to come to work,SA国际影视传媒� said Sutton. SA国际影视传媒淭he people we talk to every day theySA国际影视传媒檙e excited, they come to buy something to have fun on. I said to Gord today, as far as making a living goes, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a bad one.SA国际影视传媒�

New owner Sutton said he is confident that his business has nowhere to go but up.

SA国际影视传媒淧olar Tech is going to be around for a hundred years if I have anything to do with it,SA国际影视传媒� he said.