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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-04, Page 5Briefly By Jim Beckett The generosity of Exeter residents was demonstrated again this year as the annual Exeter Lions Club CNIB canvass broke all previous records. Lions chairman John Norris reports over $6,000 collected to date with more com- ing in from the mail campaign as well. The Exeter B.I.A. has been in- formed by Santa Claus he will be' at our annual parade on Sat., Dec. 5. Lions Club parade chairman Bob Sergeant of Miles Ford says he already has several interesting floats lined up and he expects many more places to take part. • • • Quick, name the most difficult job in town (excluding your own. How about the crew on the town garbage truck who have to get the job dope in a limited amount oT time no matter what the weather. Works dept. foreman Glenn Kells will be the first to agree his crew should rank at least near the top and he challenges anybody who disagrees to spend a shift on the truck the next time we are bless- ed with one of our famous snow storms. Town staffers. who go unrecognized on this difficult task are: Wayne Chappel, Gary Mid- dleton and Doug Fairbairn. • • • • Another job that has its difficult moments is handling the crowd at the rec centre food booth between periods. I've seen Jane Dearing making change for a large bill, serving four adults at once and be- ing interrupted by a nine-year-old who wants three gummie bears and change for a nickel. How she does it and still keeps calm is a mystery to me. Perhaps those of us who are less than patient with people should work a couple of shifts. * # • • B.I.A. chairperson Karen Pfaff reports the board has had com- plaints about people parking on the Main Street for much longer times than the two-hour limit. These con- cerns have been passed along to police chief Larry Hardy. "We want police to take action because maintaining parking spaces for shoppers is vitally im- portant for every business;" Pfaff. stressed. Parking spaces are important. According to a recent B.I.A. study released in Sarnia, the average parking space represented about $65,000 in sales for downtown mer- chants. I imagine they figured this out by taking the amount of business done in the area and dividing it by the number of park- ing spots available. When we all realize how valuable a parking space is to fellow businesses, perhaps some of the people who stay in the same place all day will find somewhere else to leave their -vehicle. Have you wondered where all the vehicles parked behind the old A and 11 building come from...or where they parked before the Holtzmanns moved to their new store? Exeter B.I.A. members are reminded to complete and turn in the Retail/Commercial Sector In- ventory sheets as soon as possible. Chairperson Karen Pfaff, says several have been turned in already. While on the subject of B.I.A. ac- tivities, don't forget tonight (Wed. is the regular meeting. Because of poor attendance at the noon meetings the time has been swit- ched to 8:00 p.m. at the council chambers. As usual all members and associate glembers are welcome. • • • • News about the squash courts closing in Hensall and opening in Exeter in the new year was receiv- ed by me with mixed feelings. You see, squash partner George God - bolt and 1 used to head for llensall every Wednesday at noon with the pretext of working up a sweat and staying in shape. Little did our family and co- workers know we were really hooked on the delicious french fries served at Allen's Fast Foods. I consider myself an expert on fries and being at least four pounds overweight, you'll realize I've con- sumed o - sumed my share of the tasty little spuds. Don Allen. head chef at this busy roadside eatery, tells me there is a knack to getting fries to come out consistently perfect and delicious. Don starts with a freshly -cut potato and fries it in his own carefully formulated blend of old and new peanut oils. This gives his fries a "special flavor" that brings you back for more. Maybe George and I will park the car downtown in Ilensall and run to Allen's because right now 1 miss the fries more than the squash. • s • • Postmaster Keith Ahrens, who has long been telling me the Post Office is a great deal more effi- cient than media types admit, has moved me over to his point of view. Last Wednesday 1 was talk- ing to someone in Winnipeg about getting a package to our newspaper. The girl said she would ship it by Priority Post and we'd have it in time for our Mon- day deadline. Surprise, surprise, the package arrived in the mail Thursday morning. Ahrens says this isn't really news because it happens all the time...and the service costs a lot Tess than you think. Times -Advocate, November 4, 1987 Page 5 Pfaff boosts town and business by Yvonne Reynolds In her two years as chairperson of the Exeter BIA, Karen Pfaff has acted like a shot of adrenalin to boost interest in her town