MediaWave Communications Corp., Kamloops, BC

MediaWave was founded in July 1999 by a diverse group of entrepreneurs who recognized that there was a large void in the home products marketplace. Big box retailers were focusing on mostly low-end mass-appeal products, and specialty retailers were being forced to sell a limited range of high-priced products, or excessively-priced installation/service contracts, to survive. Unfortunately, many of these specialty retailers also showed fierce loyalty to the "status quo, " reluctant to adopt new product lines or brands in fear that they would lose access to the products that kept them afloat. As a result, many consumers were not being exposed to many innovative and superior products. MediaWave recognized the opportunity to use the reach of the Internet to provide consumers with access to a wide array of unique and innovative products not available at most traditional stores.