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i i | phar (rT ae CRE i a L . TEE NR DASE SCRE SORA ae er Ah ERE AE A Pr Ne LCR RASEARE TNE IRATE RCRA Sa EY re SWS ~~ h NY SRLS ROR FH «5 [RNS NO AREAS { Pir ACS AY MER HSH RS PY CER RRM CR NN NA STE A0 RLSESN S AVE. LVR BSS AN 8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed., February 28, 1979 Presentation to THE SCUGOG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE on THE TRENDS IN SMALL BUSINESS OUTSIDE THE METROPOLITAN AREAS by Frank M. Warnock It is of course a distinct honour to be asked to address the Scugog Chamber of Commerce this evening. It is possible that in discussing the subject upon which I have been asked to speak '"The Trends in Small Business Outside the Metropolitan Areas", I may well seem to be somewhat critical of the corporate giants such as Dominion. Therefore, let me say at the offset, that I admire and respect that Company. It is well managed, aggressive, ethical and exceptionally tough competition. I say that simply not because of Joel Aldred's presence here tonight, but because I sincerely believe that statement to be true. However, the very size of the corporate giants in the food industry in Ontario must give all of us food for thought and we must be aware of the ramifications of . such domination. In this part of the country we are almost nowhere: really isolated from the impact and the influence of the bigger cities. In Port Perry for example, you are but eighteen miles north of Oshawa with for example, its major shopping centre with Eaton's Loblaws and the others. Such stores are merely a comfortable drive for the consumer and she has at her fingertips a wide selection of competitively priced merchandise to tempt the most' discriminating shopper. 4. No longer therefore, can the small retailer depend upon an isolated location in order to survive. No longer can he consider that he competes merely with the local store down the block. He competes for a consumer who is very much aware of the prices of the big area around her. . Let me remind you that my major experience is indeed with grocery stores. Therefore permit me to give you first, the solution as I see it for independents in that area of the business world. What independent grocery stores seek, whether these stores be unaffiliated independents or grouped- for strength, stores like IGA and Red and White, what they seek is an opportunity. They seek no hand-outs at the expense of taxpayers. The first opportunity we seek is to be permitted to sell beer and Canadian wine in all independently owned food stores throughout Ontario. That is stores which desire to merchandise such products. Hardly a very revolutionary step and most certainly one that rather than impose upon the taxpayers, provides a benefit. The second opportunity we seek for independent stores is more liberal hours of opening. At this time in Ontario, stores of 2,500 square feet or less, employing no more than three people may open each night and seven days a week. To me at least, such a regulation is asinine, a typical bureaucratic compromise which has no semblance of common sense and no relativiiy to the problem. The problem, believe it or not, is the survival of the independent and today this is more acute than ever. Truly gigantic food stores of 30,000 or more square feet are becoming the norm. Such stores require an immediate investment of over one million dollars in fixtures and inventory, a payroll of over ten thousand dollars per week and a total lease exposure of (say) twenty years of almost four million dollars. All independent food store operators will not, of course, exploit these two opportunities. Some for example, may not wish to market beer and wine, while others may feel that seven day operating may require too much effort. But after all, that is the guts of the private enterprise system. Those who succeed will be those who are willing to work for success. 'Til now I have spoken almost exclusively on the subject of food stores and to two particular opportuni- ties we seek. I believe one reason for this is that the. independent food store has the opportunity already to unite for strength. The Red and White and the IGA stores in this town are two examples of this unity - separately, competitively of course. This unity provides an independent with a very real opportunity for growth. I cannot of course, offer any panacea for the success of independent merchants in or out of metropolitan areas, nor would you seek such a solution from me. However, the history of business is cyclical. But the pendulum swings not of its own volition. It is made to swing and just may well be ready to be moved toward the independent entrepreneur today. If he or she keeps the pressure on that pendulum. As always, however, the onus is on the entrepreneur, and adaptability is his or her strength. The government of Ontario too, is conscious of the opportunities outside Metropolitan areas. The Downtown Revitalization and Assistance programme in Ontario, in my personal opinion, will ave a profound effect upon those communities which avail themselves of the opportunities presented. Too long we have neglected Main street, and permitted commerce to move to shopping centres on the fringes of even small towns. Shoppers will not patronize downtown simply because it is there. One must make the shopper want to visit downtown. The Government of Ontario knows this, and will support