Malcolm Bott

“Revelstoke has always felt like home to us, right from the start,” said Malcolm Bott, owner-operator of Universal Footwear Ltd. “When we moved here from Invermere (B.C.), Revelstoke enveloped us into its fold.”

The community demonstrated its reciprocal warm regard for Bott; he was named Revelstoke’s 2012 Business Person of the Year by the city’s chamber of commerce. Since his arrival in Revelstoke in 1982, Bott has served the community through various organizations and service clubs; he admits to having a soft spot for the local food bank.

Bott enjoys working with the public and being involved in community service groups. Interestingly, he sees himself as more of an introvert than an extrovert; he said it’s because certain aspects of Revelstoke encourage a quiet, calm life.

“I like keeping to myself in my personal time,” he said. “I like being involved with the public in the community and at work—we’re a seven-days-a-week business—but I really value my personal time to be with friends and family, and recently a new puppy.”

Keep them coming back

Bott’s greatest satisfaction in the workplace comes when his customers—many of whom are from outside Revelstoke—refer their friends to the store. Bott has worked hard to attract consumers through his product lines and fashion selection, and believes it is of benefit to the whole community when out-of-town shoppers stop in Revelstoke.

“When someone has a great positive experience from our business—even if we don’t make a sale—and their friend comes into the store based on that, it’s really rewarding,” Bott said. “This is a small community, and we couldn’t have a successful store without those out-of-town referrals added to our valuable local clientele.”

Bott does not consider himself to be particularly competitive.

“I know how to use my strengths, though,” he said. “I work along with my competitors to provide what the consumers want, to keep them coming back.”