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WBITY FREE PRESS, WED NESDAY, JULY 26, 1M8, PAGIý 19 ea Bk f din ver Prio,,we o rsi, An Oshâwa-based, family-run c'ompany 15 rapidly becoming well known across Canada for its siding cleaner. Ever Pro sells biodegradable idig cleaner, fireplace cleaner and boat cleaner out of a sm all warehouse. «We started marketing for the sidinq cleaner. Wle had been cleaning bricks and siding, and knew there was a need for a product for the do--it-yourselfer," prsident George Chatterton said Through' their presence ati a cleaning company at home shows, the Chattertons heard many 'people ask them if thereé was a produet that they could use to dean their siding. From the home shows, wnere the siding cleaner was first mar- keted,. distribution has.spread to N Newfbundland, the Maritimies," Quebec and the West Coast as well as Ontario. It is sold in K-Mart, Canadian Tire, Woolco, Zellerg, Pro Hardware, Beaver Lumber and other departinent and hardware stores and build- ing supply centres. The siding cleaner is ýsafe for use without precautions, and 18 successful in cleaning the "dire) or oidization from siding, spider presence) at trade shows. The response has been great, and we ve had lots of calîs from edi- tonials," he said. * However, it seems wr-f mouth has been Ever Pro's best advertisement. Chatterton said this is especially true in trailer p arks, where trailer owners have found the siding cleaner is effec- tive on exterior paneling. '«The product is safe to use, environmentally friendly. People would rather use this than strong chemicals. "The difference with this dirt and sap. It bas also proven useful as a- cleaner for patio furniture, trai- lers and RVs eavestroughs,. fas- cia, soffit and anywhere there is a painted, plastic or aluminum surface te dlean. Since, developing the siding cleaner, Ever Pro h§as developed the fireplace cleaner and the boat cleaner. The popularity of the siding cleaner bas taken off, and Chat- terton said the company is floo- ded with requests for the product and letters of satisfaction. "We've had requests from, as far away as Finland from (our cleaner is that this removes'dead oxidizèd i(that darkens the surfacè 'of »siding)." Most people have gotten siding on their, homes because they are under' the assumption that the Êro duct is maintenance-free. ut, Chatterton said, siding i; like a car. "With sidig it's the saine thing as a car surface. You've got to keep it clean to keep -it-from damage. TIhis is much cheaper than getting someone else to do it," he said. Chatterton said one container of the -cleaner, properly diluted, will dlean the Isiding of an average bungalow. The product is also sold. with a brush and -hande, te aid in cleaning the higher levels of siding. "I recommend cleaning once a year, anytime during the year. It does not, harm shrubs or flowers." For the future, Chatterton's associate and -son, Randy, said the company plans to, extend retail to the Unted States.. "Th.rough' the Canadian government we'will have' an export manager to help with exporting our products,» he said. Ever Ko Ltd. is lo-cated at 1200 Phillip Murray Dr. (unit 8), Oshawa. IYU BUlSINS 1 ui Know your inventory Inventory management is one of the most critical but least understood aspects of-managing a business efficiently, sayg Steve Butler, president of thé Canadian Association for Production and Inventory Control (CAPIC). 'Managing >your invenitory uropOrly is crucial te ,ail buinesesfrom restaurants te manufactuning companies te mom-and-pop corner stores," says Butler, who is élso a consultant with Tribeta Systems mIc., a company selling a poplar inventoxy management software package. wtot eug A firm wtot eog inventory risks losing its customers and goodwill, says Butler. But he quickly adds that if too much inventory starts building up, the company finda itself with less money for other activities, such as paying off debts or using it to generate somei interest income.1 One rule-of-thumb suggestsi that 18 costs 25 cents a year to store $1 of inventory. That means it could cost $25,000 a year te, store $100.000 of iriventor once the fixed cots ofpaperwork, insurance, office overhead and1 foregone interest are added up, explains Butler. Its important te think of inventory as real money, not just boxes in the warehouse," he says. One a business reaches a certain size, it can purchase someting called a, "perpetual inventery system" which constantly revises the inventery list as every purchase is checked out at the cash register. Smaller companies which can't justifr that sort of expense, or loW--volume manufactuning operations which don't use cash registers, can purchase a personal computer and an inventory management software package that will keep track of the raw materials conung in, the finished product going out and the inventery that builds up along the way. A high-quality package, including a personal compter and a superior software pacae, cnbe bought for $40,000, saYs Butler. But if the company bas less than $100,000 in annual sales, a personal computer and a basic spreadsheet package will do an adequate job. "A basic personal computer and software that monitors inventory can pay for itself in less than six months through better cash management," says Butler. "Unfortunately, one area where "Ask il why we're out of stock! " many small business fait clown miserably 18 their internai managemenit. Many smnall businesses don't have the discipline to do the paperwork that's necessary to keep track of all the raw material coming inte the business and the finished product that's leaving." Butler also urges smnall businesses to introduce their inventery management system when they're just starting out. That way the good habits are easy te learn and the system, will be easy te upgrade later on, he adds. "Most of the botter packages are accompanied by training videos, textbooks and tuterials. So entrepreneurs are net sixnply learning how too keep track of their inventery, they're learming how te manage an important part of their business." Children's play on Saturdays Magf c tJnElmited Theatre Productions, lin aseoiation with Culen Country Barns, presents chldrens pefrfomaruw' at Cullen Barns every Saturday afteroo at 2 pin. ICuthbert and the DraUn's Teeth: an original play fcr childr, is the current production for July and Aiigust. Cuthert and the Draon's Teeth is -a mnedieval tale told li rhyme where a giant, ghost, croodle and troll try te, stop Cuthbfert from rescuing the beautfl princesE. Tïckets are $3 te $5 with group and ochool rates available. For show information and ticket reservatioris, cail 360-1906. Hours: Mon.- FrI. 820-4:30 A fter Hours By Appointmnt~f]~ 1621 McEwen Drive, Unit #19,Whitby~ 436-2249 Cellular: 432-42641 The Word Is Out! You Don't Pay For Vour Carrier Till 1990 7>7 It's a savings secret too good to keep. Your money stays in your pocket for months and months. Meanwhile you enjoy the best of home comrfort WIU1a Carrier High Efficiency Furnaces, Central Air Conditioning, Heat Pumnps, Electronic Air Cleaners and Humidifiers. Don't pay a cent until Jan. 1, 1990. Get your Carrier today and save! 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