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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore 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