The Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-02-03, Page 9Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, February 3, 1993 - Page 9
Certified Solid Fuel Technician and Chimney Sweep, Licensed Propane Installer
Stu and Hetty started their businegsmin, December of 1989,'
initially as a part-time sweep, then branching into it full
time and gtadually introducing a couple lines of stoves.
Now; three years later, Stu's Chimney Sweep & Stove
Shoppe has become a strong business in the communit
employing, one other full time employee, and carrying ar
least a dozen or so lines of wood stoves, propane fireplaces,
and pellet stoves at their showroom location in
Whitechurch.
Stu also relines and installs chimneys besides his regular
Sweeping.
• They pride themselves in being the only specialty stove
shop in the area. .
Stu has ,educated himself by taking several chimney
sweep courses, and is the only local "WETT" (Wood
canea.,10
Energy TechniLast he also
eal Training) sweep.'
received his diploma as Propane Fitter. He'
a me ber of
the Ontario Chimney Sweep Association, anadian Wood
Energy Institute, and serves on the ARWETO committee. In
short, if there is a program, course or association involved
with their business, Stu is there.
And Hetty's role? Her's is the voice at the other end of
the line when the phone rings, answering basic questions,
giving out information and dispatching their men. She is at
the desk, doing all their bookwork. And, most importandy,
Hetty is the one to greet customers in their showroom.
There, she advisesi people on their heating requirements,
sorting through the information given to her and tailoring a
heating system for their particular situation.
At times, advising. their customers starts out as a chal-
lenge for Hetty - the Customer walks in asking for the
'boss', seeming to question her ability as a woman to
nderstand this. 'man stuff'. But she has learned many
things about wood heating from first hand experience - that
it is an enjoyable, down to earth, environmentally friendly
way of heating. "I am a firm believer that everyone who
heats with wood should share this positive attitude," she
claims.
Thus, as Hefty begins to speak with the sceptical cus-
tomer, they eventually being to listen; their uncertainty is.
replaced with confidence.
• And so, in her often chaotic role.at Stu's Chimney Sweep,
Hetty's rewards are often immediate - co-ordinating the
work load, advising customers and balancing the books. She
knows that through her role of dispatch, customers are
being served, professional installations are being completed,
and chimneys are being swept. •
Hetty believes their biggest compliment came from a
Lucknow firefighter,, Dick Askes, who claims that chimney
fires are almost non-existent in the Lucknow area since •
Stu's Chimney Sweep commenced. •
She's not the one at the top of the ladder, unplugging
those chimneys, but Hetty's role too • is a vital key to the
smooth operation of. their business. ' .
Gld‘a'worifn,
PROPANE FIREPLACES
Certified Solid Fuel Technician and himney Sweep. Licensed Propane Installer
Everything your hearth desires