Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-11-11, Page 5BerrartFs dosing last time sti, soomony, shopgang ;haus blarn.d EXETER - People aren't buying the way they used to, says Dave Oerrard when explaining why he is closing three stores that have been a family business for 45 years., The three remaining Gerrard's stores in Exeter, Woodstock and Strathroy will be closing this win- ter- after the Christmas season. Gerrard said the small clothing store chain was started by his fa- ther and he can remember helping out at the former Mitchell store by the time he was 10 years old. "The last three years have been...awful," said Gerrard, search- ing for the right word to describe the retail business climate. While expenses such as taxes and utility bills have been going up, income has been steadily de- clining. "People have not been shipping in the past three years," said Ger- rard. "You can only go so far until you call it quits." The wet summer weather hurt sales this season: the CAMI plant -strike in Ingersoll had a noticeable effect on his Woodstock store's sales; and industry closings in Strathroy also took their toll there. • In Exeter, Gerrard said a main factor in decreased profitability was higher taxes. "'This town is definitely the highest in taxes," said Gerrard, noting that even though the town worked with no budget increase this year, the market value assess- ment hurt his tax bill considera- bly. Gerrard said despite paying more, he was receiving no better service than before. Local gov- ernments are going to have to work -harder- to -keep -taxes down, he insisted. "There's lots of other businesses hurting," he warned. "A few dol- lars here and there makes a big difference." Shopping habits are also clang- ing,- observes Gerrard. Saturday used to be a big day for small- town retailers and now 'there's no- body out on the streets to speak of'. He said it's an old story that few. recall - that the small retail busi- nesses make up a town's largest employment sector. When Ger- rard's closes, he said there will be four fewer paycheques in town, and another empty building not collecting taxes. He said Exeter and other com- munities should put a lot more em- phasis on how important the retail businesses are to their towns. While prices are held to narrow margins to compete with city re- tailers, Gerrard --said formany con- sumers it's just a matter of conven- ience. Every night he said he sees a steady stream of traffic leaving London for homes out in the counties. Many are in the habit of shopping on the way. "People are just more mobile now," he suggests. It doesn't help either that many department stores and chain retail- ers have pricing policies geared to constant, .deep discounted -sale, prices. "There's no such thing as regular price anymore," said Gerrard, add- ing that consumers have become used to taking 20-30 percent dis- counts, making it tough on small- town stores using more tradidonal mark-ups. As for his own plans after the three stores close, Gerrard said "I don't have any plans at the mo- ment. I'll be looking for work when it's all done." One thing Gerrard said he would like to point out is that the Lee's Shopping Centres in Clinton and Goderich owned by his cousins, will not be affected by the Ger- rard's closures. PETER'S POINT • From Broadway Continued from page 4 can and Stephanie - divided up among friends and relatives back home. One night, at 11 o'clock we walked about ten blocks from our hotel to Times Square and oack. The streets were crowded, and yes. Elizabeth was clutching her handbag tightly. but we were neither _accosted nor robbed. I - was eager to •chow -Elizabeth the busy and colossal advertising signs for which this square is world-famous. It was one thing in New York Lha, uisap- pointed her. I don't know what she had imagined. Maybe fire- works. We didn't go to the South Bronx or Harlem, and 1 couldn't utterest Elizabeth in a short sub- way ride. I wanted her to see the graffiti on the subway cars. But we saw enough scribbling every- where else. New York gaffity are a puzzle to me. The writing is in some kind of Lode: illegible to us. What message are these people trying to send? What's their statement? 1t was a very hasty, event - packed visit to a great city. and we were treated to some grand sights. But the , day after we came home, we had an experi- ence that far surpasses anything we saw in New York. In our backyard, 30 feet from the sunroom windows, under the crab apple trees, two young -deer .were quietly grazing and feast-. ing on fallen crab apples. Steph- anie spotted them first, and soon everyone in the family tiptoed to the windows. For 20 minutes we were able to observe these beau- tiful, graceful animals, to take pictures of them and record them with the video camera. Finally they bounded into the bushes, the anowwhite underside of their tails waving goodbye to us. "Whichbld you rather have missed?" risked Elizabeth that • night, :'the deer or New York?" We both agreed that "our deer' nad been the more wondrous, the more miraculous sight. ' BEST' G.I.C,ATIS Changs tor OniarIo!s Labour ReiatIons Act TORONTO - Changes to Onta- rio's Labour Relations Act reflects the new realities of the workplace and the economy, said .Halban Minister Bob Mackenzie as the legislation received final approval. It will take effect on 'January 1, 1993. He pointed to the fact that there tire -one Million more wometrin the - workforce today; an additional