In Focus | Dan Stewart

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Dan Stewart.

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Born and raised in Salmon Arm, we moved to Kelowna around the beginning of 2016.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My wife for sure, because it doesn't matter if we are sitting around the house, beach, road trip or going on vacation, we can always make each other smile and laugh, and there's no better way to spend the day.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
There are so many places I still need to see in the world, I would love to go to either Hawaii or Australia (whichever has better surfing right now) I have only been surfing a few times but it is something I crave to get better at, I love the water and surfing just looks rad!

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I would have to say a tattoo shop because my Zen is getting ink pushed into me! I know it sounds crazy, but I love everything about that industry. It's where I go to my 'happy place'.

What is your favourite activity?
Going on vacation! I never left the country until I was 30-years-old. I love seeing new places.

If you had to choose: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Burgers, burgers, burgers! for sure, I love burgers, it's usually my go-to when we go for dinner, I just like seeing how each one tastes and there are so many great burgers around.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I don't get embarrassed easy. I just usually laugh it off, I think that it's funny!

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
When one of my sons was younger he came to me and told me I was his super hero, I was his superman. That is one of the moments that showed me just how important my role is in their eyes. That inspired me to never give up on anything because to them, dad can do anything.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Way too many great memories, I grew up in an incredible time, where there wasn't so much instant gratification, where you had to think and build, where we would get home from school and be outside until momma called us in for dinner, not sitting in front of a TV, phone or game. We would be out causing mischief in the town and getting in trouble for it, pay the price and suffer the consequences. I remember just going outside and skateboarding for hours just to master the Ollie then the kick flip, etc., each one was amazing the moment you finally landed.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I have been swamped since I opened up, trying hard to find quality barbers, so far the only way I have been able to volunteer is in head-shaving for events and donating to local charities. I plan to do a whole lot more than just make the men of Kelowna look their best!

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Currency. I wish that we could take money out of the equation and just horse-trade for everything, use time as currency, so everyones time was worth the same, you’d still have to work your ass off for more or bigger, but I hate the stress money causes.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Honestly, I love just strolling downtown to see whats going on, I love the downtown and how theres so many people around all the time, the vibe here is amazing.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Probably at the gym with my headphones on.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Traffic, people need to be paying more attention on the roads.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The people and the weather. This is by far the best move my family and I have ever made. I literally tell my wife at least once a week how happy I am we moved to Kelowna

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
I don't actually have a bucket list, I just want to do and see as much as I can while my feet are above the dirt with no regrets.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I don't like sleeping, I am a night owl and and early bird. I just like being awake

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest)
Mostly in person or else Instagram and Facebook. I am not very 'tech-y'.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Man Made Barber & Supply.

Why did you get into/start this business?
I've been cutting hair for 18 years and I wanted to build a place that I would like to hang out in all day. If I have to work this much, I may as well love being there! I love old stuff that was made to last, 'old school' I guess you could say, so I wanted to bring a bunch of that into the shop and it's rewarding in the fact that I get to make people feel good and look good, people love coming in even just to say hi, which makes me feel great about this venture.

What is the goal of your business?
I want to build an empire that my kids, grandkids, etc. can keep growing. We are here for the people, we just want to do quality work and make everyone actually look their best on the way out.

What has been your biggest struggle either in work or life?
If anyone actually knows me, they will understand when I say my kids. I fought very hard for them.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
Everything I have done has made me who I am today, the only one thing I might change would be the way I saved money from the first day I ever started working, that's probably it. Oh, and I would've started learning guitar, which I still plan on doing.

What do you always find yourself saying?
'Brother', I call people brother a lot because mostly everyone that I do, I would treat as a brother.

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
It keeps a community together. All the local shops are hard-working individuals like myself with big dreams. Help them live it!

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Opening my dream barbershop in a brand new town, with no clients, when people thought I was crazy to attempt it and staying open past a year now and we're still growing.

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Clay Castles from Don’t Look Down Tattoo! This man is such an amazingly rad dude! He is one of the best humans I know, solid in so many ways. He runs a great business and is a pleasure to have in the shop, a true gentleman. Plus he smashes ink in my skin which I really love!

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Mike Czuboka from Ignite Design. This is the man that brought my dreams from my head to paper, helped me in so many ways that I could never be able to thank him for, he is the man that brought my brand to life.

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Stay hungry, stay sharp and stay true. All these things are key elements for every gentleman out there.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna.