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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-02-19, Page 5THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1986. PAGE 5. Jim Rice just got started at retirement age From the back of a stationwagon to an expanded schoolhouse filled with clothes and shoes, Jim Rice has created a thriving business at an age when most people are planning their retirement. The Hallett There may be no better argu- ment for "grey power" around than Jim Rice, who started a successful business career at an age when most people are ready for retirement. Now 76, the owner of Rice's Store in Hullett township south- east of Blyth will be the first to admit though that he had no grand schemes for this store that just kind of grew one step at a time, often almost as a result of an accident. Today the store is a remarkable business, housed in the basement of an old one -room school house with additions added as the business mushroomed. Inside, the place has the feel of a small version of Honest Ed's in Toronto and it attracts customers for much the same reason, low-priced products sold in a no-frills atmosphere. Even on a bitterly -cold early - February day, at a time of year he expects business to be quiet, the customers continue to trickle in, in a steady stream. In the busy season in November and December, four employees plus Mr. Rice himself were kept going at a hectic pace over a 12 -hour day to deal with the crowds. There may be as many as 15 cars at a time parked outside the store. Some people like the feeling of having discovered the place and it has grown by word of mouth because it has never been support- ed by large advertising budgets and it doesn't even have large billboards marking the way to its remote location. There were the people from Sarnia who dropped in on their way to their cottage at Tobermory. There was the man from the London -area who dropped in after attending an auction locally, who promised to be back next time with a carload. He did return with six people in the car, each of whom walked out with 5300 worth of purchases. Since then they've all been back regularly and spread the word to their neighbours who've also found their way to the store. It all started because of a customer who didn't want to buy what he was trying to sell about 25 years ago. He was selling Rawleigh products and farm -supply prod- ucts in those days but this particular farmer wanted a pair of army boots like the kind the salesman was wearing. Every time he went back to the farm the farmer asked him if he had gotten him his army boots until finally, the farmer said he'd give him $100 to buy boots for the family the next time he was in the city. So he went to the supplier the next time he was in Toronto and bought army boots of various sizes for the farmer and bought some extras as well for $1.50 a pair. He put them in the back of his stationwagon and sold them at four to five dollars a pair. They proved to be popular items with his farm customers and every second week he had to go back to the city for more. Once, while he was there, the supplier asked him if he'd like to buy any shirts. He said no at first because he didn't know what he'd do with shirts but they were only a dollar apiece so he thought it was worth a try. They sold like hotcakes. The profits from sales were plowed back into more stock and the business grew. People started coming to the Rice's house on their farm near township store has continued to expand in the last few years as more and more people find their way down the concession roads to its location. Auburn to buy things and asking why he didn't put up some shelves so they could find things more easily. Then, eight years ago came an event that would have seemed like a setback but was to ultimately change the entire business. His supplier in Toronto died. The supplier's wife wanted to get out of the business and she tried to persuade him to buy the entire stock at 20 per cent off. He thought it over and talked to his bank manager but was warned that by the time he could sell things like the snowmobile suits (this was in the summer) the interest would have eaten up all the profit. He went back to the widow and told her he couldn't manage it. She offered to let him have it all if he paid her by July 1. He asked for an extra month, they agreed and he started hauling the stuff home. There were truckloads and truck- loads of it. It had to be carried all the way up to the attic of the old schoolhouse on the 12th of Hullett where he had moved by now. It was one of those cases of "if you knew then what you know now" before he finally had it all stored. Still he managed to meet the payments and it provided the basis for the huge stock he now has. He still has one or two of those original snowmobile suits hanging around somewhere, he says. One by one he built up a network of wholesalers and manufacturers in Toronto to keep his business stocked. Still, the money made was being poured back into buying more stock. There weren't really any profits to show. But another unlikely incident proved the next spur to increasing business. He found himself being audited by a very determined Revenult*Canada income tax audit- or, sure he could prove Mr. Rice was doing something wrong. He couldn't, but he planted the seed with the thought that Mr. Rice should be expanding, thereby having tax write-offs for capital expenses. His banker agreed. Eventually a new addition to the west side of the store was built. It worked. Business grew. For the first time there was black ink on the books. Eventually, a larger addi- tion to the east side was made. Although people keep giving him the friendly advice to slow down and he is to the point he doesn't have to do all the work himself, he loves to be involved with customers, meeting them, finding what they want. Today salesmen are also finding their way to the old schoolhouse to peddle their wares just as he once visited farmers. He warns them there's no use coming unless they've got something worthwhile, something his customers need at a good price. He can still buy it in Toronto and pick it up himself to save shipping charges and that's mostly what he still does. Once a week he climbs into his van early in the morning, drives to the city, makes the rounds of his suppliers and fills the van then makes the trip home again, getting home late; a hard day's work for anyone of any age. But he seems to thrive on it, looking 10 years (at least) younger than his age. And his business thrives with him as people from local farmers in their coveralls to well-dressed urbaniteswho'vejust visited the leather and woollen outlets in Blyth crowd together in the narrow aisles, looking for bargains. They'd all be out of luck if Jim Rice was the kind of man to sit back in a rocking chair on the porch when he reached 65. Even in its days as a school this old schoolhouse in Hullett probably wasn't as busy as it is these days since it became the home of Rice's Store. Even In the middle of winter, people travel the backroads to take advantage of the wide selection in the expanded store. World Day of Prayer topic will be peace with justice On March 7, Church Women of Canada will join with Christian women throughout the world to observe the 99th World Day of Prayer. In hamlets and cathedrals, mountain, plain and fishing com- munities, the sound of women's voices will be raised in prayer and song, addressing concerns which are deeply felt by the global Christian sisterhood. Written this year by the women of Australia, the topic for the set vice is "Choose Life in its Fullness." This is a time when the burning issue of peace with justice is confronted with problems such as famine and hunger, racism and torture, military aggression and terrorism. The service raises social and ethical questions about cur- rent issues such as genetic engin- eering, unemployment and pover- ty, child neglect and the boredom of affluence. A short drama based on Biblical women focuses on the thought of choosing life in all its fullness as a continuing experience. The cover design for the service folder has been created by an Aboriginal school boy and portrays in symbolism the going forth of the disciples with the message of Christ to the whole of creation. The World Day of Prayer is sponsored in Canada by the Women's Inter -Church Council of Canada (WICC) which represents eleven of the major denominations in Canada. WICC works in con- junction with the International World Day of Prayer Committee which is made up of representa- tives from 170 countries. Last year WICC distributed over 288,000 copies of the service to 3000 communities in Canada. The ser- vice was printed in English and French with special editions in large print, Japanese, Chinese and Braille. The offerings from the services are applied to the cost of printing with the surplus being used to help carryon the work of WICC. As well, last year, grants to the amount of 513,000 were applied to women's projects in the Third World and $7,000 to women's projects in Canada and the Canadian Bible Society. The World Day of Prayer Service will be held in Brussels at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 1:30 p.m., March 7, 1986.