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PAGE B14, WHITBY FREE PRESS-INDUSTRIAL RE VIE W, MARGH 11, 1987 Clothier stresses Canadi'anmade An old Whitby- business em- barked on a 'new phase, in its development iast November when AI Kent and his wife purchased the Mercantile Department Store fromn the Smith fàmily. The business' whichbas been a Whitby fixtgure for more than 50 years was founded C7 in 1933 6Y Gecil Smith and Steve Keown at the four corners where the Bank of Gommerce now stands. The business moved to its present location at the south end of the Whitby Plaza (Mr. Grocer) on Brock St. in Downtown Whitby when that plaza was built in the 1950's. The Kents are making only minor changes to the business and contin- nue to seil medium -priced, name- brand 'mostly Ganadian-made clothing. They are- selling a fuil range of dresswear and workwear as well as an increased line of leisure, active and casual wear such'as sweatshirts and jogging outfits. A wider range of ac- cessories have also been .added to the stock. Thé store stresses value to the consumer. The new owners offer frequent mn-store promotions in ad- dition to their regular competitive- pricing. AI Kent first got into the clothing business when he joined Sears in Oshawa in 1969. He worked there for seven years before joining Sears' buying office in Toronto for six vears After Sears, Kent worked at Levi- Strauss in Toronto as merchandise manager and then became vice- president of the Better T-Shirt Go., a post he held for three years. Kent's wife, Val, is a former nur- se- at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital and then for Gommunity Gare, but will now devote most of her time to workingin the store. Both of the Kents were delighted at the opportunity to purchase the business becausethey "llike the old hometown kind of store." V ers atitity R entai house key to success From the moment Durham Equipment -Rentais opened its Everything from smal doors to the people of Whitby and power tools to ride-on surrounding area back in February centuates this rentai hou of 1986, their goal bas been to to meet both light a provide top quality rentai equip- requirements. ment for not only those odd jobs The impressive growi around the house but also projects perienced by Whitby am~ of a much larger scale. expansion of corporat.e a' The wide range of products and developments can onli extensive knowiedge of the staff at bigger and better thin, Durham Equipment Rentais is the equipment rentai house a main contributor to their abiity to as Durham Equipment E perform and respond to the continuing to providi customer and their needs. equipment and placingç The homeowner Iooking to phasis on service, Dunhi renovate a room or add a deck can ment Rentais bas met the expect to find the same calibre of of keeping pace witb a r equipment as a professional panding market and evei tradesman would use. consumer needs. Gontractors and heavy equip- Before you begin y ment users can expect to find a project cali or visit the wide depth of tools and equipment Durham Equipment Reni for commercial and industrial« ap- Dundas St. E., Whitby. plications.- sure to have everything yq il hand and roilers ac- use's ability and heavy r th rate ex- Ki he-rapid and housing [y iead to igs for an as versatile Lentais. By le quaiity strong em- ka Equip- e challenge rapidly ex- r changing your next people at iaIs at 1220 They are eou need. * FASHION CLOTHIER COMPLETE RANGE 0F TOIP-NOTCH BRAND NAME, LADIES' AND MENS' FASHIONABLE CLOTHING ~ QUALITY I SERVICE STYLE SELECTION MDE 1 TO fJEWELLRY MEASURE SYD Formai SUITSBELTS Serving Durham Region in Downtown Whitby for over 50 years. ST ORE MON-WED THURS-FRI SAT HOURS 9ý-6 9-8 9-5:30 --MERCANTILE DEPARIMENT STORE m kNT=,L 321 BROCK STREET SOUTH IGA *OsIr. »T.% \HT13 Z L.C.B.O. we668-3468