sound plans to help make this happen. However, as I said earlier, the onus is on the merchant. The initiative, the enterprise, must be his or hers. ¥ a er Mees ORI £8 A ER SUS AE Eo EE EE SN a RSD OA PRE AL es T305 Chamber of Commerce hold general meeting, elect Howard Hall president With one of the toughest years since the formation of the Chamber of Commerce .behind it, members of the local organization are back on track and geering up for busy year. Although there was not much mention of the prob- lems during the past year at the annual general meeting of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce last week, out- going president Cliff Crowell did ensure the members that the directors felt that the vote against the formation of a BIA (Business Improve- ment Area) last year was not a vote against the C of C or improvements to the street, but rather a vote against the method of improvement. And improvements to Queen Street are high on the priority list this year, not only for the C of C, but also Scugog Township. Mayor Jerry Taylor told the gathering of 100 business- men that preliminary planning. on the reconstruc- tion of Queen Street is underway and if approval is received actual construction of the street could get underway early next year. The Mayor also'outlined two other large projects in the works, the reconstruction of 7 & 12 highway to Brooklin and also 7A highway from Queen Street to the cause- way sometime in about 1982. Although there was some concern by Queen Street businessmen about construc- tion on the main street during the summer months, director Chuck Preston pointed out that if there is going to be progress there will have to be some in- convenience. "If we are going to have the street reconstructed it has to be Hospital Report Week Ending February 22nd Admissions...................... 37 BIriS.cccsdpsnsmssrsessssssorasicnins 4 Deaths .convvmmmsmsnssiiiis Nil Emergencies.................. 145 Operations....................... 15 Discharged....coovisinnseses 46 Remaining. ......cccouimiiiiress 32 Aprilfest '79 is coming to NESTLETON HALL APRIL 7th! RENTALS GOING SOUTH or for SUMMER TIME Rent our Fold-down Camper Trailers, Travel Trailers or Motor Home. " BOOK NOW 986-4264 986-5696 4 "A 4 4 Te Te ¢ x / na #, VE > oe \ = J » J Newly elected Scugog Chamber of Commerce president Howard Hall i I 4TH i £ £ <n [right] congratulates Frank Warnock, who was special guest speaker at the Chamber's annual meeting held in Port Perry last Thursday evening. Mr. Warnock is an executive with M. Loeb Ltd. At left is Commerce immediate past president. done in the summer months, so let's get behind council and support their efforts rather than complain', he told the membership. Before handing over the responsibilities as president of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce to incoming president Howard Hall, Mr. Crowell outlined the activi- ties of the Chamber during the past year and thanked the members for their support. Mr. Hall, in his inaugural speech, told the membership that during the next couple of years there are a few things that he would like to see done and one of these was the reinstitution of a Farmers Night, where local business- men could invite a farmer to a dinner meeting. He told the membership that during the time of the old "business- men's- association' Ythe forerunner to the C of C) these meetings were very popular and proved both beneficial to the farmers and businessmen. The president told the membership that the C of C would continue to sponsor Cliff Crowell, Chamber of general meeting, Mr. Frank M. Warnock, President of M. Loeb Ltd. spoke to the membership on the "Trends in small business outside the metropolitan areas." A portion of his speech is carried elsewhere on this page. Directors of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce for the next term are, President Howard Hall, Ted Griffen, the Santa Claus Parade as-- Doug Hilliar, Guy Latreille, well as the Western Weekend (with a few changes) and this year would again hold a Home Show. The Home Show will be held during the second weekend of June. Guest speaker at the Joel Aldred, Bill Beare Sr., Miriam Price, Jim Law- rence, Don Forder, Bill English, Bill Barr, Chuck Preston, George Smith, Jim Hardy and past president Cliff Crowell. a en nn 1978 Diplomat 2 door, V8 automatic, proofed. MPS281. bw -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- rear defogger, LKR 432. 1976 Aspen J J local owner. LFZ 656. l= [ll a SS gy Sy Sy SS Sy radio, rear defogger. MOY234 1978 Dodge Aspen S.E. 4 door, 6 cylinder, automatic, p.s., 60/40 velour seats, vinyl roof, AM radio, tilt wheel, rust- 1977 Chryslér Cordoba V8, automatic, air conditioning package & more, one local owner, 31,000 miles. LOV 245. 1976 Volare Premier Wagon 6 cylinder, automatic, p.s., radio, luggage rack. 2 door, V8 automatic, p.s., radio, vinyl roof, rear defogger, one p.s., p.b., DEANWATSON AUTO SALESLTD HWY. 47 SOUTH OF UXBRIDGE - PHONE 852-3313 1974 Nova S.S. V8, automatic, p.s., buckets, radio, mag wheels. HZB633. 1974 Plymouth Satellite V8, automatic, p.s., radio, rear defogger. Very Sharp. HOV 955. SPECIAL 1973 Chrysler Newport 4 door, hardtop, V8, automatic, p.s., p.b., radio, vinyl roof. HPO 733 *1,795.00 me -- ae a --_ LN WW WW WW wR Tee [NS _ ---- TT -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Sel © @ E 3 LJ © ® °. NM aa & ® $ J & ® 1 ® © | LJ ¥ ® & ® Ld ® [4 @ ® LJ ® ®