Times-Advocate, 1987-10-28, Page 5Briefly
By Jim Beckett
Whether business-related news is good or bad with local firms it in-
variablyjlas an effect on a number of our readers. -With this in mind
the T -A this week is beginning a regular page marking the activities
of local businesses.
Although we can't promise every item will be positive ( because a
newspaper must report bad news along with the good) initially things
look promising.
The growth in Exeter over the past few months is nothing short of
fantastic with the completion of the 12,250 sq. ft. SAAN Store being the
largest single construction project to date in town.
It's amazing that just a few weeks ago three residences were stan-
ding where the new store is now situated. In fact, occupants of one house
were literally moving out the door while demolition on the house was
starting. Look for them to attract more shoppers to Exeter,
• • • • • • '
Another recent development -contributing to Exeter's future as a
regional centre is the opening of the new Hasty Market Variety store.
Again, the streetscape of Exeter has changed in the south end of town
as a gas station has been transformed into a bright, modern retail
operation.
The Hasty Market joins with Mac's Milk, Beckers and Donut Delite
in providing 24-hour service. Petro Canada is also back in town again
with a self serve gas bar on the Hasty Market site.
Esso has also returned after a few years absence by opening in the
former Ward Fritz building at Hwys. 4 and 83. This site has undergone
extensive renovations after being purchased recently by Peter Oud.
* * * * * •
Gas stations and variety stores aren't the only focus for expansion:
Mike and Ovida Osmon have re -vamped the 4 -Way Inn. If you haven't
been there lately, try it. You won't recognize the place. Mike still boasts
the same generous portions and friendly service.
Dwight Monk and his wife Karen have moved Oscars from their plaza
location at the north end to the former Sears Store while Sears has moved
to the Stedmans plaza.
Sherry Hicks, owner of Concept II in the Valumart plaza will soon
be expanding from making your hair look good to getting the rest of
dour body in shape as well.
Sherry is opening a fitness centre in her new building just north of
Whiting -Miller Carpet and Drapery. She has purchased the squash and.
racquetball equipment from Agripress in Hensall and it should be open
in the new year. Contractor on the project is Roger Dougall. One of the
names being considered is Total Concept.
* * * * * • *
Local Real Estate agent Ron Cottrell has joined forces with Canada
Trust and will be representing that firm in the former Royal LePage
office next to the Tasty -Nu Bakery.
* * * * •
Exeter Realtor Dirk Coolman and his staff have moved from their .
downtown location to their new premises at 147 Main St Dirk has pur-
chased this building and will be announcing his plans for the site soon.
His old uptown lbcation didn't stay empty for long. It was snapped
up by Judy Crawford, owner of the Marlin Travel outlet in Goderich.
Other Marlin staffers are Laura Wilder and Andrea Pearce.
* * * * •
Don and Susan Romph have recently opened Selah Family Books in
part of the Pryde Monument building. The store features wholesale fami-
ly books, Bibles, Sunday School supplies, greeting cards and gifts. In-
cidentally, if you're wondering what Selah means, Susan tells me it's
a Hebrew word meaning "stop, reflect and think about what you just
read."
* * * * *
Remember when Gord's Variety was on the Main Street where The
Raintree is today. In case you're wondering whatever happened to Gerd
Beuttenmiller, he's alive and well in Kitchener selling late model lux-
ury automobiles. As well as being a partner in Hof -Mill Motors, Gord
still returns to town occasionally to look in on Greeting Card World which
he still owns.
* **
Bob Lammie, Co -Operators Insurance rep called recently cautioning
people who smoke'not to get insurance at the lower rate by claiming
to be a non-smoker. He says the savings gained by falsely getting the
lower rate could be more than demolished later when the insurer finds
they've been taken advantage of.
* * * • *
Laverne Hamilton of Hamilton's
Machine Shop, famous around
these parts for his inventiveness
has come up with something that
will be a big help for people who
need a wheel chair to get around.
You can imagine how difficult it is
to load the chair in the car or the
large amount of space it occupies
in the trunk or back seat. Laverne
got out his thinking cap and cutting
torch recently and manufactured
a device that mounts on the rear
bumper where you can easily hang
the chair. Patent it quick Laverne,
it sounds like there could be a real
Laverne Hamilton demand for something like this.
• * * • •
Usborne reeve Gerald Prout came up with an interesting statistic the
other day. While Ingersoll and Cambridge are experiencing growth in
auto manufacturing Prout says Usborne's commercial growth is
centered exclusively on automobile retailing. In fact, Bob Hamather
who opened Huron Motor Products last year and is almost finished with
Exeter Honda is responsible for 100 percent of the townships commer-
cial growth in the past year.
• * • • * •
If your neighbourhood is like mine your doorbell has been ringing a
lot lately with organizations selling everything from chocolate bars, to
cookies or cheese to raise funds.
All the young door to door sales people could take a lesson from young
Matt Godbolt who is selling cheese on behalf of the Straford Boys Choir.
Ile follows up his sales calls with a computer printed letter. Matt, who
obviously has had good training knows the value of making more than
a one-shot sales call... he's building for the future. To place your order
call Matt at 235-0691.