million workers in the service sec tor, and double the number of part- time employees.. Passage of Bill 40 follows the most extensive consultation pro- cess in Ontario's history. The pro- cess began 18 months ago. The Minister initially travelled to 11 communities across the province and talked to more than 300 groups upon release of a discus- sion paper last winter After intro- duction of legislation in lune, an other five weeks of public hearings were held and 250 submissions presented. In addition to changing the law to reflect the diversity of Ontario's wortr, $60.000 Exeter Big V awarded five-year contract GODERICH - After an unusual course of events, Big V Pharmacy in Exeter has been awarded the pharmaceutical contract for Huron - view and Humnlea, the county's Homes for the Aged. At last month's cotmcil meeting, it was dc: ided to establish a three member Ad Hoc Committee to help decide who would receive the contract, Big V or Rieck IDA from Goderich. Howard Armstrong, Leon.a Arm- strong and Bill Vanstone spent an entire month not only meeting with the two pharmacies, but contacting the Ministry of Social Services Long Term Care Division and the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Rieck had the contract for about 20 years, and was most recently re- newed ort 1985. "After a number of interviews from staff with Humnview, outside references and information from the University of Toronto, they de- cided for the committee," said Ho- ward Armstrong. Although Big V has been award- ed the contract which at one time was estimated to be worth about S60,000 plus markup., the commit- tee recommended to council that a review of the services being pro- vided by Big V be done 60 days af- ter the start of the contract. The dollar figures was not of im- portance to the committee when making its decision. "1t was never revealed to us as a committee, it wasn't of importance there were no dollars involved. Our decision was based on service they could provide in the next five years,- said Armstrong. The Committee was unanimous m deciding that while the proposal of Rieck's would appear to meet the minimum standards requested, that the proposal by Big V was su- perior in the three areas of staff recommendation, references from current customers, and using criteC na provided by independent and impartial outside advisors. "I think certainly there was no in- dication in our findings that Rieck had not lived up to the contact they worked under. In today's health care new policies that are coming out, in all fairness Big V is more equipped as far as computer service and knowledge," said Armstrong. A month ago, Goderich reeve John Doherty was quite upset about the contract even going to a tender process in which several other pharmacies also bid on the contract He said that in the past, Rieck had provided nothing but 100 per- cent service to Humnvtev. However, on Thursday. Doherty seemed quite pleased with the find- ings of the committee and praised them for their efforts. "I think w€ ha‘c. as far a system, as anyone els in Inc c ountr) ea BANK OF MONTREAL and NESB ITT THOMSON We woe Awed -to /;(0itzdou to at%da !ThVntation on !Maxiinizing_ ve" Topics Agenda: Where are interest rates headed? RRIP's and RRSP's - New Pension Rules Bank of Montreal and - How we work together Nesbitt Thomson for you Wed. November 18, at3p.m. Exeter Legion Hall Refreshments to follow Seating is limited RSVPsy$,Imk ©f•Niontreal Evelyn Duman 235-2810 workforce and wotitplace, Hill 40 is designed to: reduce conflict by reducing confrontation on picket lines; streamline administrative procedures to assist the collective bargaining process; and promote greater cooperation and partner- ship between employees and em ployers. Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S 1 (Established in 1876) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications arc' Welcomed DIRECTORS 8 ADJUSTER Jack Harrigan Rig ! ,:can tarry Gard,. • NR. Start., Lloyd HR s Marys Lorne Feeney. M,td'e6 Jack Rodger. RR! Kirktn•. .loseurm :'heli RR5 Ma.,-•.,. AGSM Ross Hodgert. Exete; John Mode. Duhri, Joseph Uniac Mitd,e!. Head Office Prefer 227-0505 345-2678 229-827/ 348-8853 229-6152 348-9705 235-3250 345-2512 348-9012 235-0350 A refund from surplus was de - ciente for all policy holders who quality, are on record and In gooa standing as at Decem- ber 37, 199: Make fDur/NOYe Pai7r/r/PBrrir i E) r' CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Kine, Mil/s,Dun/op. Chartered Accountants Daniel B. Daum, B.A.. M.Acc C.A waneeer 412 Alain SI., P.O. Box 2405 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S7 (519) 235-0345 Fax: (519) 235-3235 John A.M. Norris t_HARTERLU ACUJUN 1 AN 497 Main Street South, Exeter. Ontario N&" I S Tel: (519) 235-3240 Fax: (519) 235-3246 AUCTIONEERS 1 FILSON & ROBSON\ The Experienced Auctioneers that Guarantee You More ft 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 .1i la Our Pleasure To Se►w You, AUCTIONEEI- NORM WMITING LICENSED AUCTIONEER 8 APPRAISER Prompt Courteous efficient ANY MYM, ANY stat ANVMWQW W. airs umeplete Nis service 9110111 AT litlMltegt iP-i -N CeWCt SWIM IMO Bob Heywood Licensed Auctioneer Specializing in household and estate auctions Reasonable rotes Bob 2854874 Laverne 285.1278 IsEhLalilitt PIPE netswiles to oil mokos Fri •atim.t.s 90 Day Warranty Eap.rl.nsad since 1912 ..w ', Ca0 1.. viff IMIturd o* , t141 St•, d i 1: y k •. /iii &.I 11St' 11e1 -c' and \1 aid, Your Business (,i UV