What The Fireplace Centre does

The Fireplace Centre is a family-operated retail dealer of fireplaces, stoves, inserts, outdoor living products, grills, pizza ovens, and hot tubs/spas headquartered in a single showroom at 1200 Battle Street, Kamloops, British Columbia. Founded in 1977 by Mark Strate and now owned by his children Hanna and Dustin, the business serves residential homeowners across the Greater Kamloops Area, with select projects extending to resort properties such as Sun Peaks. Its assortment spans gas/propane, wood, and electric fuel categories, complemented by Empire Direct Vent wall heaters, Infratech infrared outdoor heaters, Jackson Grills, Ooni pizza ovens, and two hot tub brands (Pacific Dawn Spas and Ambiance Spas) plus associated chemicals from SpaBoss and AquaFinesse.

Name

The Fireplace Centre

Legal name

The Fireplace Centre

Website

https://fireplacecentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fireplace Centre is a family-operated retail hearth and outdoor living dealer in Kamloops, BC, selling gas, wood, and electric fireplaces, stoves, grills, pizza ovens, and hot tubs with bundled installation and maintenance services to Greater Kamloops Area homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearth Products Retail

NAICS

Home Centers (444110), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (4491)

SIC

Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Heating, Fire Pits & Fireplaces Retail (CRAIAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grills, Smokers & Outdoor Cooking Retail (Fuel, Accessories) (CRAIAIAH), Chimney Inspection (Level 1/2/3) & Safety Certification (HSAEANAB), Fireplace & Stove Venting/Connector Pipe Cleaning (HSAEANAF)

Keywords

• Retail fireplace sales
• Hearth products
• Outdoor living products
• Hot tubs and spas
• Chimney services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamloops, BC

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Retail sales of fireplaces (gas, wood, electric), stoves, inserts, outdoor products, grills, pizza ovens, hot tubs, spas, and accessories. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases.
2. Installation Services: Professional fireplace and hearth product installation services including new construction, replacements, and conversions (e.g., wood to gas).
3. Maintenance & Repair Services: Chimney sweeping, WETT inspections, servicing, maintenance, parts, and repairs for fireplaces and hearth products.
4. Financing Services: Offers financing options through FinanceIt for customer purchases, providing installment payment plans.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Fireplace Centre is a family-operated retail store in Kamloops, BC that sells gas, wood, and electric fireplaces, stoves, inserts, log sets, and wall heaters, plus outdoor fire products, grills, pizza ovens, hot tubs, and hearth accessories. It bundles professional fireplace installation, WETT chimney inspections, chimney sweeping, maintenance, and parts/repair services with product sales. Customers in the Greater Kamloops Area can finance purchases through a FinanceIt partnership.

