They are best friends turned successful entrepreneurs and today they are following their dreams, quickly climbing the ladder to the top of the business world.
Winnipeg duo Chris Emery and Larry Finnson, the creators of OMG candy, were the guest speakers at the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce's business dinner event held last week in the city.
Full of energy and brimming with optimism the pair shared their story of humble beginnings in a basement factory followed by a journey on the path to the big times. Believe in what you do, give your heart and soul and success will follow were among the words of wisdom imparted Wednesday as Emery and Finnson spoke to the sold out crowd.
Best friends since Grade 10 and growing up in Winnipeg, the friends say for as long as they remember they wanted to be millionaires. That dream is coming true.
In 1996 they made their debut into the entrepreneurship world. Taking a recipe created by Emery's grandmother, the pair unveiled Clodhoppers - a tasty chocolate and graham wafer treat. With much perseverance, in 1998, they signed a distribution contract with Walmart. They opened a factory, producing 2,500 pounds of Clodhoppers per hour. By 2006, the company's Clodhopper production plant in Winnipeg employed more than 20 employees and sold millions of the candies throughout North America.
In 2006 the company's board of directors opted to sell, giving Emery and Finnson the inspiration to start again and in February of 2012, OMG's Candy was born.
A more perfected version of Clodhoppers, OMG's have been selling like hotcakes.
"It's exceeded our expectations. Clodhoppers was very successful. It had very rapid growth and the OMG's brand is growing 400 per cent faster... it's very exciting, say Emery and Finnson. "It's really an unbelievable dream," the pair say about the way their lives are unfolding. "It's a difficult thing to do, to be in business with a friend or a family member... there are crests and valleys, but it's your ability to resolve conflict that's ultimately going to determine whether or not you will stay in a long lasting partnership." The same goes for any relationship they maintain.
Emery and Finnson give a lot of their success credit to their appearance on the popular television series Dragon's Den. On the show, they secured a deal with "Dragon" Arlene Dickinson.
"I think it was absolutely integral and key to OMG's springboard. Millions of people see the show and have been exposed to OMG's because of Dragon's Den. I know the candy is amazing without it but we would be way further back without it.
"One of the most difficult things about a start-up business is getting people to know about your business and getting people to care about it... and Dragon's Den... what a great forum..."
Arm yourself with a great product, get your name out there and work hard they both advise. And never give up. Both Emery and Finnson say never once have they ever looked back or thought of packing it in, even when the going got tough.
"This is our vision. We feel what M&M's were to the 20th century, OMG's can be to the 21st century. It's a global brand and that's how we see it."
As for advice for other would be entrepreneurs...
"I think the most important thing that I've learned is it's all about partnership selection," says Emery. "Partnerships are what will ultimately lead to success."
"I would say 'you have to love what you do'," adds Finnson. "If you have the passion and you work hard, everything else will follow. Love what you do."
