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Times -Advocate, December 4, 1991
NKR 7
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usinesses boom as shoppers revolt
By Ray Lewis
EXETER - Shop Exeter. RAT;
Revolt Against Taxes The call
went out, and the people came.
Whether it was to save money or
simply express their displeasure
with Canada's taxes, people came.
Twenty-one Exeter merchants
banded together Friday, to offer
customers a day of shopping with-
otrt the dreaded goods and services
tax (GST) or the provincial sales
tax (PST). It was a promotion by
the area business association to re-
kindle interest in shopping in the
town of Exeter.
• "Fabulous. It was a great day,"
said Bob Gehan of Stedman. "It
gets the month of December off to
a good start."
Most retailers absorbed the cost
of the taxes on their own, while
others participated in other forms.
Although not all customers took
full advantage of the opportunity,
merchants in general felt the day
brought a lot of people into town,
and created some much-needed ac-
tivity.
"I've talked to a couple of other
guys and they said they really had
a good day," said Gehan. "We
thought about putting it together
about six or seven weeks ago."
John Wuerth of Wuerth's Shoes,
was one of the organizers behind
the event, and said his store did
quite well on what became a very
busy day.
"We were quite pleased with the
business we did," said Wuerth.
"The sale put some merchants who
have higher ticket items in an awk-
ward position, but as far as I know,
all of the merchants I have heard
from who participated were also
quite happy."
In general, merchants have re-
ported they were very busy and
comments received indicated the
sale offered profitable results, simi-
lar to the old midnight madness
events which were very successful.
But owners still aren't sure if the
success of the day was due to the
public's need to make a political
statement against the country's
heavy taxation, or whether it was
just a chance to seize some good,
solid values.
"I think it's really been a combi-
nation of those two things," added
Wuerth, "The timing was right for
it. It's very good to see the parking
lots and stores full of people."
Anne Lindenfield, owner of the
Fashion Closet, said she experi-
enced one of her busiest days yet.
Her only regret was she didn't ad-
vertise for a few more days.
"Friday was so busy it was unbe-
lievable," said Lindenfield. "It was
great I'm going to stay on sale un-
til Saturday with no GST or PST.
Lindenfield said her store was
full of customers from time of
opening until she closed, and was
busy enough she had her lunch
brought in and still didn't get time
to eat.
"I think I've got a lot of new cus-
tomers out of it," Lindenfield add-
ed. "A lot of people are ticked off
at the government because the tax
revolt brought in a lot of shoppers."
The sale was such a success, re-
tailers are hard pressed to find a
way to improve upon it. They
agreed virtually the only way to
make it better, would be to have
100 percent participation. Some-
thing very hard to accomplish be-
cause some merchants are restricted
in what they can offer due to cata-
logue sales from head office.
"I still think that Exeter has a lot
to offer in terms of selection of
goods and good service," said
Wuerth. "And any type of thing
like this which gets people out,
gives us a chance to demonstrate
that we can sell, offer service and
provide selection against either the
city or the US is well worth it."
Although shoppers probably
won't see another sale of its kind in
Exeter before Christmas, merchants
didn't rule out the possibility of an-
other tax revolt in the new year.
"We might do it again in the new
year," hinted Gehan. "Sometime
during the winter doldrums."
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The Huron County Christmas Bureau has set up shop in Exeter, and on Monday afternoon
they received a donation of toys from the Exeter Legion, Branch 167. The Bureau, which is
once again located in Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church, is hoping to receive enough donations
within the next week to meet the needs of the over 100 families which will be referred to the
bureaux around the county. From left are Dorothy Coultes, Exeter bureau organizer Jan In-
gram, and Legion representative Bart Devries.
0
EXETER - "1991's need at
Christmas is anticipated to be
greater than ever before. The re-
sponse from Huron County's com-
munity members has to date been
very positive. Donations of cash,
toys and clothing have already
been made at Bureau locations and
at the Children's Aid Society of-
fice," says Sue Munnoch, Coordin-
dater of Volunteer Services, Chil-
dren's Aid Society of Huron
Cotinty.