Product overview

The Fireplace Centre is a family-operated fireplace and hearth products retailer in Kamloops, BC, founded in 1977, offering a comprehensive portfolio of heating and outdoor living products. The core product lines span three fuel types: (1) Gas/Propane products including fireplaces, stoves, inserts, and log sets plus Empire Direct Vent Wall Heaters; (2) Wood products including fireplaces, stoves, and inserts; and (3) Electric products including fireplaces, stoves, and inserts. Outdoor living offerings include fire tables, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, torches, and Infratech infrared heaters. Grilling and outdoor cooking includes built-in and portable freestanding grills plus pizza ovens. The company also carries two hot tub brands (Pacific Dawn Spas and Ambiance Spas) with associated chemicals from SpaBoss and AquaFinesse. Tools and accessories include glass doors, screen doors, mantels, and fireplace tools. Services include WETT chimney inspections, chimney sweeping, fireplace installation, servicing and maintenance, parts and repair, and gas/propane maintenance. The company is an authorized dealer for numerous fireplace and grill brands including Napoleon, Jotul, Blaze King, Montigo, Kozy Heat, Lopi, Ambiance, Valor, Town & Country, True North, Urbana, Pacific Energy, Hearthstone, DaVinci, Enviro, Marquis, RSF, Renaissance, Fireplace Xtrodinair, Supreme, Valcourt, Dimplex, Amantii, Jackson Grills, Ooni, Infratech, JC Bordelet, European Home, Stuv America, La-Nordica, DRU Fire, Solution Electric Fires, The Outdoor Great Room, Tempest Torch, and Pacific Dawn Spas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gas Fireplaces Gas fireplaces offering one-click operation with no cleanup required, since they don't use wood logs or pellets as fuel. Available for residential customers seeking convenient home heating.
• Gas Stoves Gas-powered stoves available in various contemporary and classic styles that enhance living spaces while providing powerful heating capability.
• Gas Inserts High-rated energy-efficient gas inserts installed into existing wood-burning masonry structures, offering comfort and control at the touch of fingertips.
• Gas Log Sets Decorative gas log sets for fireplaces providing fire effects when typical gas inserts will not fit or when a more decorative fire with less heat output is desired.
• Empire Direct Vent Wall Heaters Direct-vent furnaces designed for areas where flues or chimneys are not available, easily mounted to finished walls without requiring power.
• Wood Fireplaces Traditional wood-burning fireplaces that can increase home value and reduce monthly heating bills during colder months.
• Wood Stoves Powerful wood-burning heat sources available in modern, contemporary, traditional, and basic styles with cost-effective heating benefits.
• Wood Inserts High-efficiency wood-burning inserts installed into existing inefficient fireplaces to reduce environmental impact and heating bills.
• Electric Fireplaces Electric fireplaces operated via remote or wall switch, requiring no wood, gas, or exhaust venting, and no cleanup.
• Electric Stoves Easy-to-use, environmentally friendly energy-efficient electric stoves that produce no emissions and require no installation beyond plugging in.
• Electric Inserts Versatile electric inserts usable year-round with or without heat, available as inserts for existing fireplaces, wall-hanging models, or built-ins.
• Fire Tables and Fire Pits Stylish fire tables and contemporary fire pits designed to complete backyards and outdoor living spaces.
• Outdoor Fireplaces Outdoor fireplaces to complete outdoor living spaces with a selection of products for designing dream outdoor areas.
• Outdoor Torches Outdoor torches that add character to outdoor spaces, provide ambient lighting, and can help repel mosquitoes when used with citronella.
• Infratech Infrared Heaters Infrared heaters providing instant, efficient warmth for outdoor spaces without the hassle of gas or harsh drying heat of traditional space heaters.
• Built-In Grills Built-in grills to complete outdoor kitchens, available in gas, charcoal, and kamado types.
• Portable and Freestanding Grills Freestanding and portable grills running on natural gas, propane, charcoal, or combination fuels, offering mobility to create new outdoor layouts.
• Pizza Ovens Pizza ovens available in gas, wood-burning, and hybrid types providing different flavor profiles for pizza nights at home.
• Pacific Dawn Spas Hot tubs built with over 30 years of trusted craftsmanship, featuring easy-to-use Balboa controls and solid construction for lasting reliability.
• Ambiance Spas Hot tubs combining modern technology with comfort, featuring personalized jet systems, LED lighting, and cascading water features for soothing hydrotherapy.
• Hot Tub Chemicals (SpaBoss and AquaFinesse) Water care products including SpaBoss sanitizers and AquaFinesse water softening solutions for maintaining hot tub water quality.
• Hearth Accessories (Glass Doors, Screen Doors, Mantels, Tools) Hearth accessories including glass doors, screen doors, mantels, grates, tools, log carriers, fans, remote controls, and hearth pads for fireplace operation, safety, and style.
• WETT Chimney Inspection Wood Energy Technical Training (WETT) certified chimney inspections following SITE guidelines at three levels (Visual, Technical, Invasive) to ensure safe fireplace operation.
• Chimney Sweeping Professional chimney sweeping services that remove creosote buildup, soot, ash, blockages, debris, and broken masonry pieces to ensure safe fireplace operation.
• Fireplace Installation Professional installation of fireplaces including wood-burning, gas, and electric units by factory-trained hearth professionals.
• Servicing and Maintenance Annual inspection and maintenance services ensuring fireplaces operate safely and efficiently, including unused appliances to prevent dust and insect buildup.