both locally and nationally. Regular and associate membership in the organization devoted to improv- ing the downtown area includes 51 retail outlets as well as service and financial businesses, restaurants, banks, insurance companies and pro- fessionals such as doctors, dentists, accountants and lawyers. Karen wants the BIA's boundaries extended beyond the present Gidley to Simcoe parameters to include the many enterprises outside this core area. use. "The whole thing snowballed", Karen concedes with a conspiratorial laugh. Exeter's mascot has been publiciz- ed in newspapers across Canada. It's promoter, has been interviewed by the London Free Press; Peter Garland on London radio and Peter Growski on the national CBC radio program "This Country in the Morning". A TV documentary on Exeter and its squir: rels was aired last week. Now that the town has made a name for itself; Karen is concen- trating her formidable energy, abili- ty and imagination on making Exeter an even more rewarding place to visit for a day or live in for a lifetime. Karen is overflowing with ideas. to be given out with sales slips and be available on bank counters and in waiting rooms. "With everyone pulling together and utilizing all our resources, we can keep our downtown vital", Karen maintains. ititititit .. Looking Good Karen Pfaff become a businesswoman by accident rather than design. She had never worked in a retail store, or even run a cash register, before buying the building that currently houses her ladies' wear shop. After the deal was completed the retail space became available, and Karen was faced with a big decision - rent to someone else or use the space herself. She opted to fill a perceived void by aiming for an outlet offering classic, better -quality women's clothing and accessories. Looking Good was a success from the start. Business the first year was double her accountant's projection. It doubled again the second year, and has continued to grow and prosper. The store rode out the mini -recession of the early '80s and is now a- firmly established part of Main St. Exeter. Karen has learned a great deal about the ingredients that guarantee business success since opening her store in 1980. Foremost is faith in oneself. When Karen first approach- ed her banker for a loan, she had no record of success behind her; all she offered was the future potential of a well thought-out concept. Next comes a commitment to sacrifice. All profits from Looking Good were poured back into the com- pany for the first three years. "The biggest misconception is thinking the minute you open a store you startto make money. . People don't see the operating costs of 29 to 31 percent. The profit margin is small, and one or two big mistakes could ruin you", Karen asserts. Karen stresses the importance of them business operation. "You hale to be janitor as well as president", Karen explains, pointing out that she has at one time or another swept the floors, done the bookkeep- ing, waited on customers and dress- ed the windows. Now that the business is going well, Karen is turning to other outlets for It's Your Business keeping the lines of communication open among one's accountant, one's banker and oneself. Another principle for success is starting with a low inventory and gradually building up, rather than having too much money tied up in stock. A switch from manual to com- puter inventory control is planned soon at Looking Good. Sometimes uncontrollable factors have to be taken into account. This .year the weather threw clothing retailers a nasty curve. The jump from winter immediately into sum- mer affected the demand for spring suits. Most were sold at a reduced price. Women have an excellent track record at establishing successful enterprises, and Karen believes part of that comes from applying their recognition of the need to cover all aspects as learned in their role as wives, mothers and homemakers tow her energy, ideas and talents. She is attending the University. of Western' Ontario on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and has only three credits to go before obtaining her BA with a major in political science. This could lead down a number of exciting paths such . as law school or journalism. Karen has had a taste of public speaking, and likes it. She believes Chas a lot of expertise gleaned from personal experience that she can.pass on to benefit others. She and daughter Victoria will be talking about running a retail business as part of this year's Careers program at Precious Blood Separate School. ••I used to say I could hardly wait until I was 50, because by then I ex- pected to know it all," Karen laughs, then adds "As I get closer, I have such a thirst for knowledge = not just academic but generally about everything - I'll have to go to 75 to do everything I want to-do." Karen Pfaff works on decorated office in her Inventory control in her elegantly ladies' wear store Looking Good. Karen believes