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| ; : ak 20 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 8, 1987 She's been pretty busy Public relations wizard If Debra Grose appeared a bit frazzled last week, she had good reason. The public relations and media consultant who makes her home in the Chalk Lake area of Scugog Township had just worked seven long months on what she calls ""my baby." No, she didn't make a trip to the maternity ward. Her 'baby' was the first Country Decorating and Collectibles Show and Sale held at the Markham Fairgrounds November 21-22. The show and sale featured more than 50 distinguised exhibitors from all over Ontario. In order to assure that her show featured only the highest quality exhibits, Debra in- sisted they first be judged by a three member jury panel. The public response to this show was in Debra"s words 'just over- whelming." More than 14,000 people made their way into the exhibition building at the Markham Fairgrounds over the two days, many of them standing in line in bit- terly cold weather for up to an hour. In fact, the crowds were so thick that one time the local Fire Depart- ment ordered the doors closed and there were huge traffic jams all around the Fairgrounds. For Debra, who told the Star she had been hoping for about 7,000 visitors to the show, the traffic jams and the Fire Department's concerns were proof that her seven months of preparation paid off and that the public these days has an immense interest in country decorating and collectibles. The show featured everything in country decorating "from antiques to wicker,' paints, furniture, wall papers, lace curtains, prints and pictures, sketches, decorative lighting, chandeliers, lamps, folk art and accessories. Debra told the Star she came up with the idea to stage a show like this after visiting similar exhibitions in the States and concluding that the overwhelming interest south of the border in "things country' was spilling into Canada. She notes that in the past couple of years, several new country decorating magazines have hit the market. "I felt it was time for a show of this kind in the Toronto area," she said. She also hoped that the show would demonstrate to the consumer that country decorating and collec- ting need not be overly expensive. Debra began putting this show together back in May and had all the exhibitors lined up by August, which gave her about three months to con- centrate on promoting and advertis- ing it to the public. It obviously worked. Not only did the large numbers of people click through the doors to look at the displays and exhibits, ET One Week Only! Sweater Sale 20% OFF} All Men's & Ladies IMAGES by Valyn 261 Queen St., Port Perry 985-3040 " \ Ni RT FE TF FE FS ER BN ER BB CHARITY BEAR says, 'Here's A Great Gift Idea!" 1/2 =1=1[=]= = Choose from a selection of (OF TT TO = 1 ToC CY ES Td da ON Va LS EO SE Ta TA CE WL 4 2 To) CF Men's Bracelets and Chains, Collectibles, Children's Items & more. (OIT] T-BAR (RIL: 10 Cla] m sare... 12% 1g 33/2%0 -- SHOP EARLY FOR BEST SELECTION -- h'd:=1-} that's all it costs at LRal=H = 1-1" OSHAWA Dudsons Bay Company 571-1211 Debra Grose worked seven long and hard months to put together the first Country Decorating and Collectibles Show and Sale, November 21 and 22 at Markham Fairgorunds. But it was more than worth it for this Scugog Township public relations con- sultant. Debra is already planning an even bigger show for next TRB XB CBB -- V March. (See story). most were in a buying mood as well. Though she has no way of knowing exactly how much money was spent over the two days, she believes the figure was over $5000 for each ex- hibitor, and she does know several who sold around $10,000 worth of items at the show. As might be expected, Debra has a keen decorating. She says it's just about anything that gives a warm, down to earth mood to a home through the use of colours (browns, grays, burgundies, certain shades of deep red) accessories, traditional fur- niture, folk art collectibles, even country smells like/ fresh-baked bread, apples and cinnamon. Debra believes the growing public interest in home decorating the country way may in part be a back- lash against the so-called high-tech world of computers and electronic gadgetry. A lot of people she ex- plains, spend their working days in front of computer terminals made of plastic and steel surrounded by office furniture that is anything but warm or cosy. When they go home in the evening they want something different. She feels the consumer interest in country decorating has yet to peak in Canada, though it may be declin- ing slightly in the United States. Debra runs her own public rela- tions firm, Groservice. She got into interest in country . this business about four years ago after she and her husband Ian Russell bought a home at Chalk Lake. Debra quickly dis-liked com- muting to her job in administration with Ports International in Toronto, and began to represent clients like "Earth Systems Ltd." While she admits she didn't have a great deal of formal training in public relations, she applied her own personal philosophy to her work. "I have to be proud of the product and the clients I represent. If I'm not, I'm not interested," she states. Because of this, Debra selects her clients carefully and has turned down some on occasion. One of her clients, Piety Ridge Primitives from King City will be featured in a double page colour spread in the Country Decorating and Ideas magazine in the spring. And other magazines of this kind are now starting to contact her for story and photo ideas. Meanwhile, Debra is already planning the second Country Decorating and Collectibles Show at the Markham Fairgrounds for the spring of 1988. And she's working to line up 100 exhibitors in two buildings for this show on March 19 and 20. It will, she says, be a show where avid collectors and decorators can find the "true essence of country." Open until 3:00 PM, December 14th and December 17th Only, due to private Christmas Parties. P.S. COME IN AND TRY OUR NEW MENU ITEMS. NEW YEAR'S EVE DINNER | of reserving your table. Hwy. 7A (by the Causeway) PORT PERRY, ONTARIO Reserve now for your New Year's Eve Dinner. This year we are featuring Three (3) Five Course Meal Specials PLUS our Regular Menu. Please make your reservations for four (4) or more people as soon as possible and select your main entrees at the time ENTREES: Prime Rib of Beef au Jus Chicken Mandarin -- OPEN NEW YEAR'S DAY -- CONWAY PLACE -- GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE -- ¥ Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year 5 SN from the Conway Staff. = (Served from 5 to 9 PM) 985-7631