No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-24, Page 7IT'S YJ1JR BhJTi'.JFSS """`"""°"'° '•,°°' °'°°' Grand Bend book store opens for the Saga Bound By Ray Lewis GRAND BEND vily - For those who crave a modern, ur- ban -style book- store but detest the city, they should be bound for Saga, Grand Bend's newest cultu- ral addition. Luise Hoffman, with the help of husband Jim, has taken over the Lemon's Bookstore from its previ- ous owners, Marsha and Ellwood Lernon. The couple bean renova- tions at 21 Main Street in February and after much work, have re- opened the store as of Good Fri- day. "We thought it necessary to change the stores image a little from just a summer oriented busi- ness," says Hoffman. Saga Bound has been designed with the hope of catering to local business year round, rather than rely entirely upon the summer tourist trade. For example, hard cover books don't do very well in the summer, but Saga will carry them anyway. In addition, the op- eration looks forward to handling custom orders and hopes to carry various school texts. Currently, they boast fairly com- prehensive classics and reference sections, and have even included copies of such texts as The French Students Dictionary and Guide. The book was written by a Lamb - ton County French teacher, and helps to add a local flair to the shop. "We really like to carry local and Canadian authors, such as Alice Munro and Guelph's Jean Little," says Hoffman. "We want the area to be well represented." Although Hoffman has enter- by authors such as Stephen King and Danielle Steel seem to be the most popular. "Here we can buy Danielle Steel in 60 copy bins and they will go in a month, says Hoffman. "You can't change peoples' tastes, so we make sure to keep that section well stocked." "1 figured that out of the atmosphere of a book store, 1 would still be able to write" Aside from these large orders, most of the stock arrives once a week in smaller bundles of two to five. Hoffman explains that the publishers have been great in terms of service and delivery, going so far as to take the time to come down and help pick out the titles that will sell. As of yet, Saga is not quite fully stocked, but Hoffman expects to be in full gear by May L Presently, the store' is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Jim's knowledge as an advertis- ing designer in London has helped to give,the store a summer look, in keeping with the style of Grand Bend. The invention and promo- tion of Saga Bound is his pet pro- f "It's pretty trendy," says Hoffman of her husband's design. "But he's having fun." The store's only employee is Ann Bannister, Hoffman's saviour when it comes to operating the computer- ized inventory. So far, Hoffman feels very opti- mistic about the store's future and is looking forward to a busy summer. At present, there is nothing quite like it in the area, and Hoffman has only one worry. "I have to catch up on my authors again." Saga bound - Grand Bend's newest cultural addition is designed to serve the public's literary needs. 23a 0 0 r©Zi gft CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS tained thoughts of operating such a store for a long time, it was actually her alternative career choice. A graduate of the University of West- ern Ontario's masters program in journalism, she was unable to get into teachers' college. Instead, she accepted a job writing for the Sar- nia Observer newspaper, where her interest in reading and writing spawned the bookstore idea. "I have always enjoyed writing, which is why I got into journal- ism," says Hoffman. "I figured that out of the atmosphere of a book- store, wq t}Id still be dile to write." ' When lei 'Offer tall* from AO-' Press of Hensall, Hoffman made the move to handle copywriting and advertising until the company's demise. On that note, she pur- chased MacPhersons Restaurant in Port Franks from her parents, which she sold in June 1990 with the intentions of launching Saga Bound. In the meantime, the Hoffmans had moved to Exeter where they began to look for retail space. They came close to inking a deal, but then the Lemons' store came back up for sale. The couple felt that because it was already an es- tablished semi -bookstore, it would be a safer investment. "It was selling books and had the reputation of a bookstore," says Hoffman. "I had never been in the book business and thought that it may be safer to buy something semi -established and then take off from there." Eventually, the Hoffmans plan to expand their business to include an outlet in Exeter. Hoffman agrees that their brcad and butter is what's commonly re- ferred to as the junkfood section, especially during the summer. Va- cationers want to read while in the Bend, but when on holidays they don't want anything heavy. Novels Kime, Mills, Dunlop. Chattered Accountants Daniel B. Daum, B.A., M.Acc., C.A. Manager 412 Main St., P.O. Box 2405 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 (519) 235-0345 Fax: (519) 235-3235 Keeping track - Luise Hoffman records inventory in her new bookstore. thors," says Hoffman. "We really like to carry local au - John A.M. Norris CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT 497 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontarib NOM 1SI Retired T -A editor back in media EXETER - Recently retired Times Advocate editor Ross Haugh is back in the communications field. Haugh has accepted a part-time position as managing editor of Slo- Pitch National, a three times a year publication produced by Slo-Pitch National Softball Inc. with head- quarters in Dorchester, Ontario. The magazine is distributed to slo-pitch leagues, teams, execu- tives, managers, coaches and players across Canada. Hau#h's duties will include writ- ing editorials, providing front cover pictures, a number of feature ani - cies for each issue and editing copy which is provided by provincial contributors throughout the entire country. 'After his appointment, Haugh commented, "I'm pleased to be as- sociated with a progressive maga- zine which covers one of the fastest growing sports in North America. A recent survey indicates that 2,489,675 Canadians are slo-pitch players." �s y money working hard enough? Tel: (519) 235-3240 Fax: (519) 235-3246 MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES �- FRED SIMMONS B.A. Personal and Business Tax Returns For appointment or pickup service Call (519) 235-1854 r Royal Bank has three solid savings options guaranteed to keep your money hard at work. The options are: 1. Royal Money Maker® Account* 2. Investment Certificates*; and 3. Retirement Term Deposits. Each of these options offers highly competitive interest rates. And each is backed by Canada's leader in personal savings - Royal Bank For more information, drop into the Exeter branch or call 1-800-668-9700. ®RegIstrated Trade Mark of Royal Bank of Canada • Offered by Royal Bank• Mortgage Corporation and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Royal Bank of Canada. Canada's leader in personal savings. ROYAL BANK 118 Main St. N., Exeter, Ont. 235-2111 AUCTIONEERS FILSON & ROBSON The Experienced Auctioneers that Guarantee You More SS Considering A Sale or Need an Appraisal 666-0833 666-1967 Call Collect Supplying You with 30 Yrs. Efficient Service • Mobile office • Immediate Payment • 2 Auctioneers R hi Our Pleasure To Serve You NORM WHITING LICENSED AUCTIONEER 8 APPRAISER Prompt Courteous Efficient ANY TYPE, ANY SIZE ANYWHERE Ws give complete soli servlc• PROFIT SY EXPERIENCE Phony Coll«1 7351%4 EXETER Bob Heywood Licensed Auctioneer Specializing in household and estate auctions Reasonable rates Bob 235-0874 Laverne 235-1278 AUCTIONEERS Bruce & Brett Coulter Household, Estate and Farm Auctions Grand Bend 238-8000 Parkhill 294-6164 J REPAIRS (lowboy Mem itM Repairs to all makes Pr** .stlrnat.s 90 Day Warranty Exp.rl.nc.d since, 1952 $.w sued fav 114, 9.. st 14eamed Clot.,' Ma/May Piton* 271.9460 i Advertise Here and Watch Your Business Grow ., A