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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-11, Page 5B efly ii By Jim Beckett • Extate Realty Inc. of Exeter has added a new service for people who require temporary accom- modations while on vacation. Phyllis Johnson and Heather Rogers are calling their new ven- ture International -Rentals. They are using their connections with people who own properties in other countries to offer short-term ren- tals for vacationers. At the moment they have rentals available in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Texas and local resort areas. I asked Phyllis what the advan- tages would be for someone ren- ting a place compared to just stay- ing at a hotel like most travellers? "It's savings and convenience" she said. "Witten you rent your own place you have facilities for cook- ing... which means you can eat Whatever you want and save a con- siderable amount of. money." Johnson used the apartment in Spain as an example. The cost is $400 per week for a one -bedroom apartment including the use of a car. . * * * * If you're like me you've receiv- ed many mail order offers from companies using a computer prin- tout of your name to make their sales pitch seem more personal. The latest one to cross my desk uses my name five times and also combines a little flattery to induce a favorable response. The pitch is for a six -cassette program on the Psychology of Winning and my in- vestment of only $59.75 would pay for itself many times over. The flattery part said the pro- gram was created especially for already successful people like Jim Beckett to achieve even higher goals and enjoy greater rewards, every day. At least this offer is better than the last one which referred to me several times as Jim Advocate. Perhaps one of the funniest was an offer from Time magazine to Dick Jongkind when he lived in Woodham. The computer printout stated Mr. Jongkind would ob- viously be interested in fast - breaking news events from around the world, including Beirut and Woodham. We're still waiting for the late -breaking story from Woodham to appear in Time. * It's not difficult to understand why the Exeter Mohawks are leading the league right now. Forget the players and their im- pressive stats... how about the organization and professoinal way they run the team? Whether it's Doc Campbell, John Pryde, Bob Rowe, Gaby Mol. Don Keeping, Kathy Whiteford, Bill Farquhar, Brian Baker, Mark Cronyn, Bob Clarke, Simon Van Dam or Stu Taylor, you know their off -ice strength is just about as strong as their bench strength. One area that contributes to the excitment at local games is the an- nouncing. Last year the team had the golden -toned Larry Taylor who quickly. became known as "The Mouth of the South". He retired this year citing time pressures at university as his reason, but just when we thought hockey announ- cing in this area would take a giant step backwards..: one of the ex- ecutive stepped forward to fill the gap. Don Keeping club treasurer, has shown he has a talent for making the home games more dramatic. When they're leading by about seven and the most exciting part left is the 50-50 draw, this is the time Don begins to shine. Whether it's the simple announcement of another free puck courtesy of Algoma Tire, Exeter Ltd. or "his third for the evening, Q -U -I -N -C -Y W -I -L -K -E -R" Don gives it all the enthusiasm of big league an- nouncers. We know Don had his big break in announcing in Woodstock where he was color commentator for the Woodstock Navy Vets on radio station CKOX. I wonder where Don Chevrier started? Cherie Seldon of Sugar & Spice Chocolate, Exeter Ltd. tells me the cbmpany is getting involved -in selling their chocolates in the United States. As well as selling products in 20 outlets near home, a company called "I Love Chocolate" is retail- ing the Exeter -made treats in Boston. Chocolates are also air - freighted to "Huckleberries" in Sudbury. If this is n;t enough to keep the Sugar & Spice staff hopping, how would you like to be in charge of suppling 13,700 chocolate business cards with a deadline well before Christmas? A nationally known firm obviouslywants to be, remembered when handing out their cards. • ** * * Jamie Gaul. business manager at Frayne Chev-Olds has proven his versatility at the local GM dealership. He was a chauffeur for visiting dignitaries at the Exeter Lions Club's 50th anniversay ban- quet Friday night. * * * * * This falls under the believe it or not department and has me prac- tically afraid to order anything other than a beer in small town pubs. In fact the review of this pub could be so bad I won't mention the name because they have enough problems already.