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The following is an article written by Ed Ryynanen, Counselling Assistance to Small Enterprise (CASE) co-ordinator for the Federal Business Development Bank. One of the problems facing would be merchants is whether or not there is a need for this or that type of store in the community they have in mind. It is difficult to know for sure, and there is very little information available other than to experienced merchants or market- ing experts. We all know that in a small town the first "store" to appear is likely to be a gasoline station. Later will come a food store, a coffee shop, a building supply business, a hardware store and a "drug - notion - gift "store. How big does a town have to be to support a women's wear store, or a children's wear store - or a pet shop? Many would be entrepreneurs have lost their shirt in attempting to supply a need not currently being met in the community. Our first experience with this came in a situ- ation on the Prairies where a young woman from Montreal found her- self, as a wife and mother, in a very small town about forty miles from a decent size community. She couldn't find any decent infant's or children's clothes other than in the town forty miles away, and decided to open an Infant's and Children's Store in the small village she lived in. She went broke and there was no way that we could have saved her. The town was simply too small to support the large inventory she had to carry of a great variety of items, in a great range of sizes - for boys and girls, as well as acces- sories, underwear, coats, suits, dresses, skirts, slacks, pants, sweaters, blouses and shirts, for spring, summer, fall and winter; and n a variety of colors and styles to suit the demands of the local mothers. The goods grew old, out of style, and faded on the shelves. The most recent survey by the "Bureau of Census", estimates that it takes a population of 33,000 peo- ple to support a store concentrating on sales of infant's and children's wear items. We have had two clients recent- ly who were interested in opening stores selling women's accessories such as scarves, belts, gloves, hosiery, handbags, small leathers and costume jewelry. One client opened against our recommenda- tion - and failed. The other is still considering but will likely not open. There are no published figures available on this issue as far as we know, but through the use of Department Store experience, some reasonable projections can be made. The real point of the exercise is that as towns grow larger, there are increasing opportunities. Some are far more promising than others, some appear promising but are of serious risk. To do d survey of potential cus- tomers, asking them whether they would like a certain kind of store, is not an adequate way of investigat- ing the issue. If 100 per cent said, "Yes, we would like that kind of Page 3, News, Wednesday, January 4, 1989 Specialty business shops must locate in towns with large enough population to support sales Store" as they might well have done in the Prairie Town noted above, there might still not be enough business to support the investment in the store. We are always pleased to be called in - in advance - to help the clients decide whether there is a need or opportunity in the commu- nity for the store in question, rather than to be called in after the store is open, to see what can be done to save the day. Regardless, do adequate research and do enough calcula- tions to determine whether there can be the required volume to sup- port such a store. PUBLIC NOTICE ~ 1989 BUDWORM CONTROL PROGRAM at: Hwy #17 POT 2J0 . Tel: Tel: The Ministry of Natural Resources invites the public to review North Central Region's district proposals for dealing with the budworm in 1989, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on January 27, 1989 Ministry of Natural Resources Nipigon District Office P.O. Box 970 Nipigon, Ontario (807) 887-2120 and Thunder Bay District Office Ontario Government Building 435 James Street South Thunder Bay, Ontario (807) 475-1461 The proposals will be available for viewing at the District Offices until February 27, 1989. Comments concerning the proposals should be submitted to the District Manager during this period. Pour les renseignements en francais, contactez : Linda Royer Telephone : (807) 887-2120 Ministry of Vincent G. Kerrio Minister (Y) Natural Resources Ontario The Corporation of The Township of Terrace Bay aS AA wm ee a NOTICE The Township has two vacancies each on the Planning Advisory Committee and the Committee of Adjustment, commencing January, 1989. The positions are open to all adult residents of the municipality and are a good way for persons interested in municipal affairs to become involved in local government. The Planning Advisory Committee is an advisory committee to Council on matters dealing with the Township's Official Plan and Comprehensive Zoning By-Law. The Committee of Adjustment is an independent body appointed by Council that makes decisions on applications for minor variances from the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law. Persons interested in serving on either of these committees should contact the undersigned by January 6, 1989. David C. Fulton Clerk-Treasurer Administrator Township of Terrace Bay Terrace Bay, Ontario 825-3315 = oe ee a HEMLO =P FORD MERCURY 'is looking for an AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN with a Class "A" license to work in their new dealership in MARATHON -- APPLY IN WRITING PLEASE TO: GARY McDONALD, BOX 837, NIPIGON, ONT., POT 2J0 OR PHONE 1-800-465-3304 |