The Huron County Christmas
Bureau opens their doors to receive
donations between December 9 and
13 this year. All community mem-
bers are invited to make a donation
to help provide a special Christmas
for the anticipated 1,000 children
in need this year. Each donation
made in Huron County stays in Hu-
ron County, states the Children's
Aid Society.
The Christmas Bureau operates
in five locations throughout Huron
County: Exeter, Wingham, Gode-
rich, Clinton and Seaforth. It is a
FBDB launches
Ventures '92
SARNIA - Because of the grow-
ing scarcity of jobs each summer,
many enterprising students are
turning to self-employment as an
alternative to traditional summer
employment. To encourage those
who may be exploring that option,
the Federal Business Development
Bank (FBDB) in conjunction with
the Lambton Board of Education is
sponsoring as student conference
with focussing on Entrepreneur-
ship. This is the first such event of
this nature ever staged for students
ii Sarnia.
The conference entitled "Ven-
ture's '92" will be held on Thurs-
day, December 5 from 9 a.m. until
2:30 p.m. at Gracq United Church
in Sarnia. The event will feature a
series of four seminars covering ar-
eas of business management such
as The Business Plan, Marketing a
Student Venture, Business Fore-
casting, and Customer Service.
Event organizers expect 130 stu-
dents to attend. For more informa-
tion on Ventures '92 and other
MDR programs, call Chic Allison
at (519) 675-3112.
N•
9i1!J1111I!. BureaI:
confidential service designed to as-
sist families in need over the
Christmas period by providing arti-
cles of clothing, toys and warm
mittens for their children. Christ-
mas dinner is also provided.
Family are referred by individu-
als, agencies and organizations
across the county.
Each year former recipients are
contacted to determine if they re-
quire further assistance from the
Bureau. In this time of economic
hardship, it is rewarding 4o discover
that some can manage on their own
this year. Huron County residents
should be proud that they have
been able to serve needy families
generously in the past, and this year
those grateful recipients are able to
contribute themselves in order to
show their thanks to the communi-
ty.
The Huron County Christmas Bu-
reau, sponsored by the Children's
Aid Society needs the help of eve-
ryone in the County to provide a
very special and Merry Christmas
for children in need. Please make a
donation at your local Bureau or at
the Children's Aid Society office in
Goderich, 46 Gloucester Terrace,
N7A 3X8.
The county coordinators of the
program work on a voluntary ba-
sis.Marjorie Donaldson and Doro-
thy Coultes can be contacted for
any information regarding the
Christmas Bureau at 524-7356 or
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Tell her again
iyit!s"�k!thM
daddy's not paying
his family support.
A lot of fathers* in Ontario who
are supposed to be paying family
support, aren't. And it's time we
got mad about it. Because they're
hurting their kids — our kids -- and
they're hurting you and me.
It's not "ok" that over 80,000 kids
are going without more than_
t�
$400 milliItTsupport payments.
It's not "ok" that three-quarters
of all family support isn't being paid
the way it should be.
It's not "ok" that over $140 million
of our tax dollars have gone to
families who were forced to turn to
social assistance because their
support payments were not being
made.
The Ontario Government's new
Family Support Plan will introduce
automatic wage deduction of sup-
port payments, and specify to
whom and when they apply.
Because children shouldn't
have to be told that daddy's not
paying family support.
r Please send me more information about auto-
matic
utomatic wage deduction in the new Family Support I
Plan Act.
Prrnincer___ - __PostalCadn__--
Mail to: Ministry of the Attorney General
Family Support Plan
c/o P.O. Box 490, Station "A'
Scarborough, Ontario MIK 5C3
L 1
Family Support Plan
Ontario
Pay your family support. There's no excuse not to.
*97% of parents ordered to pay family support are fathers.