The Times Advocate, 2008-10-22, Page 88
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Recently -opened Exeter businesses keep it all in the family
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — There is sometimes a lack
of co-operative spirit among siblings, and
perhaps this is why business and family
do not always mix.
In the case of brother -sister duo Jason
Wilds and Colleen Reymer, however,
there appears to be no shortage
of fraternity — and the two
are using it to their
advantage in the busi-
ness world.
Wilds, an artist and
graphic designer, has partnered
with parents Diane and John to open a
business called Wilds' Everywear
Graphics on Exeter's main strip.
Next door is Reymer, who recently
opened Final Touch Design and Rentals,
a wedding and party design/rental outfit.
Younger sister Amanda Wilds also
helps out, as does Colleen's husband Eric
Reymer and Jason's girlfriend, Tina.
"We're the creative one-stop shop," said
Colleen in a recent interview.
Wilds' Everywear, which also has an
outlet in Vanastra, offers a variety of ser-
vices, from commercial printing (business
cards, invoices, memo pads and
brochures) to embroidery for team and
corporate wear, and large -format print-
ing for things like signs, posters, vehicle
graphics and decals.
"We do a little bit of everything," said
Diane. "Everything we do so far, we do
here ourselves. We don't sub -contract
anything that we do so far."
Diane describes Jason, 30, as "the
brains" of the company, though the rest
of the family often pitches in.
"Exeter's really been the home base for
us as a family," said Jason. "It just kind
of inspired us to open in Exeter."
Jason has been in the graphic design
business for a number of years, having
opened the Vanastra outlet of Wilds'
Everywear about two and a half years
ago.
Before that, he worked for other com-
panies in the industry.
He noted that between its Vanastra and
Exeter locations, the company has differ-
ent equipment to do different jobs.
"What we do is process
the job wherever it's best
suited," he said, "but
everything is owned by
us."
Final Touch, which opened
at its Main Street location in
September, is altogether different, but
lends itself to Colleen's creative skill, as
well as Jason's.
The company offers rentals of arbours,
plant stands, centrepieces, table settings,
backdrops, linens and organzas, among
other things — "Pretty much everything,"
said Colleen.
Final Touch also offers complete wed-
ding design, and Colleen approaches
each wedding as if it were her own.
"I'm doing it as if it's mine," she said,
"so they get 100 per cent when it's being
done ... the full effort out of me.
"I can go in and design what they would
like, or we go in, and if they want some-
thing we will try our hardest to find it for
them, so that it's the way that they want
it."
This personal touch is what Colleen
believes gives her company a competitive
advantage.
"Not everybody wants the same thing,"
she said. "Everybody wants something
different, so it's a matter of coming up
with new ideas."
Family business – The Wilds and Reymer clans do not lack co-operative spirit
when it comes to business.The families have united for the good of two recently -
opened outfits on Main Street. Shown here are (front row, left to right): Colleen
Reymer, 20 -month-old Reese Reymer, and Jason Wilds. Back row (from Ieft):Tina
Harris (Jason's girlfriend), Diane Wilds and John Wilds. (photo/Ben Forrest)
John provides much of the company's
wood -worked projects, and Jason's busi-
ness allows Final Touch to offer decaled
wine glasses.
"We also do the invitations and stuff like
that with my brother, so it's pretty much
a one-stop shop," she said, adding that
the entire family chips in with her busi-
Impaired driver
EXETER — On Oct. 17 at approximately 3:30
a.m., a Huron OPP officer was watching for a
reported overdue vehicle when it was located
mobile in Exeter.
The person operating the vehicle was
observed to be driving erratically so a traffic
stop was initiated.
While speaking to the male driver outside the
vehicle, he was observed to be intoxicated.
The male was arrested for impaired driving
and taken to the Exeter detachment where he
was taken before a breathalyzer technician to
provide two samples of his breath.
The results of the test confirmed that the
blood alcohol level of the male was over the
legal limit of 80 milligrams.
As a result of the investigation, the driver was
charged with one count of impaired driving and
one count of driving with over 80 milligrams of
alcohol.
He will appear in Exeter Court on Dec. 18.
Usborne
Hibbert
Mutual Fire
Y. Insurance
Company
Head Office Exeter, On NOM 1 S 1
235-0350 • Est. 1876
HAY MUTUAL
COMPANY
Zurich, Ontario
Tel 519-236-4381
www.haymutual.on.ca
FARMS • HOMES • COTTAGES
McKillop
Mutual Insurance
Company
Seaforth, Ontario
Toll Free 1-800-463-9204
Nor
•
ti
Fti
vle
dpVi
f
Together We're Strong
Ontario's mutual insurance movement began over 150 years ago when early settlers joined together
to help each other when fire struck. We've grown stronger aver the years, learning from each other,
adapting to people's changing insurance protection needs.
Today, aur 45 independent mutual companies are proudly Canadian,
locally -owned and directed by policyholders like you.
World-class protection for local people.
AnONTARIO'S MUTUAL
INSURANCE COMPANIES
Connect with your Local Mutual www.mutualconnect.com
Home - Auto - Commercial • Church • Farm
ness as well.
"They're very helpful," she said.
"Everybody kind of throws ideas in and
helps each other out."
Those interested in either business are
welcome to drop by their 451 Main Street
locations (located near Dinney's Fine
Furniture).
Bring home leather
at our lowest
price ever!
SAVE
5125
Register to WIN The ummete
More Time To Recfine Sweepsiokesf"
Includes
1 -Year of FREE
MAID SERVICE
1 -Year of FREE MONTHLY
GOURMET MEAL DELIVERY
FREE ROBOMOWER,, plus
2 LA -Z -BOY RECLINERS!
Ploy online to Win
great prizes instantly!
Print to win a acme niece
end bnr 9 if in to the storeI,Y
more chances to win!
En am_
ull Available In Burgundy,
Bridwaod 0 trrownl
Limited
time only!
Sale ends
Oct. 2741
Only
575
ANDERSON leathe Mauhtd
Ae,IIru Rest Rader Recliner
•o's-NY Viitage
0,1'1taYl
GG GQETTLER
of ouhfin
FINE FURNITURE
— du61lifl—
CLOCKWORKS
CO.
Onti f IOSf itn i turevi I I a9e.(Om
Located in Dublin, halfway between Stratford and Goderich on 1-twy. 8 • 1-800.265.6584
.1.113 RASH. IdECESSCRY PISEMS£ V011 I. NM WAN. ICOR OM.. CIF IN511043 .11,11.1.1.1501.11. 0•, .NW. PHI,ml•open amr....raallreial