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10 PROFILES · Independent & Free Press,Thursday, October 27, 2011 SHOPLOCAL SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Alexanian Carpet & Flooring Well known throughout Ontario thanks to a catchy jingle, Alexanian Carpet and Flooring's Georgetown location brings the business's friendly customer service and wide variety of products to the people of Halton Hills. Founded in 1925, Alexanian Carpet and Flooring started as a small store in Hamilton that specialized in imported hand knotted oriental rugs. Today, the business has grown to 18 locations in southern Ontario - including the Georgetown location, which opened two years ago - and offers a wide range of flooring supplies, such as ceramic, carpet, hardwood, laminate and area rugs. The business also sells a variety of window coverings and California shutters from companies like Hunter Douglas, Jackson and Seventh Avenue. Part of the company's focus on helping clients includes offering installation for all the products they sell. Alexanian Carpet and Flooring has an army of installers that travel across the province to install flooring and carpeting. The installers don't rest until the job is done and the customer is satisfied. The family-owned company's commitment to customer satisfaction, excellent pricing, selection and quality have earned Alexanian a strong reputation and loyal following over the years. Visit the staff at the Georgetown location to experience it all for yourself. SHOPLOCAL SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS Bennett's Waste Disposal Mark Bennett arrives at work each day excited to spend time with his favourite people: his family. Mark is the operations manager of Bennett's Waste Disposal Inc., a business he and his dad, Colin, started in 1991. The business offers waste pickup for rural Halton Hills residents who don't get town pickup, as well as residential bin service. Whether the customer needs a bin temporarily for a home renovation or long-term for their business, Bennett's Waste Disposal can help. Over the last few years, an increasing number of commercial enterprises have been opting to use Bennett's Waste Disposal's bin services as well. Mark's business is truly a family affair: in addition to his father, he also works with his mother, sister and wife. "Working with my family is fantastic. I wouldn't want it any other way," Mark says. "People think we get on each other's nerves, but we really don't. We work together all day and we still get together on weekends for barbecues and go on vacation together." Mark and his family enjoy getting to know their customers and proving friendly, personalized service. "Of our 350 or so clients, I think my mom knows everybody's name and life story," Mark laughs. "We all like talking to our customers even though it might take longer to do our job. Our motto is 'Your garbage is our bread and butter.'" 23 Mountainview Rd. S., Georgetown MICHAEL, RHODA AND SAMMY 905-877-7688 Left to right: RITCHIE,THELMA, MARK, COLIN, AL & CHRISTINE Bennett Waste Disposal Please call or 905-873-4808 1-866-324-0344 Peter Doucette & Jennifer (Oxford Auction) For Oxford Auction owner Peter Doucette and assistant buyer Jennifer, honesty is the best policy. Peter, Jennifer and the staff at Oxford Auction travel around the country buying precious metals like gold and silver and selling them back to the refiners. The Oxford buyers pay top dollar by weight for a variety of gold and silver items, like jewelry, knick-knacks, trophies and even teeth. "We're probably one of the highest-paying road shows out there," Peter says. "And we're honest. If someone comes in with something they think is 10 carats but it's actually 14 carats, we'll pay them the 14-carat rate." Before visiting a buyer, Peter recommends that customers do their research. Learn about the items you want to sell and find out the current rate for gold and silver, he says. "I wish people would educate themselves so they don't get taken advantage of," Peter says. "There are all kinds of different guys out there right now, so do your research before coming to see me or anyone else." Although the business is based in Ingersoll, Oxford buyers come to Halton Hills a few times each year. "We have a good little following in Georgetown," Peter says. "It's one of our better towns that we go to." Carrie Burrows (Georgetown Fitness Boot Camp) Georgetown Fitness Boot Camp owner-operator Carrie Burrows knows from personal experience that when you look better, you feel better. "I was an overweight kid who became an obese teen," she says. "The summer before university, I was miserable and that was a turning point for me." Carrie majored in kinesiology and lost 100 pounds. When she was pregnant, she gained the weight back and then lost it again. "I've been through the weight loss process on my own," she says. "Now I get to help other people change their lives." Over a four-week period, Carrie's boot campers meet for hour-long classes that combine cardio and strength training for a full body workout. She makes things challenging with different weights and equipment for each session. Classes are held outside during the spring and summer and move into school gyms during the cold seasons. Carrie also provides one-on-one training and nutritional programs to help kids, adults and sports teams meet their fitness goals. Unlike a traditional gym, Georgetown Fitness Boot Camp provides a support system and holds its members accountable, so if you don't show up for class, you will get a call. "Everybody is there for the same reason: to get healthy and get fit," Carrie says. "I love seeing how lives are changed by being healthy. Impacting people via their health is an unbelievable honour to have." OXFORD AUCTION Serving Halton Hill & Surrounding Areas Georgetown's ORIGINAL and #1 fat loss program CARRIE BURROWS georgetownfitnessbootcamp.com GEORGETOWN FITNESS BOOT CAMP 647-988-4237 JENNIFER - OXFORD AUCTION 519-425-9022 Bentley Samantha Gibson's job allows her to travel the world without ever leaving the Georgetown Market Place. As the manager of Bentley, a store that sells a variety of bags and travel accessories, Samantha has met people going to and coming from places all over the world. "I've learned a lot more about the world by working here," she says. "I've met people going back to their home countries, like Scotland, Ireland and New Zealand. And I've met people who were there during world disasters." The first Bentley location opened in 1987 in Newfoundland. Since then, the company has grown to more than 350 stores across Canada. The Georgetown store, which is located in the Georgetown Market Place, has been around for at least seven or eight years. Bentley sells an array of accessories like handbags, business bags, wallets, luggage, duffel bags and gift items. With a range of brands, styles and price points, the store has something for everyone. Working in the Georgetown Market Place has put Samantha in contact with a wide variety of people. "I really love the different people I get to meet every day," she says. "It's a different range of people I wouldn't normally see." Dental Hygiene Healthcare Wearing a Spiderman costume, Susan MacPhail, a registered dental hygienist, is planning to shell out over 600 toys to local tricksters in Acton this Saturday, October 29. Removing the anxiety of dental visits is extremely important to Susan. She says that her trusted Spiderman costume always helps to amuse clients, young and old. Susan also makes stained glass windows for fun. The Monty Pythonstyle of stained glass teeth was another attempt to add levity to her new teeth-cleaning business. "Whenever possible, I like to use a light, gum freezing gel to make the necessary gum measuring and scaling treatments even more comfortable," Susan says, adding that one to three millimetre pocket depths are considered healthy gum measurements and anything deeper usually indicates treatable gum disease. Frequent dental hygiene cleanings eliminate deep pockets and bleeding gums. In a perfect world, adults would have their teeth cleaned by a registered dental hygienist every three months and would have a tooth cavity examination by a dentist once a year. To help busy local clients, Susan will be offering extended office hours. Starting November 1, the office will be open Monday to Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. With every booked teeth-scaling visit, she offers a complimentary exam, polish, fluoride and teeth whitening. Susan is looking forward to helping the children, teens and adults of Halton Hills attain healthy, pink gums and whiter teeth. SAMANTHA GIBSON Georgetown Market Place, 280 Guelph St., 905-702-8421 SUSAN MacPHAIL