The Citizen, 1990-07-04, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. JULY 4. 1990.
Local ingenuity saves money and provides quality
SPECIALS
10-20% Off
CHRISTINA SWIMSUITS
(MEN’S, LADIES’ & CHILDREN’S)\
LADIES’
DRESSES & SPORTSWEAR
UP TO 50% OFF
LADIES’ & MEN’S JEANS
Converted
Steven Betts accepts the keys to his new funeral coach from Bob Richmond of J. L. McCutcheon
Motors. The coach was customized by McCutcheon’s saving Mr. Betts $20,000 over what he would
have paid from a regular coach-maker.
BY BONNIE GROPP
With the cost of everything today
being so high, it’s not always easy
for businessmen to continue to
upgrade for good quality merchan
dise, and still provide a reliable
product or service to their cus
tomers, without paying astronimi-
cal amounts.
When Steve Betts, funeral direc
tor of Betts Funeral Chapels in
Brussels and Gorrie was faced with
the prospect of looking for a new
funeral coach, he carefully studied
his options and weighed them to
come up with a solution that would
be reliable, economically feasible,
yet something he could take pride
in.
The present funeral coach was
built in 1976, and Mr. Betts
explains that they should last for 10
years. But, he says, there are a lot
of miles put on them and usually
when it’s time for a change the cars
are finished. “I didn’t want a used
one.”
Most funeral coaches are conver
ted from station wagons and will
run from $50,000 upwards to
$100,000 according to Mr. Betts.
Even used ones could cost as much
as $43,000 and as he states that
really doesn’t get the best quality
merchandise you can provide. ‘‘It’s
just another old car,” he said.
What Mr. Betts opted to do was
also a plus in that it kept business
in the area. He purchased a 1990
Chev Caprice Estate Wagon from
J. L. McCutcheon Motors Ltd. and
had them do the conversion instead
of one of the companies that
specialize. Bob Richmond, co
owner of McCutcheon’s said, that it
was the first time they had attemp
ted anything like this before but he
feels things went smoothly.
The first step in the transfor
mation, Mr. Richmond said was to
remove some of the side moldings,
the wood grain transfers, and the
roof rack and install panels in place
of the rear quarter windows. Then
the tailgate was reworked and
reinforced so that it would with
stand extra weight. The rear tail
gate window was frosted.
Following this the vehicle was
taken to Standard Auto Glass in
Goderich where the deeply padded
vinyl roof was installed, then it was
taken to Universal Interiors, where
design consultant Kendra Krauter
finished the interior aesthetics.
The chrome landau bars, decora
tive scroll, coach lamps, table and
wideswing hinges from the former
coach had been removed and were
installed by McCutcheon’s into the
new vehicle. The end result was a
first-class funeral coach that differ
ed only in cost. Mr. Betts estimated
the savings to him to be over
$20,000.
Mr. Richmond says that while it
was a first time experience for the
employees at this business, he is
proud of their accomplishment
particularly Don Bray, who he says
did the finer points of the job.
‘‘Steve and I spent a lot of time
talking before we decided to take
this one, but I didn’t see any reason
why we couldn’t do the job as well
as the other companies, and save
him money,” Mr. Richmond said.
“It cost him half as much and I
think he’s happy with the job.”
Mr. Betts concurred. “McCut
cheon’s did an excellent job and I
have given the people of this area a
brand-new, reliable vehicle; some
thing I can be proud to offer
them.”
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’ Yoang’s Clocking
& FootcoeaR
887-9541BRUSSELS
ENTER THE
BRUSSELS*MORRIS*GREY
FUNFEST
PARADE
SAT
JULY 7, 1990
COMMENCING
AT NOON
1< Best Fun Fest Float $75-50-25
2. Best Cartoon Character 20-15-10
3. Best Organization 20-15-10
4. Best Commercial 20-15-10
5. Best Clown 20-15-10
6. Best Comical 20-15-10
7. Best Children’s Float 20-15-10
8. Best Dressed Couple 20-15-10
9. Best Horse Drawn Float 20-15-10
LAURIE RAYNARD
Dwayne Raynard, Brussels is
proud to announce the gradua
tion of his wife, Laurie, from
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
with a Bachelor of Applied Arts.
Laurie was on the Dean’s List for
two years and will be attending
teacher’s college at the Univer
sity of Western Ontario in the
fall. Laurie is the daughter of
Don and Jeanne Fischer of
Listowel.
Hey
Brussels
it's
Funfest
Time!
Leave yourfilmwith us
AND get FREE KodakGifts
AND WIN A DRAWfor FREE Processing
ononefilmeachweek
to be drawn every SAT. starting July 14 for 10 weeks
AN D Wl N A DRAW on a Kodak Ski Jacket
to be drawn on Dec. 29,1990
BRUSSELS 887-9514
All decorated bicycles will receive a loony
All participants please register at the old fairgrounds or call
Karen Hastings
887-6983
Parade route for Funfest July 7
Start time 12:00 noon sharp
McDonald Buildall Turnberry St.
Parade Starts
,_Park____
Parade Ends
James St.
T
h
o
m
a
s
S
t.
NAME
PARADE ENTRY
CATEGORY
!—
CLIP & BRING THIS ENTRY TO THE
OLD FAIRGROUNDS