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PAGE 16, WH1TBY ORE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988 Designer Marilyn Brooks relates her,,beginnings Fashion designer, manufac- turer and retailer Marilyn Brooks was guest speaker at last week's Durhami YMCA Women of Distinction Awards. Brooks spoke on starting a business, and ail of the steps ta, take ta, make it work. "I began in window dressing, and I put rny designs in (the windows). To satisfS' the demand for my designs, I opened five stores,' 'Brooks said of ber beginnings. 'Tve been in fashion for 25 years, rve really learned a lot., I started by working for Lerner Shops in Detroit, some- time in the 1950s." Then Brooks became a display director for Franklin-Simons chain and this position brought ber ta Canada. She lived at the Park Plaza in Tonta, and from there was chauiffeured ta a store in Oshawa twicé a month ta set up a display there'. In fact, it was in Oshawa that Brooks met ber husband, John. From this move ta Canada and work for the Franklin-Simone chain, Brooks decided ta start up ber own business. I started up Unicorn in the sixties (a uniform, production company). My trademarks then were my chain bra and my cloth bag. I designed the uniform for customs (Canadian) officers-and it's stili worn today!" In 1976, Brooks began ber fashion designing, retailing, production business, and there are now three stores in Toronto, one in Windsor and one in San Francisco. I amn asked often ta speak and I have talked about my business often. There are thoughts that I can give you to help make the road easier," Brooks said. 'What do you want ta do? You sbould put naines on a large board for your business, and keep putting them on as they-come ta you. You wiil pick up 14 or so LIGHTER AND'MORE POWERFUL THAN THE COMPETITION, NOW THATY PERFORM4ANCE CENTRE OFFICE EQUIPMENT IS " OFFICE EXCELLENCE" m- w '% - -t91gbcc»m n1gt e 1ni-4 f Photocopiers Facsimile Units CANON Typewriters Whiteboards Word Processors Calculators Print ers MlJ PHILIPS Dictation & Transcription Unit s OGIVAR Computer Systems TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Calculators 9 BOND ST. W. OSHAWA 436-6363 COD-A-PHNE Answering Machines KYCE-RA Laser Printers EBA Sh redders STORE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 0 E ________9:00 - 5:00 that you really like, more wiIl pop out. "Ask your friends for sug- gestions. What do yo want ta cali your company? Try it out on friends. "Now what does it mean? You have to have a naine that says what you want ta do." Brooks then suggested, as a next step, consulting a graphic artist ta, obtain a sketch of the naine and any accompanying graphics, ta get a sense of what the naine is doing and whether it is effective ta market the product. "Try ta corne up *th graphics that really tell the story. Get carda done a.nd make tbem available. You mnust be able ta present it (the card) in 30 seconds or less. "And don't band somneone a card with lipstick marks on it just because that was the only blotter available!" Brooks said the overali key ta success was ta get the. "best possible people to belp you" - lawyers, accauntants, partners, employees willing ta give more than 100 per cent. Communication with these people and resource people is very important, Brooks said, ta make clear ambitions and what the goal is.- your accountant, and then find a bank manager who loves you. Corne in with figures, a plan, and they will help you. 'If you're really not intelligent, you can pick their brains for freet"ý Another key to success that Brooks spoke on was aspiring to more than perfection in business. "You have to do it better than anyone else bas ever done it before. If you give service, you will get the custonier back again." Brooks said that a prospective business person should envision the worst possible situation that could happen to set 'realistic expetations of the business. "Please don't be naive." She noted that the Queen Elizabeth ship is being booked for New Year's Eve 2000. "Where are you going to be on New Year's Eve in the year 9000?' she concluded. The Durhamn YWCA Women of Distinction Awards were present- ed last week to four Oshawa womnen. .Earning honors were Fleurette Leger, in the arts; .ULsa Glendening, young women; Lynda Souriol, womnen in the workplace; Nancy Diamond, comniunityv service. CHOO receivesg*ld nb bon FROM PAGE 15 were raised through vanious means across Durhami region. Last December over $5,200 was turned over ta the "Gift of Christmnas" Food and Toy Drive Carnpaign committee. The "CR00 Christmnas Light and Sound Show" 1988 wilI take place again this year. On Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 prn, ail residents of Durhamn gegion are invited ta Durhami Region headquarters, 605 Rossland Road, Whitby. ligbts will be lit at Which tiîne CR00 plans ta present a.cheque, ta the 1988 "Gift of Christmnas". Food and Toy Drive. Two ernployees of CR00 Radio are ta be singled out for their special contribution ta the 1987 CHOO "Christmias Light and Sound Show. " . gTam director, Joe Frechette, Who conceived and initiated the "Christmas Light andý Sound Show", along with -CR00 receptionist Linda Boyd. FRE TAI SAVI YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR 1988 Developed and Presented by DIETER W. KIRNER w(ith speciaI guest lecturers Real Estate Expert PAUL LINDEN and noted Lawyers THOMAS CURRAN & WAYNE CUSACK Corne hear Durhamn Region's best known tax sa vings expert, Diter irner. Mr. Kirner is widely recognized as the pre-eminent local lecturer for both govemment & private industry. 1O PICS OBSE DISOUSSED AT THIS FREE SEMINAR! "TAX REFORM, THE TAX SQUEEZE & YOUR FUTURE TAX PLANNING "RRSP'SRRIF'S, ANNUITIES " UMIED PART NERSHIP TAX SHELTERS INVEST IN PRIME RENTAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & SAVE TAX INVEST IN AN EXCITING, BRAND-NEW CONCEPT SAVE LARGE AMOUNTS 0F TAX & USE YOUR CAPITAL GAINS EXEMPTION " INVESTING IN MORIGAGES & GENERATE VERY HIGH INTEREST " MORTGAGES ARE IDEAL FOR VOUR SELF.DIRECTED RRSP OR RRIF TWO SEMINAR TIMES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Aftemoon Seminar 1:30 p.m. Evenlng Semnnar 7:00 p.m. THURSDAY NO>VEMER t1-7, 1988 O>shaWa Public Library Audito>rium Admission Free - Please Cail Kim or Michelle 571-0771 JANUARY 26, FEBRUARY 16, MARCH 23, APRIL 6, MAY 18 D.Wa KIRNER & ASSOCIATES FINANCIAL ADV1SORS INRETIREMENT& TAX-PLANNING 74 SUMCOE ST. S., SUITE 303, P.O. BOX 133 OSHIAWA, ONT. L1H 7L ... .. .. 7za.itToots available at TOOL SHACK 41C I~~i ~ Mon. - Fr1. 8 -6 pm, Saturday 9 -5 pm LL~YYLL Let tk SO0 ipi>e;wkidp M .......... 1 vu W:T/A