When Elmo Saikkonen and Emil Viitala graduated from high school, they started thinking about starting their first company. The young people liked water sports and had practiced it for many years at the cottage. The idea to establish the region's first water sports center in Seinäjoki was born from that.
The one located in Tanelinlammi EPOP Wake water sports center the main activity is cable water sports. You can go on the cable car with water skis or a board, or really with any kind of equipment. In addition, there is sup board rental and instruction in their use, as well as sup board yoga. The company, which has been operating for five years, has been expanded over the years by building a sauna and a serving terrace. The terrace enables events to be organized and adds to the atmosphere. Thanks to it, gigs, afterwakes and competitions can be organized with a bigger volume and sound reproduction.
- We have tried to create a comprehensive water sports center where people are happy to hang out and enjoy water sports, says Saikkonen.
The first vision and purpose was to acquire practical and theoretical knowledge.
- When the company was founded, the idea was to get good summer jobs and learn about entrepreneurship at the same time. At the same time, you can go to school in the winter and learn more.
- Running the company has grown comprehensively. I have grown as a person and learned to solve problems. Trying has also increased the thirst and fire to want to do more things. When you have learned to master one thing, you want to take on other things alongside it.
In Saikkonen's opinion, the things done are not complicated, they just require clarification and sometimes a little effort. If things don't work out the first time, then we just figure out the solutions to them and try again.
- I think that trying is a certain kind of construction. Let's start somewhere and then build towards the finished structure. You should just start somewhere, because the most important thing is to get going. Along the way, you learn what to do and what not to do.
The heat gets people moving
The weather has a significant impact on business. In the hot summer, people enjoy being outside and seek to do more activities. During long periods of heat, everyday life is sometimes exhausting for entrepreneurs, when the opening hours and with it the working days get longer, but then there are rainier days that you can spend in the office doing work.
- The hobby has increased every year. In 2022, there was a record number of active enthusiasts. We have noticed that people find themselves here without even making a big noise about it.
Saikkonen says that the years have been undulating.
- If you think about the first years, it has gone well. In the third year, we were able to pay back the loans, and since then we have been able to run operations on the plus side, and we haven't had to stress about the loans.
The path has been very educational and has left me with warm feelings.
- It warms the heart that the initial goal of bringing people a new kind of hobby place has come true. It's been a really nice five years. New friends and new partners have come. I remember the people.
- If a customer comes who is a little afraid and we are able to offer him good service, and in the end the customer leaves here with a smile. It is certainly the best feeling when you realize that you have succeeded in what you set out to do in the first place. It feeds the fact that you can handle this and want to do it.
Tanelinlampi is perhaps Seinäjoki's most popular beach. Operating in a central location affects growth opportunities, as bureaucracy and expanding the city's rental area is complex and often slow. Sometimes you have had to make compromises and think about what else could be done to use the full potential.
- At the moment, we are working as big as we can in this area. We've had a good time here. However, it would be hungry to grow the activity to be more versatile.
Being in an entrepreneurial group of friends constantly gives rise to new business ideas and development ideas around the current company as well.
- I like to put new things on fire and bring things to people that I personally think are good, says Saikkonen.
Liiveri granted EPOP Wake investment support, which was used to make the largest purchases, such as an electric cable traction system, equipment and sea containers.