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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-12-21, Page 21Wednesday, December 21, 2005 Exeter Times–Advocate 21 Local businesses ring up Christmas sales By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Local businesses are reporting brisk sales in a wide variety of products as shop- pers try to complete their lists as the days countdown towards Christmas this weekend. At Canadian Tire, new owner Ian MacKenzie says the Christmas season has been a good introduction to the community and one of the biggest items customers are look- ing for this season is Dora the Explorer. "She seemed to come out of nowhere a couple of years ago and she's just gathering speed...Cabbage Patch isn't bad, they're making a resurgence." MacKenzie said business has been good this season and the traffic count is up. Other items moving quickly according to MacKenzie are any kind of NASCAR merchandise. "The products associated with NASCAR, the cars, the shirts the hats, all of that kind of product is selling reasonably well." Electronic items in demand this Christmas are MP3s as well as the just arrived satellite radio systems. "You can get all the stations that you could on satellite TV, only it's on audio." MacKenzie said business has been building and it will probably peak Dec. 23 and even noon on Christmas Eve. "That seems to be consistent," he said. After consumers are done shopping, movie sales and rentals are a favourite activity this time of year. Angela Parker at Reel Time Video said "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is always popular as well as kid's movies such as "Madagascar" and "The Polar Express" also go out quickly. At the Movie Gallery, customer sales associate Barb Stesanik said new releases such as "Mr and Mrs Smith" and "Skeleton Key" are moving quickly off the shelves, as well as "Christmas with the Kranks." The centrepiece of most Christmas meals continues to be turkey. Elaine Hayter at Hayter's Turkey Products in Dashwood says hens range from 12 to 18 pounds and Toms range from 22 to 30 pounds with the most popular size for hens in the 15 pound size; for Toms, customers look for 25 pound birds. Hayter said the peak for the busi- ness will come Dec. 23-24 because cus- tomers don't have refrigerator room for large turkeys. Other products Hayter's is selling this year include breast roasts for smaller families that come in sizes of three, five and 10 pounds. "That's sort of ideal for families of four that don't want to cook a 12 pound turkey...the roast is very popular." Although recipes are available at the store, Hayter said this time of year people are looking for traditional items Strong Christmas sales are being reported at many businesses around Exeter including MacLeans with Ken Varley (left), Jeff MacLean, owner Gary MacLean and Craig Ivatts holding up some of the items available at the store. (photo/Pat Bolen) such as dressing and gravy which the business also sells. "They can heat that up in a casse- role dish...so they really like that." Hayter added they sell items that go along with cooking a Christmas dinner such as foil pans, skewers and ther- mometers. "They really appre- ciate the little acces- sories," she said. At Macleans Home Hardware in Exeter, owner Gary MacLean said sales have been good this Christmas season. In the Home Hardware store, MacLean said the toy department has been busy as well as small appliances such as back mas- sagers and electron- ic gas fireplaces. In Source for Sports, with the return of the NHL, MacLean said any souvenir items are popular as well as NHL and Team Canada jerseys. "Hockey equipment and skates of all kinds, and one-piece sticks are very popu- lar. That's the way sticks are moving in the hockey busi- ness." MacLean added treadmills are mov- ing quickly this year as well. "We've got lots of treadmills and they're selling well." The hottest area in the store is the Source by Circuit City area, said MacLean. "It's unreal the interest in all the iPods and Xbox, cel- lular and satellite. With satellite coming out Dec. 1 that's been a big category for us as well...it's really starting to catch on." Televisions remain popular this Christmas, with Plasma and LCD models coming down in price and being the big movers in the market right now, according to MacLean. The last week before Christmas will be the busiest for the store, said MacLean. "December has actually been quite brisk and we're pleased with our December business. But this week will be a pretty big week. It's the week we wait for." At Pints Unlimited in Exeter, owners Les and Ann Wernham don't face the Christmas rush experienced by other businesses. Les said the wine market continues to grow with strong demand in carbon- ated wine coolers and in fruit wines. "That market con- tinues to grow local- ly as well as interna- tionally." In the beer market, Les said some cus- tomers are looking for light beers while others prefer brands with more body such as Rickards Red, Amber Ale or Honey Brown. For wine, accord- ing to Les "we put it on and it needs to age. People need to plan so we're mak- ing wine for Christmas next year, not this year. We started making wine for Christmas this year back in January and February so we're always four to six months ahead of time. We don't get any of the last minute people look- ing for wine for Christmas now because it's not going to be ready. "The trend on wine is definitely up and customers are look- ing for better quality juices. Our customer is pushing us up the ladder to higher end quality of juices." Planning consultant requested for Bayfield By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — The future of Bayfield and Bluewater Municipality as a whole was the topic of discussion Monday night at council Bayfield Ratepayers Association (BRA) president Janet Snider and Tyler Hessel asked council to fund a planning consultant to undertake a study that will anticipate changes that may take place in the com- munity in the next few years. Snider said Bayfield has grown from 648 eligible voters in 1999 to 1,201 in 2003, an increase of 85 per cent. In a statement to council, Snider said "recent development proposals for Bayfield...underline con- cerns about density, size and physical layout of the village that need to have a more detailed plan." Price added residents "do not want the usual string of ugly big box stores and fast food outlets that now mar the entrances to most Ontario towns. "So we need a plan to direct development for the future,and until we do have a plan all substantial development should be on hold. We need to know what and where the economic development will be." Asked by Coun. George Irvin if the BRA supported the 85 per cent increase in eligible electors Price replied "that's why we're asking for a plan. It's already underway and they're fearful of losing what they have." Coun Bill MacDougall asked Hessel if the Chamber of Commerce supported the proposal and said hav- ing groups such as the Chamber on side would make it easier to support the idea. "Go back to the community and get them to sign on, " said MacDougall. "If that's what it takes, they'll sign on. It's that easy," said Hessel. Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp told Price it sounded like the BRA is asking for no more development. Price replied the BRA has no problem with devel- opment as long as there is no change in zoning and it agrees with the official plan. Mayor Bill Dowson asked Price for more informa- tion on a proposed Green Belt around the communi- ty. Hessel replied it would be a natural vegetation buffer, "basically locking the town in." In response to a question from Klopp on whether the BRA is unhappy with the municipal official plan, Price said they would like to be more specific. Dowson thanked the two for the presentation say- ing, "the process has to start somewhere." In other business, council will not bring in a bylaw to regulate solid fuel outdoor furnaces. Fire Services manager Dave Johnston told council the furnaces have the potential to produce signifi- cant amounts of smoke and odours and recommend- ed a bylaw be passed to regulate them in residential areas. But council rejected the recommendation, with Coun. John Becker asking "are we willing to tell peo- ple how they can heat their homes?" A motion was passed deferring the issue and say- ing the municipality would not have a bylaw at this time.