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C6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 19, 2000 DOW NTOW N OAKVILLE'S r Midnight M adness E n jo y O-.ik % * .11 r«c.s t S a le E v e n t o f th e "Year! FRIDAY, JUFi 21st S pm to Midnight? Business community recognizing downtown as location to get down to business idnight Madness, one of the biggest retail events in Oakville, introduces shoppers to the many boutiques, galleries, reputable merchants and unique shops that make this area so appealing. Shoppers can take advantage of end-of-season bargains as the merchants offer affordable, unique, quality products. Shoppers can also take advantage of the award-winning dining experience. Oakville's many cafes and fine dining establishments provide several restau rants that are winners annually in The Oakville Beaver reader restaurant poll, while downtown Oakville was also named "best dining in Canada" in a recent Canadian Living poll. Downtown is also home to a strong founda tion of corporate, financial and service busi nesses. Businesses in all sectors are identifying downtown Oakville as the home base to do their business -- accountants, architects, com munity associations, consultants, counsellors, financial planners, engineers, insurance, investors, lawyers, marketing and communica tions, real estate and mediators. The type of businesses located in downtown reads like a `who's who' business directory with the range of businesses located within the downtown core. One such business, Affiliated Insurance Management Inc. has been in business down town for 94 years. The company was an amalgamation between Carberry Insurance and Davis Insurance to form Carberry, Davis Insurance and later Affiliated Insurance Management Inc. Described by Mike Carberry as "the old est, continuously operated business in Oakville," the business has chosen to remain in downtown Oakville "Because we're procrasti nators," jokes Carberry. Joking aside, Carberry explains that the historical building is "suited for our purposes. It gives us exposure and visi tors to our building can then take a look around downtown, visit a shop or restaurant." The building that Affiliated Insurance Management Inc. calls home was built in 1903. "We find a downtown locale appealing because, unlike some other areas, there is a sense of history; this area doesn't wipe out his tory." Clearly, this successful business has chosen to make the history of downtown the substance of their success. "Our Oakville customers see us as a part of history or fabric of the town. We know we could move anywhere, to Dundas or else where, with the electronic age of business, but we choose to remain in downtown because of its appeal." Another downtown business, J. Hylands and Associates has been located in downtown Oakville for the past two and a half years. The appeal of downtown is evident, as upon decid ing to move offices a year ago, they simply moved across the street to a new office, remaining in the charming downtown core. M Owner June Hylands lives and works in Oakville and while she has clients in the city, she prefers her home base to be close to her family and home life. Assistant Kathleen Barrett explains that the convenience of other related services, such as the print shop across the street and shops and restaurants for client entertaining are a huge appeal. J. Hylands and Associates employs six workers who live in - or close to - Oakville. The business offers consulting for health care and project and association management. The beauty of downtown also has a strong appeal to clients such as Perspective Marketing. The company provides creative services and marketing solutions for corporate and retail clientele including multimedia. Glen Marshall, partner of Perspective Marketing, explains that the area is a favourite meeting spot for Toronto clients. "When we moved into downtown Oakville two years ago, we used the location as an element of our announcement notice. We created a map of our location on Lakeshore and included a key of the pubs and restaurants close to our office. The headline read, `We don't always have to meet in our boardroom!' Our clients got a kick out of it. "We chose Oakville because of the proxim ity to our downtown Toronto and Golden Horseshoe clients. We chose Lakeshore because both we and our clients are impressed with the area." nSNV \\x ' v " fe ... 