HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-10-23, Page 17Wednesday, October 23, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 17
CO .wN
>1__Fof Our Local Business Women
Terri Rahn
("o-( hruler
Mike & Terri's
Ower
Terri Rahn with her hushand Mike opened nofrills nine years ago.
"Our particular store is unique in comparison to other nofrills stores
because we have so many family members working here. Our
children's hard work and dedication to our "family business" helps to
makes us unique and successful," she says.
The greatest challenge for Terri was getting used to living in such a
small town, both on a business and a personal level. Over the first year
we were here we had to learn all about seasonality.
The most M11)01tant discovery is how much impact price -matching has had on our business. "Now
that we price match most competitors we find that more people (10 most if not all of their shopping
in our store." Terri says they try to keep up with the current foxed trends and offer a wide variety of
items. We are very small store but try to pack in as much as we can to please as many people as
we cum," says 'l' ori.
Open year round.
Winter Hours: Mon -Wed 8-8, Thur -Fri 8-9, Sat -Sun 8-7. Summer Hours: Mon -Fri 8-9, Sat -Sun 8-8.
98 Ontario St. S., (rand Bend 519-238-6211
Robin Cooke
rentwood
ON THI 'REACH
frMawn G,urnl Bens 0.+,604/
It has been a rewarding 24 -years for Joan Karstens and her husband
Peter at Brentwood on the Beach.
"Our business is unique because we enjoy the connections that we
make with every guest" says Joan.
"in order to overcome the fact that Brentwood on the Beach is located
between Grand Rend and Rayfield and off the highway, it was
necessary for me to become a good networker and build partnerships
with (;rand Rend, Bayfield and Zurich Chambers of Commerce and
the IITA-Huron'iourism Association to increase awareness", says Joan. She said they realized just
how important it is that the website to their business he found easily and " Faccho ok has been the
most important of these tools in keeping an ongoing relationships with our guests. Joan says even
though all the amenities they offer make them more like a resort than a typical bed and breakfast,
"guests still walk in the door and call out, "Hi we're home!"
Open year round including all holidays
33937 Moore Court, Zurich www.brentwoodon the beach.com 519-236-7137
Joan Karstens
('o -Owner
For six months Robin Cooke
has been able to sell her
unique merchandise on Grand
Bend's matin street. akSence
is not just a "beach and bikini
shop," says Robin. "We offer
beautiful handbags, jewelry
and gifts and even have a man
cave for gifts for that special guy." Work/life balance is very
important to us, 1 am very lucky that nay husband Richard can
step) in at a moments notice "One of the greatest challenges I
have found with akSence has been getting people to know we
are here and not just another seasonal business. Another challenge is finding glad
quality Canadian products to offer our customers at a reasonable price. The most
important business discovery 1've made in the past year has been that our business
experience would he so much poorer without the friendship and advice from other
local business owners who have 'beets there
and done it'. As the economy changes we have
to he smarter with what products we carry for
our customers. We are always looking for new
products to carry and in particular Canadian
made products. We are open year round.
�nra►�Irnrs
8 Main Street, (:rand Rend
226-377-1851
Www.aksenee.com.
aksencegrandhend@yahoo.ca
2%10 44(4 P4eo9
Dusty Carter of Dusty Lynn Photography say's, "The greatest challenge
for me was finding the confidence to take my photography to the next
level and start my own business. With support from my husband and
family that has been possible and I haven't looked back since." The most
important business discovery I've made in the past year is to always he
open for new ideas, never be afraid to pry new things and think outside of
the box. Staying true to myself and my style of photography. Facchook
has been great for displaying my work and it also connects my page to
Dusty Carter many people. 1 pry to stay current as the economy changes by keeping my
fees at what 1 feel families can afford and what I would pay for any family's portrait session. It is
important to nue that families have the option to have a great photo each year so they can see the
changes that life brings. Theme moments in time do not last forever and what better memory than
a family photo. 1 am open to any location of the clients choice, which gives them each a personal-
i,ed unique session. My hours are at my clients convenience and 1 ant open all year. 1 do sessions
for all occasions, from families, maternity, newborns, engagement to weddings. 'Thankfully. 1 love
my career and the hours I work are generally hours my husband is home to be with our kids. 1 feel
that has kept a great balance for me prrsvally and professionally. Do what you love and love what
you do.
33890 North Street, Grand Bend • 519-238-6105
d1s94840yahoo.com • (Facebook) • Doty Lynn Photography
T H E
COLONIAL
1101+:1„ RI?Sl'k1 K IN'I K 1.(11 ix(;1
The Colonial has been in business for 68 years,
with the sisters and their husbands operating one of
Grand Bend's oldest family business's since 1996.
"We all grew up watching and learning from our
parents who were wonderful teachers."
The challenges we face include operating a year
round business in a short season environment, while
also Managing our families, adjusting to economic
ups and downs and maintaining flexibility. We have
noticed, that oyer the years, there are more day trippers than extended vacationers, a change that requires
increased Ilexibility and innovation. We also understand the innponancc of community involvement and
support of initiatives like the main beach improvement.
We try to maintain positive attitudes and embrace the needs of our customers through changes to our
menu and constant reno.ations and upgrades. Social media provides an excellent tool to stay in touch with
our customer Kase, while we also constantly interact with them to gain valuable feedback. In addition. we
use trade shows and publications to stay current.
We are open all year, except Christmas and New Years. Summer 7AM-1 AM. Off Season 8AM-12AM
1 Main St. W., Grand Bend www.colonialhotel-granbend.com 519-238-2371
.lady, Jane. Bonnie, Linda
Owners
11,
GHf: Garden Gate
GIFTS & FLORALS
Garden Gate has been open close to seven years. "We try to always
have new and different items, this keeps customers conning back ."says
owner Shannon Ryan.
"We otter our customers not only flowers, plants or a piece of gift ware
we offer them a service, gill wrapping, cards, custom designing, edu-
cation on how to look after their products. She says networking is the
greatest business discovery- creating a pool of people in your industry to
bounce ideas off of. Knowing that someone else faces similar challenges
has helped my performance as a business owner. Shannon says "social
Media is very important to stay connected to all customers, but we never want to lose the personal
connection that we like to make with our customers". "We stay current by reading wade publications
and staying up to date on current trends and styles. it can be a bit of a challenge to balance horse and
work at times but, "I have fantastic staff that help me in this balance". The Garden Gate is unique,
because of the product that we carry and we try to find items that customers haven't seen before.
Open Victoria Day to Labour Day Mon to Fri 9 to 6, Saturday 9 to 5 and Sunday I I to 4. Off season
we are closed Sundays. Open 7 days for the month of December, for all your holiday needs.
15 Ontario 5t . S. (; rand Bend www.thegardengate.ca 519-238-1701
Shannon Kean
Owner