PAGCE 8. WHITBY F REE RESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST26, 1987 whitbybusiness tara ~Wally'S0 openjs area last week in preparation for grand opening. Free Press photo No disruption in merger between Lloyd's and Continental banks Bob Allan, manager of Lloyd's Bank of Canada at 1200 Dundas St. E., says the merger between Con- tinental Bank and Lloyd's Bank in November 1986 occurred without disruption. "Except for the changing of signs and stationery, it was a very remarkable transition," says Allan, manager since 1983. He adds there was no staff turnover as in some mergers. Ther merger came about as a result of a "crisis in confidence" in smaller institutions, otherwise known as "Black September" in 1985, says Allan. Lloyd's Bank started in 1765 in Birmingham, England. They have banks in 46 different countries, with 55 banks across Canada, and employ 70,000 people worldwide. In 1985, the world ranking of the top 500 banks placed Lloyd's Bank as the 9th most profitable, 17th in share capital and 35th in total size. "The reason for its success is that, Lloyd's Bank has pursued a policy of quality rather than quantity," claims Allan. He says Lloyd's Bank was the fir- st to introduce home banking in 1984, which is a computer link bet- ween a person's home and account. "Every transaction can be made on the computer, except·for cash transactions," he says. In September, Lloyd's Bank will launch its Interact banking card. Allan says in the past Lloyd's Bank Canada dealt basically in commercial banking, and is currently moving towards upscale consumer needs to expand personal banking. Eighty per cent*of shares are owned by individuals. Allan credits the high percentage, partly to Lloyd's having a "humane touch." The bank is involved in com- munity affairs and received a cor- porate citizenship award in 1986 from the Whitby Chamber of Com- merce. Lloyd's publishes a staff magazine which informs staff about life in other countries. The bank also has a special telephone number for staff who have personal or work related problems, and are treated in strict confidence. m Whitby plaza By DONNA DONALDSON Wally's Family Restaurant will be opening its newest location at 601 Dundas St. W. at the Whitby Town Plaza on Aug. 21. Owned by Wally Alawar and Hamze Said, Alawar started his fir- st Wally's Restaurant in Oshawa in 1978. Said joined Alawar in par- tnership in 1983. "We concentrate on the family food business, with very good ser- vice and a quick lunch service," said Said. The partners are introducing light entertainment at their new location after 9 p.m. "We have a small dance floor, a D.J. booth and a good sound system," said Said. Previously Carretto's Dining Lounge, he said renovations were approximately $50,000, and another $38,000 for improved kitchen equipment. "Our motto is sell more volume and less profit. We have the least percentage of profit from food, about 5 to 7 per cent. Other restati- rants have 20 per cent. We give the best quality and generous quan- tities of food at the best prices," he said. Said graduated from the Univer- sity of Toronto in 1978 as a mechanical engineer. Iir 981 he started his own business "In tr- nslation and typesetting. With his knowledge in the language and culture, Said worked for Litton between Canada and the Saudis. "I never had the intention of opening a restaurant business, it just happened. I enjoy working in this business and with people," he said. Said met Alawar in university in 1975, where the two became good friends. Alawar graduated from the University of Toronto in 1976 as a chemical engineer. "We both didn't like working for other people, and Wally decjded to open his own business.. We are a very good team together..:We un- derstand and trust eachi'other and have a good relationship. That's why our business is so successful," said Said. The restaurant wil b open from 6-11 p.m., seven days a *Weekfor the first month. Starting in Octqber, Said said they will be open 24 hours on Thursday, Friday and Satur- days. Winners announced in Marigold contest The four winners have been selected in the annual Marigold contest held by the Whitby Cham- ber of Commerce. Keith and Marilyn MacDonald of 305 Burns St. E. were the winners in the residential division while Dupont Canada Inc. on 210 South Blair St. won for industrial. Whitby General Hospital on Gor- don St. was tops in the institutional category., Whitby Business Im- provement Area (BIA) won for commercial. Awards will be given at the next Chamber meeting to be held Sept. 4, 6 p.m., at the new Garden Gate Restaurant at Cullen Gardens. The dinner meeting, to cost $18, will also include guest speaker Brian Winter, who will tell some "olde tyme Whitby tales." 'Customer addiction'to the Norma Peterson designs By JANET BROWNE Shorter skirts, longer jackets and fitted waists are the fashion details in store for the new fall line at the Norma Peterson boutique on Byron St. in Whitby. "Basically, the clothes will have a little more detail," says Sandy Byers, owner of the business that carries Peterson designs ex- clusively. "And they'll be a little sexier, not quite so mannish." Open since this March, the boutique is one of 13 which have cropped up across Canada in the past decade, and the success of the designs has encouraged Peterson, a Toronto-based designer, to con- sider the U.S. market. "The customers seem to get ad- dicted," comments Byers, a graduate of the fashion modelling and related careers course at Humber College where she met Peterson. "They can buy something now, and in six months, come back and find something that still matches. Everything is co- ordinated." The majority of the Peterson designs are made from interlock cotton knits, and the fall line will include garments of a new fabrie, an acrylie knit in 10 solids, and six prints. Byers describes the designs as "simple and unstructured" and "geared towards the established, working woman." One surprising but unplanned feature of the clothing is its ability to double as maternity wear. "This is my third baby, and I haven't bought any maternity clothes yet," laughs Byers. "We didn't start out with this idea, but this is the way it turned out." Previously, the designs were available in only one basic fit, but now will include both petite and generous sizes. A selection of belts and jewelry are also available at the boutique. The Norma Peterson outlet is lo- cated within a strip of small businesses on Byron St. and Byers says the tenants are looking for a name to incorporate the businesses. "Byron St. Mews" was suggested by one tenant, but it hasn't yet stuck. In order to introduce the designs to the public, Byers plans to hold two fashion shows, one in the fall, and one at Christmas. "We use customers as models, too," she adds. "Sometimes, it is more believable to the audience if they can see 'real' people modelling the clothes." ~rn * £61 a; w' FASHION MODEL Sandy Byers owns the Norma Peterson boutique in Whitby, one or 13 across Canada. Free Press photo HAMZE SAID, co-owner of Wally's Family Restaurant in the Whitby Town Plaza, was busy renovating the dining 1