Brewer's Retail celebrate
11,000 square feet
Times -Advocate, October 28, 1987
Page 5
SAAN opening Thursday
A new family clothing store, built
in record time on Exeter's main
street, is ready for a Thursday open-
ing this week. The SAAN clothing
store chain has included Exeter in its
entry into the Southwestern Ontario
market among other similar stores in
which can be seen in any SAAN in
Canada.
SAAN, which has been popular in
western Canada for 39 years, operates
its 230 -store chain from its Winnipeg
head office. They boast reasonable
prices for family clothing, towels and
eter location after moving from
Melfort, Saskatchewan where he has
spent the past two years. He is look-
ing forward to managing the Exeter
store under the guidance of district
manager Ron Wilson.
Both Wilson and Hartry will be on
1
Business
Wingham, St. Marys, and Listowel.
"This is one of our new model
stores," said Clint Riendeau, SAAN
representative who is supervising the
opening of the Exeter store. He noted
that the colours of the store and its ap-
proach to its wall displays are among
the very latest in retail design, and
are something of which SAAN are
very proud.
"We enjoy the smaller com-
munities," said Riendeau about
SAAN's dedication to this market.
and credited the Canada -wide chain's
emphasis on customer service as be-
ing responsible for the company's
success.
Riendeau observed that many
retailers are returning to the smaller
towns to recapture the market that
normally necessitates driving to a
larger city to buy clothing. lie cites
Zellers and the Bay, for example. as
providing some competition in some
communities where SAAN has
established itself.
He also felt the staff in smaller
communities work harder to make
the store comfortable and familiar to
the customers. The company will
employ a total of 15 part-time and full-
time workers to operate the 11,000
square foot store.
Forty people have been working
long hours to make sure the store
opens on time. 'This is no small feat
when one considers that only a few
weeks ago the former house on the
site was still undergoing demolition.
"They don't waste time," Riendeau
said of the Hawk Properties
developers from Calgary who
organized the construction of the
store.
Riendeau is confident SAAN will
prove popular with Exeter because of
.the wide selection of merchandise
Business
News
Wanted
The Times -Advocate is
interested in reporting
news about your business.
Contact Adrian Harte at
235-1331.
bedding, toys, and other small items:
prices are claimed to be identical
right across the country, even in
remote locations such as their store
in Whitehorse.
Keith Hartry will manage the Ex -
hand at Thursday's grand opening,
along with Exeter reeve Bill Mickle,
to welcome the public to inspect the
new building and to browse among
the selections/of fashions and ac-
cessories for the entire family.
SAAN manager Keith Hartry
_•
READY FOR OPENING — Vicki Beasley puts the last -Minute touches on clothing displays in the new
SAAN store. The store opens on main street Thursday to complement the existing retail business in Exeter.
MARLIN TRAVEL OPENS -- Marlin Travel opened Thursday in the Centre Mall. Cutting the ribbon ore
councillor Ben Hoogenboom representing Exeter BIA; councillor Dorothy Chapman, Judy Crawford, owner
of Marlin Travel and employees Laura Wilder and Andrea Pearce. T -A photo
Fall Sale
60TH AN IVERSARY Brewer's Retail employees across the pro-
vince celebrated the company's 60th anniversary Monday. Bill
McLaughlin (left) and Barry Baynham of the Exeter Brewer's Retail
display the locally -made cake which was given out to customers on
Monday. Baynham also holds the plaque presented to the Exeter store
for high performance standards, The President's Excellence Award.
GETS BIA PLAQUE - Ben Hoogenboom presents•an Exeter Business
Improvement Association plaque to Judy Crawford of Marlin Travel.
Tourism on increase
Visits to Ontario by overseas
travellers have jumped by 30 percent,
as the province's international tourist
trade continues to grow, Ontario
Minister of Tourism and Recreation.
Hugh P. O'Neil announced today.
Approximately 839,000 overseas
tourists visited Ontario between
January and July of this year. up
from 646,000 over the same period last
year. This increase comes on the
heels of a 24 percent rise in overseas
visitors to Ontario in 1986 compared
with 1985.
"This is a sure sign Ontario is con-
sidered to be a great place to visit,
with many first-class attractions,"
O'Neil said. "This means more
tourist dollars are being spent in the
province, which produces tremendous
A_ B ,INVESTMENTS
FINANCIAL
CENTRE
Goderich
519.524-2773
1-800-265.5503
spinoff benefits for the economy."
More tourists from -the United
States are coming to Ontario as well. -
Approximately 14,353,000 Americans
visited Ontario in the first seven
months of this year, compared with
13,862,000 in 1986, a jump of 3.5
percent.
"We have now seen large increases
in the number of international visitors
vacationing in Ontario the last two'
years," O'Neil added. "The
strengthening overseas currencies
and economy have helped tourism
here in Ontario. But the Ministry's
promotional campaigns, such as 'On-
tario Incredible', have also helped to
attract more people. We will continue
to do all we can to boost tourism itf
this province."
BEST RATES
Replacement
5' or 6'
vinyl patio
door with
vertical blinds
of your
choice
Completely
Installed
Offer good till
November 21
Price applies for frame construction only
Brick slightly higher
a
SHOWROOM HOURS
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Evenings by appointment
"Hometown Quality by Hometown People"
HOMETOWN
Window Improvements
Limited
Dashwood
237-3222