The Rural Voice, 1995-12, Page 35remembered.
As for the farm community in the
Chesley area, Johnston believes there
has been a change in demand by their
clients. (Johnston operates B&L
Farm Services.)
Farmers prefer to deal locally
but they want suppliers to be
well informed, up to date on
the latest developments in the
farm industry and able to offer a
quality product at a comparable
price.
Whether in the retail or farm
supply business, the customer must
be happy with the product, says
Johnston. If they are dissatisfied, a
lot of people will know about it.
They are willing to pay a little more
for quality.
To help his organization compete
with larger chains, Johnston says
they deal with a buying group out of
Woodstock which consults their
clients and then searches for the best
value.
Big box stores are a fact of life,
says Johnston. Each store can't be
everything to everyone, so they must
concentrate on specialties.
"We are now drawing people in
from Walkerton and Hanover.
Friendly people draw customers in."
The words of one rural resident of
Perth County may sum up both the
observed demand and need for big
box stores in rural Ontario as well as
the disappearance of shopping as a
social activity for rural folk.
Neighbours don't know neighbours
any more, he said. Many farmers are
part-time and work off the farm.
Corporations own and operate large
acreages of farm land so there may
not even be neighbours.
What once was a Saturday evening
outing for the family changed when
stores began to close at 6 p.m. The
shopping was then a Friday night
task and now even that doesn't
happen. Everything is changing.
For the rural consumer, big box
stores will provide a service which
once was only available in larger
centres. There will be a choice
between running to the corner store,
spending an afternoon in Goderich or
taking an entire day to travel to
London.
For the merchants in small town
Ontario, there is an opportunity to
grab new customers as they travel
from new directions through town to
get to Wal-Mart, Zellers, an
expanded Canadian Tire or Zehrs
market.
Instead of fearing competition
from a large retailer who has a
greater buying power, small town
shop -owners will have to find the
niche which will enable continued
and possibly greater success.
For towns as a whole, continued
involvement with service clubs and
organizations which bring the
business people together with both
their urban and rural customers may
be vital to creating a sense of
community and loyalty which has
wavered in the increasingly hectic
lives of Canadians.
A strong community with a broad
base is able to benefit from the traffic
flow created by destination stores,
exploit their own uniqueness and
seize the opportunities afforded
them.0
F A R M CR
ce,4404A'40
EDIT C OR P O P. A T I 0
FCC is Canada's largest long-term agricultural
lender, dedicated exclusively to the financial
needs of Canadian farmers.
• We offer Long -Term Loans and One -Year Convertible or Fixed
Loans.
• FCC can finance equipment and livestock using security other
than real estate.
• FCC can now finance diversification and farm -related business
projects on or off the farm.
To discuss your financing needs at your farm or at our
office please call:
Clinton: 482-5115 or 1-800-567-6659 'Walkerton: 881-1490 or 1-800-572-2155
Owen Sound: 376-6338 or 1-800-572-2152 • Listowel: 291-3450 or 1-800-572-1765
Stratford 271-0460 • Guelph: 824-6360
FCCSCA
Farm Credit Corporation Sot *It du crtdn agnc ole
Canada
N
DECEMBER 19'.5 31