the present almost exclusively retail focus is too restric- tive, and not open to the whole com- munity and the wealth of information available from industries and enter- prises now excluded. Karen is also against using a ma- jor portion of the money obtained from a levy on the tax base to pro mote retail sales. She wants to see the whole town promoted for the benefit of the whole community. A proposal to expand the BIA area will soon be brought before Exeter council. To give Exeter a unique claim to fame, Karen picked up on the town's unusual residents, the white squirrels, which had been popularized through a "name the squirrel" contest organized a year previously. by Dorothy Chapman and Lee Dobbs. White Wonder, the symbolic white squirrel of Exeter, is known far and - wide. Replicas of the appealing little rodent now abound in every medium from fur to plastic, and lend their shape to a range of items from spoons to toys. The $1,700 human -size White Wonder costume has had extensive She hopes the BIA will soon set up a prestigious business award to instill pride in the business community and recognize those who give that extra effort. She would like to see regular seminars on topics such as customer appreciation and merchandising become a regular part of the BIA's monthly meetings. She is also certain many Exeter residents would support a local Toastmasters' Club. The BIA has been asked to work with the Lions Club and the ABCA to enhance the property at the north end of town. Karen is thinking of a squir- rel statue or plaque; how would a White Wonder look in the centre of the fountain? The. BIA is repeating the communi- ty calendar that was well received last year. The Association is also put- ting together a resource book which will contain detailed information on all the organizations and service clubs in the area - criteria for joining, main activities, executive, and times and dates of meetings. A retail and commercial inventory is now being collated. Karen hopes this booklet will be ready early in 1988 NEW OWNERS - Susan and Andy Wiegel, new proprietors of the Bayview Tavern and Dining lounge north of Grand Bend, catch a quiet moment after a long and busy summer. Bayview's new owners The new owners of the Bayview Tavern are sprucing up the image of a popular local restaurant, while con- tinuing its tradition of fine, comfor- table dining. Andy and Susan Wiegel left their jobs in Toronto to take ownership of the restaurant north of Grand Bend on June 25. Despite their backgrounds in the hospitality industry, they recall with mixed feelings the nightmare of the first day in their own restaurant. A local printer managed to prepare menus on short notice, but the Wiegels recall they had only one meal to offer customers that first day: perch. "I'm not missing the city anymore", says Susan, who notes she no longer even wears a watch, compared to when she wore one con- tinually in. Toronto. "We could say we were disillusion- ed with 'corporate life." adds Andy when explaining the couple's reasons for leaving life in the thick of things for a restaurant on the quiet shore of Lake Huron. However, the Wiegels remember their first summer of business as far from quiet. They were kept so busy by the constant demand for their food, it was not until a few weeks ago they were able to meet their neighbors, the owners of the golf course across the road. The Wiegels employed a staff of six to cope with the summer business, but hope next year will allow them to in- crease that number and possibly add some guest hostesses for the busiest evenings. "We have excellent food," says An- dy, who attributes the summer's suc- cess to the combination of food quali- ty and variety. Evan in the post- -season quiet, the Bayview continues to offer unusual specials, such as swordfish, to local customers and will continue to do so right through the winter. Andy and Susan like to meet and talk with their customers as much as possible in order to better understand the needs and desires of their market. They have round, apart .from the regular local clientele, a lot of their visitors hail from Bayfield and Michigan. "We're trying to offer our clientele something different'' says Andy about Bayview's relaxed atmosphere. complemented by its collection of Norman Rochwell prints. Ile would also like to extend the patio around the side of the building to increase the seating areas in addition to simpler renovations such as painting, new awnings and improving the restaurant's visibility from the highway. The WiegeLs want to continue to im- prove the food, the service, and the cleanliness, of their new enterprise, btit have no plans to go beyond the quiet country atmosphere which mel with success this year. "We don't want to be an Oakwood or a Thirsty Fox," insists Susan, who hopes the combination of food, al- mosphere, and reasonable prices will ,continue to prove popular with both local customers and seasonal visitors. OPEN ,SAAN STORE — The new SAAN department store in Exeter was officially opened Thursday mor- ning. Cutting the ribbon are store manager Keith Hartry, Exeter reeve Bill Mickle and SAAN district manager Ron Wilson. - - T -A photo Made by hand , Jewellery a family Gold. . Diamonds, Rubies. Emeralds, Sapphires. Down through recorded history, humans have been drawn to the beauty and mystery of precious minerals wrenched from their hiding places deep in the earth or beneath the sea and fashioned in- to rings, pins, pendants and earrings for personal adornment. The Anstett family has been cater- ing to this universal custom for almost four decades. John Anstett started the original Anstett Jewellers store in Clinton in 1950. A second store was opened in Walkerton in 1955, in' Seaforth the following year, in Exeter in 1978 and in St. Marys in 1982. The latest addition is the Goderich store, added in 1986. The Clinton business outgrew its original Main St. location and moved across the street to the former Rbyal Bank in 1980. Anslett Manufacturing Ltd. has been designing and producing 75 per- cent of the jewellery sold throughout the Anstett chain in their Clinton fac- tory since 1981. . Anstetts is very much a family business. Of John's seven chile five are working for the firm. Da . ,d, a certified gemologist, is president of both corporations, and is based in the Clinton head office. Michael, also a certified gemologist, is vice-president of Anstett Jewellers and manages the Exeter store. Paul, a trained goldsmith and diamond -setter, is vice-president of Anstett Manufacturing. He lives in Exeter but works in the Clinton jewellery -manufacturing factory. Patricia, a certified gemologist, runs the St. Marys store. Cathy, manager of the Seaforth store, is an executive member of the board of directors. John's brother James, a registered jeweller, manages the Walkerton store. The Anstett children's first cousin, Patrick Higgins, is currently enrolled in gemological courses while managing the Goderich store. Altough the company's founder nc longer has anything to do with the day-to-day operations of the business, John Anstett is still availabe when needed. "He has many great ideas, does much of the clock repairs, and pitches in to help at busy times like the Christmas season", son David said admiringly. David believes the family's profes- sional attitude is the basis of the com- pany's remarkable growth. As members of .the American Gemological Society, they are com- mitted to high ethical standards in business practices, continued gemological and professional train- ing, and annual exams to maintain their membership in the Society. The manufacturing plant was begun to give the jewellers more con- trol over the quality of what they were selling, provide a large selection of distinctive pieces,_ cater to custom orders, and maintain quality control fn both the manufacture and repair of ine jewellery. The eye-catching ring worn , on David's right hand is a glowing adver- tisment for the factory. A one -carat pear-shaped diamond once worn as a pendant by his mother and passed on to him by his father has been set in a heavy yellow gold shank. A white gold reflector setting highlights the diamond's shape and beauty. Many ideas come from both ex- ecutives and s aff. Everything from original concept to finished product - design, master mould, casting, assembly, and finishing - is done at the factory. "We can be a lot more competitive when we eliminate the middleman", David said.. - - David searches world markets for the stones that are used. Besides the ' more traditional gems, Anstetts offer a wide variety of less well known ones. Among those competing for,at- tention in the showcases are the delicate pale pink Kunzite. the c tradition watermelon shades of the tourmaline• the violet tanzanite and many other exotic -sounding jewels. The semi- precious stones provide beauty and lasting value, and are very affordable in comparison with emeralds and rubies and diamonds. According to David, the jewellery business is subject to trends. A generation ago, amber and jet were very popular. The diamond and the pearl never go out of fashion. Beads have been "very strong" for the last few years. This year there is great demand for freshwater and cultured pearls. opals and blue topaz. Princess Diana's engagement ring has focused atten- tion on the sapphire. This fall large single stones will be seen in pendants and rings. Men are becoming less conser- vative in appeal. A large variety of gold chains for neck and wrist, elegant tie tacks and unique rings are now available. Anstett's will even take orders for a single custom-made earring. Beautiful jewellery is made to be worn and enjoyed. The main thing to remember in buying jewellery is to pick out something that you will be proud to wear," David advises. David Anstett watches brother Paul work on a diamond ring in the Anstett jewellery -manufacturing factory in Clinton.