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D8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday June 9, 1999 Fax:337-5567 E n tr e p re n e u r h a s su c c e ss in th e b ag Business trip set her on Freedom road To reach this section call 845-3824 Chamber lists government priorities The president of the Oakville Chamber o f Commerce is calling on the provincial government to focus on three priority areas to improve Ontario's com­ petitiveness. Doug Watson says the three priorities are: Getting the Province's Finances in Order; Pursuing Improvements to Education; and Improving Ontario's Infrastructure. According to Watson, the govern­ ment should move quickly to: • Eliminate the deficit before begin­ ning the Personal Income Tax Reduction. • Outline clearly to the citizens of Ontario their plan for paying down the debt. • Convene immediately the Expert Panel on Business Taxation as promised in their Budget, that will review the total tax burden on business including WSIB payments and property taxes. • Continue working closely with Educators and the system to pursue excellence in education. • Commit to upgrading Ontario's infrastructure, including Ontario's trans­ portation systems. "We continue to be concerned about the perception that the government has stifled any move towards fairness, estab­ lished by them in legislation, for com­ mercial and industrial property taxes. In fact the current commitment to reduce the provincial portion of property tax by 20% will further exacerbate the discrep­ ancies between residential and business property tax," says Watson. As a small business person, Donna Issler knows all about the strug­gles of being self-employed--the long hours, the government red tape, the unpaid vacations. But one headache she has managed to eliminate from her life is the hassle of organizing herself for frequent business travel. Her salvation, in that department, has come in the form of The Freedom Bag, a patented, compact, tote that according to Issler, is worth its weight in gold. The Oakville resident was introduced to the bag when she received one as a Christmas gift last year while on a busi­ ness trip in California. She was so enthused with the product she started taking steps immediately to bring it to Canada. Available in the U.S. for the past few years, the Freedom Bag has taken the American luggage and accessories mar­ ket by storm. In 1995 it took first place in the design awards given by the American Luggage Dealer's Association. Issler says it's billed as "the travel bag you never have to unpack", and she doesn't. In fact, in addition to a garment bag, it's the only piece of luggage she took with her on a recent, three-day trip to Ottawa. Ironically, that trip helped put the fin­ ishing touches on her plan to exclusively market and distribute the bag in Canada. Designed by a former flight attendant. The Freedom Bag measures only 14-by- 9 inches, but has a capacity to hold up to 200 items. It comes equipped with 10 sturdy, transparent compartments,two zippered compartments, heavy duty elas­ tic strap loops for holding smaller items, an outside ticket pocket, an adjustable shoulder strap and a velcro closure han­ dle which allows it to be hung up for easy access. Issler says the beauty of the bag is that it holds full-size toiletries so travellers don't have to be bothered with buying and refilling small, travel-size containers. She says it's also ideal for students head­ ing off to university, for teens headed for a sleepover or for fitness buffs. "I have it set up at home all the time now. If I'm going on a business trip or to the cottage on the weekend, it's ready to go. Once I get there, I just hang it up, and everything is within easy reach." Issler's firm, D.C.I. Enterprises, now has the exclusive rights to distribute the entire Freedom Collection in Canada which includes a variety of luggage pieces from larger travel pieces to a new multi-purpose duffle. The line also includes the Freedom Shopper, a compact, wheeled bag that is sturdy enough to haul bags of groceries, library books, picnic supplies or the like, but also folds down into a tidy, 12 x 8 inch bag complete with carry handle and outside zipper pocket. Issler plans to market the Freedom Bag line through luggage stores, beauty salons and gyms. Further information on the product can be obtained through D.C.I. Enterprises at 844-8028 or fax. 844- 5932. L o c a l B u s i n e s s I n t e r n e t A d d r e s s Guide To advertise in this feature please contact Ray Speers 845-3824 ext.#286 e-mail: city@worldchat.com OAKVILLE H O N D A . www.oavkillehonda.com Elizabeth BILBUA Sales Representative ■ ■ ^■ ■ lllllllllllllllllllllllll r o y a l Le p a g e ebilbija@oakvillespecialist.coni < www.brantflorist.com gifts@brantflorist.com 1 0 C K W 0 0 DK a c H R Y S I. F. R 845-6653 175 WYECROFT ROAD yvvm.lockwoodchrysler.com HO PEDALE M ALL Now on the Web! Good Neighbours to Know Anyway You Look At UsT O W N E www.oakvilleplace.com www.townechev.com WWiXKvirtuallyoakville.com www.hopedalemall.on.ca H ig h Speed Internet v v w w . cogeco. ca/hom e a month* 8-ATHOM EFOR BASIC CABLE SUBSCRIBERS. S49.95/M0NTH FOR NON-SUBSCRIBERS Has An Oakville Business Impressed Y ou Lately? We want to know! Starting June 27th, Avalon Securities Corp. and The Oakville Beaver will be saluting those local Oakville businesses that demonstrate exemplary service, going above and beyond the call of duty. This award will be presented to one business each month who provides exceptional service, product and/or effort to assist their customers. You, the customer, will be the judge! Fill out the nomination form below and tell us about an experience you had with a local restaurant, retail store, service industry, or business partner. You have a chance to win a $25 dining certificate just for nominating a business. The winning business will receive a plaque dining certificate courtesy of Avalon Securities Corp. and an editorial profile in the "Above & Beyond - Profiles In Business" feature to appear the last Sunday of each month. The award p re s e n te d by Ava lon S e cu r i t i e s and The O a k v i l l e Beaver hopes to encourage O akv i l le bus iness ow ners to re c o g n iz e th a t o u ts ta n d in g c u s to m e r s e rv ice pays of f . N o m in a to r : N o m in e e Name Name Business Name Address Address Phone ------------------------------- -------------- Phone___ Please describe why you are nominating this business S p o n so red by The (S eville Beaver A v a lo n --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(attach additional pages(s) if necessary) Mail/Fax to: Attn: K. Montague, The Oakville Beaver, 4 6 7 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON L6K 3S4 Fax 3 3 7 -5 5 6 8 SECURITIES CORP. Deadline to Submit Friday June 18th For T he J une Award t t mailto:city@worldchat.com http://www.oavkillehonda.com http://www.brantflorist.com mailto:gifts@brantflorist.com http://www.oakvilleplace.com http://www.townechev.com http://www.hopedalemall.on.ca