1 j U : ' X q i X8E?A ` 1 t Photo by P eter C. M cC usker "We chose Oakville because of the proximity to our down town Toronto and Golden Horseshoe clients. We chose Lakeshore because both we and our clients are impressed with the area." Glen Marshall, Perspective Marketing This creative business finds the neighbour ing shops and restaurants a welcome enhance ment to their business. Marshall offers a suit able example. "We recently held a client meet ing at Paradiso during the downtown Sidewalk Sale. After enjoying lunch, our client bought a suit jacket at Garvey's on the walk back to the office." The location of the business also offers a huge convenience factor as all of the employ ees of Perspective Marketing live in Oakville. Additionally, many Real Estate offices choose downtown Oakville as their home -- Bosley, Anell Francis Real Estate, Christopher Invidiata, Re/Max, Re/Max Aboutowne, Montreal Realty, Prudential McCormick and Associates, and Royal LePage -- are all located in the downtown The members that make up the team at Affiliated Insurance Management Inc. are (left to right) Mike Carberry, Helen Kuypers, Steve Scott and Peter Zulauf. core. Coldwell Banker Real Estate broker Anell Francis explains that she chose down town Oakville because "it's central to every thing. It's easy to find, it's easy to get to, and everybody knows where it is." To market all over Oakville, it seemed wisest to station her self in the middle. Simply put, Anell states, "downtown Oakville is a nucleus." Strategic Projections Inc. has made Lakeshore Rd. home for the past three and a half years. This community based economic consulting firm finds downtown Oakville a nice setting for the business. Tom McCormack, president and owner of Strategic Projections and Past President of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce lives in Oakville and finds the con venience of an office close to home a nice plus. "The office rents downtown are no more than elsewhere. I liked the setting of downtown so it wasn't a stretch to locate here." Daniel Barichello, Barrister and Solicitor has chosen to remain his law practice at 303 Robinson St. since the recent dissolvement of the Hanna, Henderson, Barichello firm. Originally home to Brian Hanna's firm, Hanna brought on Henderson and then Barichello to form the partnership. With the recent parting, Barichello chose to remain in the building due to its downtown location. "We choose to remain in downtown for many reasons, mainly due to the good will aspect of locating a law firm in downtown. Downtown also has an appeal to clients, they enjoy visiting this beautiful area. This building has character and it's a street level building without stairs that is suitable for our many eld erly clients. The location is also accessible to our many clients who live in Olde Oakville, it is easy to get to.". Barichello describes his somewhat "bullish" decision to remain in downtown, "we signed a seven year lease, so we plan on remaining at this tremendous location in this wonderful community." Living in Glen Abbey with a young family, Barichello also finds the convenience of a short drive a huge bonus. "I listen to the radio on the way to work and hear about the traffic jams and appreciate my 10 minute drive. It's about qual ity of life." Clearly, downtown Oakville offers a won derful retail and dining community and an eco nomic climate that is booming alongside it to create an experience like no other. Mike Carberry summarizes, "There would be no reason to come downtown if there were no banks and just coffee shops or no retail stores and just businesses. People come down town for one reason and«find two or three or more other reasons to look around." rge gffiliated A H U T O M M A 1 A N A O E M · O B · L E L 1 F E 1 A N A L E L INSURANCE BROKERS INC. PT Cruiser Downtown Oakville C O M F M M E R C R N 1 C E M C om m ercial · H om e · A u to Suite 200 145 Lakeshore Rd. Ev Oakville _· during Midnight Madness Friday, July 21 N A C E N T Affiliated Insurance Management Inc. Oakville 3 Phone: (9 0 5 ) 3 3 8 -5 1 6 8 Fax: (905) 338-8015 905.845.42OI * * / IDaniel C. Barichello I Barrister and Solicitor Corporate/Commercial ·W ills · Power o f Attorney · Estate Administration · OAKVILLE GYMNASTICS CENTRE ----1 Fall Registration Begins August 22/00 Limited space available in our summer camps Come down and buy your tickets to win a PT Cruiser 2 year lease. In support of the i^CTTITJ/ Oakville Blades 303 Robinson Street, Oakville Ontario L6J 1G7 Tel: (905) 337-0337 · Fax:(905)842-9685 461 North Service Road West Gym (905) 847-7747 · Fax (905) 847-7722 www.oakvillegym.com G l e n l e v e n C h r y sl e r C H R Y S L E R D O D G E · J E E P E-mail: dcblaw@netcom.ca 2388 ROYAL WINDSOR DRIVE, OAKVILLE 905-845-7575 > J-