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Hogg said a committee made up of the chamber‘s board of directors has interviewed a number of qualified applicants and more applications are currently being reviewed. Randall Keith, (left) owner of Rainbow International Carpet Dyeing & Cleaning Co. in Oakville, accepts the 1992 Dyer of the Year award from Don Dwyer, founder and CEO of the parent Dwyer Group, at the company‘s annual meeting in Dallas Texas. The award was given to Keith for pushing the known limits of designer dyeing and developing it to almost an art form. Rainbow International Carpet Dyeing and Cleaning Co. uses mechanical and chemical processâ€" es to refurbish and restore comâ€" mercial or residential carpet. Trained franchisees also custom dye and tint carpet. "There‘ll be some time that we‘ll be without an executive viceâ€" presi dent," said Hogg. Hogg said interviews are ongoing to find a replacement for Jackie Cutmore, who will be leaving the position in two weeks. February The Oakville Chamber of Commerce won‘t have a new executive vice president until early April, said chamber president John Hogg. Search continues for new Chamber vâ€" The victims of our recession are noticeable by their absence from "main streets and malls". Even the soâ€"called "Pillars" of the industry are closing or filing for protection. But some of it is the industry‘s own fault. I am not referring to overâ€"expansion and indiscriminately passing I‘m sure 1 am not the only one who has noticed that nowadays there are more sales and they last longer. Also, the discounts are deeper. Anything less than 30% is not conâ€" sidered a reduction; rather 40â€"50% is more the rule of the day. If, on the other hand, the percentage margin between cost and selling price â€" the markâ€"up â€" is about 50%, how can the merchants survive when they even open the season with a "sale"? There is no doubt about it, the retailâ€" ers of Canada have had, are still havâ€" ing, and will continue to have, for a while, an extremely tough time. Let 1993 become the year of renewed trust "We‘ve got some great applications," he said (0 )0 What does it mean to win Motor Trend Car of the Year? It states, in no uncertain terms, that you have buiilt the very best. But don‘t take our word for it, the editors increased operating costs onto the customers. I am talking about "sales", or are they really sales? Way back, in prehistoric times, after WWII, in the early fifties, there were very few sales. Summer and winter clearances, departmental stores, and chains had "anniversary" sales. There were the "white sales" and that was about it. Discounts of around 20% were considered generâ€" ous and only the "Post Christmas clearance" of strictly Christmas merâ€" chandise reached 50% discount. But, there were promotions offering the customer lots of excitement, enterâ€" 100% approved. Ford Probe GT. Motor Trend 1993 Car of the Year. Minding Way back in those days, the industry impressed on itself its own standards of ethics. For example, one of the Big Three never used a superlative in their description of merchandise. There was no such thing as "Best or Cheapest" or simiâ€" lar. Another one of the Big Three would not advertise an item in their "Anniversary Sale" unless it was in their regular stock assortment with a proven 25% reduction for the duraâ€" tion of this event. Such policies were not advertised, but the public knew and trusted the merchant. It will take more to heal this recession, but retail has to start Retailers negotiated with their suppliers, mostly Canadian manufacâ€" turers â€" bought well, priced carefulâ€" ly, and thus, over the years, estabâ€" lished a trust with their customers. Unfortunately, this changed. First, imperceptibly. The cost of doing business crept up, starting with rents, followed with wages. Finally, you, the merchant, increased the markâ€"up. And nothing happened. Customers kept coming. So you increased the markâ€"up a bit more and decreased some of the previous services, such as promotions. Did you run out of ideas? Instead, so called "sales" came in. But nothing lasts forever and the credibility gap grows, and grows, and grows. tainment, novelty, and good values Not soâ€"called discounts. of Motor Trend Magazine can speak for themselves: "Ford‘s new Probe GT is a landmark car." ‘"The 2.5 litre Vâ€"6 engine is a masterpiece ‘"The Probe GT delivers the most overall THE OAKVILLE BEAVER somewhere. So start with rebuilding the customers‘ confidence. Promote and start with St. Valentine‘s Day. There are countless opportunities; just start using your imagination again. There is nothing wrong with 6. 3 ;2@@ Ié?fii SWEETHEART 2 = SIDEWALK SALE io & op o ap o ap & ap e 2441 LAKESHORE RD. W. (at Bronte Rd.) 825â€"0719 FOR SUPER VALENTINE VALUES and GIFT IDEAS Come to our... THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY â€"â€"â€" FEBRUARY 11, 12 & 13 Naturally, we are in W complete and total agreement. Quality is Job 1. It‘s working. driving enjoyment you can get in this class for the money." omm as bringing specially purchased merâ€" chandise into the stores, but don‘t call it "marked down" merchandise if it never was in your store before. "Special Purchase", "Manufacturers Close Outs", but not your own mark Bring Your Sweetheart Along And Listen To MARGARET McPHERSON Sing Love Songs and Ballads on SATURDAY, FEB. 13 12 Noonâ€"3 p.m. &® » OVER 30 GREAT STORES and SERVICES PLENTY OF FREE PARKING downs. And when you advertise a "storeâ€"wide sale" don‘t qualify it, in small print, with "of selected items". Let 1993 become the year of renewed trust! Peter Tesar is president of Oakvilieâ€" based Retall Services Institute.