Only $8.95 Call 1â€"800â€"Ener§mart (1â€"800â€"363â€"7762) on Gas Don‘t Delay â€" Order Today! Many people make a point of shopping at Home Hardware for unique Christmas gifts, such as apple peelers. His snow blowers sold out last year, and they‘re already moving quickly this year. So are Chinese wool rugs, firelâ€" That ongoing communication has led to a broader, almost eclectic range of merchandise. Flanagan stocks about 10,000 items, and has warehouse access to about 45,000. The store is also an authorized Lawn Boy and Toro dealership. Communication is another key component in the store‘s success; the energetic owner makes a point of being extremely visible during store hours and can often be found ringing up purchases himself. Special orders are considered a priority; staff are trained to give each request their utmost attention, and Flanagan searches high and low to fill the bill. ‘"We‘ve had term papers faxed to McGill University you name it," Flanagan says. Aggressive merchandising includes special sales and promotions virtually every week. It started with fiveâ€"cent photocopies, which became extremely popular in an area where numerous small businesses have sprung up in answer to corporate cutbacks during the recession. Today, in fact, the store sells about 250,000 copies a year. "I was knocked over by how many people were sincerely concerned. They would ask me: ‘Are you going to make it?"," recalls Flanagan. "Our customers have been very good to us," he acknowlâ€" edges. Energy For You As an independent dealer, Flanagan was given the freeâ€" dom to customize his services to the needs of the surroundâ€" ing community. That freedom, and the lifeâ€"long retailer‘s own ingenuity, resulted in a strong, unusually loyal relationâ€" ship with his southeast Oakville customers. (Continued from page 5) says he was yet another casualty in the manic wave of "rightâ€"sizing" which characterized the early 1990s.) Caters to loyal clientele Special Offer Ends Nov. 12th! Union Gas Retail Price â€" $89.95 The effort has clearly paid off. Flanagan‘s Home Hardware store won a GoldStar Reward for merchandising, and store image. And as a result, the store was featured in a corporate training video. "It‘s the only award Home Hardware gives to its dealâ€" ers," Flanagan notes proudly. ogs, and other items Flanagan knows his customers will enjoy. "About 65 per cent of my customers are women. Due to geographical reasons, it‘s almost a mini department store, without clothing," Flanagan observes. This Wise Energy Use Kit contains a variety of energyâ€"saving products, including, an Ondine® Low Flow Shower Head, Mono caulking, pipe/window/wallâ€"outlet insulation kits, replacement faucet washers, our Home Energy Management video/booklet â€" plus other products to help you reduce energy and save money. Saves Energy And Money Only $33.95