• Parts and Repair Parts and repair services including consultation to identify required parts and repairs for fireplace appliances.
• Gas and Propane Maintenance Maintenance services specifically for gas and propane fireplace systems delivered by factory-trained hearth professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce heating expenses through efficient fireplace heating
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WETT (Wood Energy Technical Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWETT-certified inspection services following standardized SITE (System Inspections & Technical Evaluation) guidelines. The Fireplace Centre employs certified WETT professionals for chimney inspections, the gold standard in Canada for wood-burning appliance safety.
• FortisBCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy efficiency rebate partner. FortisBC offers energy-efficiency rebates to customers who purchase qualifying products from The Fireplace Centre.
• Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association affiliation providing credibility and networking within the home building industry.
• HPBAC (Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association affiliation for hearth, patio, and barbecue products.
• Wood & HeatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWood heating industry resource and association partnership.
• Napoleon FireplacescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brand carried - Napoleon offers gas fireplaces, stoves, inserts, grills, and outdoor heating products sold through The Fireplace Centre.
• Valor FireplacescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brand carried - Valor produces gas fireplaces and inserts, a popular product line at The Fireplace Centre.
• Ambiance FireplacescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand carried - Ambiance offers contemporary fireplace designs and also produces Ambiance Spas hot tubs sold by The Fireplace Centre.
• Pacific Dawn SpascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHot tub brand carried - Pacific Dawn Spas are backed by 30+ years of experience and feature Balboa controls. Sold alongside Ambiance Spas at The Fireplace Centre.
• Jackson GrillscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor kitchen and grill brand carried specializing in built-in and freestanding grills for outdoor kitchens.
• Empire HeatingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrand carried - Empire produces Direct Vent wall heaters and furnaces, providing heating solutions for areas where traditional flues or chimneys cannot be used.
• InfratechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor infrared heater brand carried - Infratech provides efficient outdoor heating solutions for year-round outdoor living spaces.
• OoniminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortable pizza oven brand carried - Ooni produces gas, wood-burning, and hybrid pizza ovens for outdoor cooking.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Comfort Zone Fireplaces & BBQ: Canadian multi-location retailer specializing in fireplaces, stoves, BBQs, and outdoor living products with in-house installation services — directly comparable to The Fireplace Centre's retail-plus-services model across the fireplace and outdoor cooking categories.
• Barbeques Galore: Canadian specialty retailer of premium grills, smokers, and outdoor kitchen equipment with multiple showrooms. Comparable product overlap in built-in grills, portable grills, and pizza ovens, although their primary focus is grilling rather than hearth.
• Fireside Hearth & Home: North American specialty hearth retailer with showrooms offering fireplaces, inserts, stoves, and outdoor living products plus installation services. Directly comparable in specialty positioning and full-service model.
• Kawartha Fireplace & BBQ: Ontario-based specialty fireplace and BBQ retailer offering gas, wood, and electric units with installation and service. Closely comparable specialty retailer model with overlapping product categories and service-driven GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Bass Pro Shops / Cabela's: Large North American outdoor recreation retailer carrying fire pits, patio heaters, and grills among broader outdoor assortment. Indirect overlap on outdoor heating and grilling categories rather than indoor hearth specialty.
• Lowes.ca: Canadian big-box home improvement retailer offering electric fireplaces, BBQ grills, and outdoor patio products. Competes primarily on selection and price rather than specialty consultation or installation.
• Home Depot Canada: Mass-market home improvement retailer carrying electric fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and BBQ grills at lower price points. Competes on convenience and price for standardized products but lacks specialty consultation, WETT certification, and full installation service.

Others

• Napoleon Products: Major Canadian manufacturer of fireplaces, stoves, grills, and heating products. Connected as a key supplier relationship to The Fireplace Centre rather than a direct competitor, but represents the upstream channel partner concentration risk if they pursue direct-to-consumer.
• Empire Comfort Systems: North American manufacturer of gas fireplaces, stoves, and direct-vent heating products, including brands carried by The Fireplace Centre. Serves as both supplier (Empire Heating line) and adjacent presence through independent dealers across the continent.

Emerging players

• Bullfrog Spas: Premium hot tub brand with company-owned and dealer showrooms across North America. Comparable to The Fireplace Centre's Pacific Dawn Spas and Ambiance Spas offerings on the wellness/outdoor category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StratesFireplaceCentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefireplacecentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-fireplace-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Fireplace Centre