- Let's just say it's not within 20 miles of Exeter. Last Wednesday I insisted on dragging my wife and another cou- ple into a tavern for a quick refreshment. The waitress had no trouble with the rye and Coke and the gin and tonic. It arrived in quick time... but the fun was just starting. Barb ordered Baileys and coffee and my brother-in-law, being the exotic sort, asked for a Scotch and soda. After about five minutes the girl came back and said there was no Baileys. Barb compromised and asked for O'Darby's cream liqueur for her coffee and several minutes later was told they were out of stock for this as well. This went on a couple more times as she ordered practically everything one would think would go with coffee. She finally succeeded, but now my brother-in-law was about to have his turn with the hapless bartender. The waitress delivered his Scotch and asked him to be pa- tient. "The bartender will be back in a few minutes" she said, "he's heading for the grocery store for a bottle of soda." It took 40 minutes to get all of us served in a bar where we were the only customers. The tab was $12. The last thing I noticed when leav- ing was the faded "We treat you royally in Ontario" sticker on th front door. * * One of the articles appearing on our business page recently was good news for Dirk Coolman. The item stated tourism for this area is expected to keep on growing. Dirk hopes to take advantage of increased tourism and also cater to local commercial visitors who require overnight accommodation in town. His plans call for the con- struction of an inn with eight or nine rooms. "We hope to be open by Christmas if we can clear up a few red tape problems," Dirk stated. Coolman has researched the inn business carefully and predicts he can operate successfully with an occupancy rate of 60 percent. "We're faced with a great demand and no supply," Coolman says. Each room will be decorated with antiques Coolman has pur- chased at local auction sales. Renovations are'the responsibili- ty of Exeter contractor Jan Van Harlem: r BIA Christmas hours The Exeter Business Improvement Association is getting more agressive this year than in the past in competing for the Christmas shopping dollars of area consumers. The B.I.A. has recommended store's stay open until 9 p.m. beginning Monday, November 30 until December 23. The Monday to Friday exteded hours should enable the Exeter merchants to cater to Christmas shoppers who might otherwise drive to London. A flyer informing retailers of the association's decision has been mailed out. It stressed to store owners that "You can make the difference. Extra hours mean extra salts." THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF EXETER Invites written applications to fill vacancies on the following board for the year 1988. Exeter Cemetery Board Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority South Huron Recreation Board Please submit applications to the undersigned by November 12,1987. Elizabeth Bell Clerk -Treasurer Box 759 EXETER - Ontario Nabisco lands magic contract A new addition to Exeter's skyline means a new product and more seasonally balanced w.ork for Nabisco Brands Limited, the town's largest employer. Nabisco will move production of the long -selling favorite, Magic Baking Powder, from the Fleishman's plant in Toronto to Exeter in order to create a new shift for eight months of the year. This will increase the produc- tivity of the plant which currently is affected by seasonal changes in,its workforce. "We go from 350 people to about 60 people, that's the problem," says plant manager Joe Rider, who ex- pects the new product to increase the workforce during the winter months after the main canning season. The peak demand for the baking powder, Rider points out, is just before Christmas when families do most of the year's baking. The total bill for the transfer of pro- duction from the Fleishman's plant, which was sold along, with its margarine production, is around one million dollars. This includes the move of the twoftowers from Toron- to, the construction of a third, and the development of a new package for the powder. The reason Magic Baking Powder was not sold in the Fleishman deal is It's Your Business because of the product's success and its suitability to the Exeter plant. "This is the number one product in Canada," explains Rider when com- paring it with competing brands. Three sizes will be available to the consumer in new plastic cans, replac- ing the traditional cardboard and aluminum containers. Rider cites cost and construction difficulties as reasons for the switch. "It's a difficult package to make," notes Rider, referring to the familiar yellow and brown can in his hand. The new container will retain the old label, but will feature a plastic screw top as its distinguishing feature. Three ingredients make up the bak- ing powder, hence the need for three silos. One ingredient is produced in Ontario, another from Quebec and the last from Ohio. Once the last tower is constructed MAGIC TOWERS- Joe Rider, plant manager of Nabisco Brands, stands in front of Exeter's latest addition to the plant will be on its way to begin its skyline: two 12 metre silos for the storage and mixing of Magic Baking Powder. A third tower will be mixing and packaging the baking built before January. powder in January. Times -Advocate, November 11, 1987 Pu.e Mother -daughter teams focus on children's clothing enterprises by Adrian Harte Children's clothing is a booming business for Exeter entrepreneurs who have started, or taken over children's clothing stores on Main Street. Shari Burton, co-owner of The Pur- ple Turtle with her mother Erny Robinson, converted the front part of her house into the small store which sells popular children's clothing brands, such as Canadian -made Krickets. "Medium-priced, quality clothing is whatwe're striving for," said Robin - One -stop insurance In Arkona An insurance company is making the effort to provide clients with the convenience of one-stop insurance shopping, whether it be auto, home or life insurance. Steve Town, who has operated a life insurance brokerage firm out of his Port Franks home for a number of years has joined the Royal Life Canada team in a rather unique capacity. Town opened his Royal Life Canada Bluewater Agency in St. Willibrord Community Credit Union office building in Arkona, August 10th. In addition to continuing with the life insurance brokerage operation and providing computerized product comparison, he will bring life in- surance representatives and general insurance brokers together to provide a one-stop shopping concept where clients can obtain all their insprance needs. Royal Life promotional material suggests that by adding the life in- surance element the life expectancy of a general insurance portfolio will increase greatly. Through bringing the general and life insurance agents together the in- dependent general insurance broker will be able to provide his clients with total insurance services without get- ting heavily involved in life insurahce sales and servicing. This service is available to agents throughout Western Ontario including Huron County. 1 son, who also acknowledges an in- creasing demand for dress clothing these past few weeks as the holiday season approaches. The Purple Turtle stocks children's sizes from infant to 6x, but has found customer response to their selection of clothing remarkable for such a new store. "1 guess people are beginning to find out we're here," says Robinson, but stresses that she and her daughter have no plans to dramatically expand the business until a few years have confirmed financial stability. Among the Purple Turtle's line of clothes are some handcrafted quilts, sweaters and hats, but what has real- ly proved popular with the public are the Purple Turtle's own sweatshirts with a logo designed by Scott Burns of Exeter's Screen Door productions. The sweatshirt is not only a favorite of children, but also has produced a demand for adult sizes for parents, and adds Burton, for high school girls. The store got its unusual name from a favorite toy of Burton's son: he called it his purple turtle, which, says Robinson. lent itself to a store's iiP name because it appealed to children as well as adults. "We were looking for something children would like." Robinson praises Exeter's BIA for creating a good environment for new businesses, but also is surprised that the store's location at the very southern part of town attracts as many customers as it does. "I think what has been a great asset for us is the doctor's offices along here." Robinson attributes the offices for bringing many mothers with children. expectant mothers; and grandmothers into the area for an op- portunity to browse for new clothing. She sees the type of clothing offered by the Purple Turtle as 'a bit better quality than many other stores, but worth the extra money. "If you buy a little better quality it is there to pass on to younger children and it looks good while the child is wearing it." Brenna Prance. manager of Little People, agrees with the principle of investing in better quality clothing for youngsters: "We carry a lot of good quality clothes," and Prance adds that is important to carry what the children really want to wear. . "The kids seem to know what -they want when they come in the store." says Prance, and thus stresses the importance of keeping up to date with the latest fashions for the store's sizes from infant to 14. Prance and her mother Dorcas Wein became the new owners of Lit- _ tle People on October 1 and have been pleased with the amount of business that the store attracts. but Prance is quick to acknowledge this is a con- tinuation of the loyal clientele the store enjoyed with its previous owners. In addition to clothing from such -brands as Buster Brown and Oshkosh, Little People stocks handbags, jewellery. and children's books. Prance hopes to bring in a line of children's bedding before Christmas, and will have a selection of stuffed animals for gift -giving. The store not only appeals to children and parents,. but also has a strong following of grandmothers who are looking for the perfect gift. "They like to shop here too," says Prance. TURTLE TRADE- Shari Burton, co-owner of The Purple Turtle shows off her new children's clothing which, along with its own sweatshirts, has become a favorite with children and adults alike. store "1