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PAGE 10 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1984 Melodee Martinuk Their claim is a bold one â€" to give Waterloo the kind of bookstore it deâ€" serves. But, it is one which Chuck Erion and Tricia Siemens, partners in the newlyâ€"opened Words Worth Books at 88 King St. S., chose with great care. And it‘s clear from what they‘ve already done that they believe Waterloo deserves only the best. Chronicle Staff Words Worth is Waterioo‘s only independent general bookstore, and said Erion, it is this independence which gives them the freedom to offer customers services not ordiâ€" narily provided. In addition to books Words Worth will carry magazines, greeting cards and children‘s records. Erion and Siemens will also special order items for customers, do title searches and all books in their children‘s section are "kidâ€"tested" by their own children. "As an independent we can tailor our stock to meet this market, and respond to our reader‘s tastes," he explained. "With a chain, because of its central buying, you‘re stuck with what Toronto decides." Thus, plans are for Words Worth to carry a wider range of titles than is found in most bookstores, offering more than just current best sellers and releases but also a good backlist of books popular in past years, said Siemens. ‘"We‘ve got books that appeal to the general population as well as people with more esoteric interests." It seems evident that Erion and Siemens have set out to do more than just run a store; they‘re working to create a haven for booklovers, which shouldn‘t surâ€" prise since both are selfâ€"confessed bibliophiles. Warm atmosphere "The exciting part of this business is putting interesting books into the Heritage Group secondâ€"quarter losses significant Despite a rise in sales from the same second quarter in 1983, The Heritage Group Inc. of Waterloo reported a loss of $477,000 for the threeâ€"month period endâ€" ing May 12, 1984. Sales rose to $141,7 million from $133.6 during the same time last year, when profits totalled $349,000, for the Heritage Group, the umbrella company for a number of foodâ€"processing companies including J. M. Schneider. A report to shareholders indicated a "*competitive deterioration of the indusâ€" try" resulting from past union settleâ€" ments must be righted through settleâ€" ments consistent with American competâ€" itors and other factions in the Canadian food industry. _ 1 il]efitije'sv losses for the first six months this year total $458,000 on sales of Contradictions inherent in gas pricing Easing regulation on natural gas pricâ€" ing is a matter of time, according to Darcy McKeough, president and chief executive officer of Union Gas Limited. Speaking to a luncheon meeting of the Confederation Club in Kitchener, An individual breed of bookstore T idâ€"bIz hands of interesting people," Erion commented. ‘"The kick I get is from having people excited about what I‘ve recommended, and what I can learn from them." Tricia noted that, in planning renovations to their King Street location, formerly Daymond Music, the intention was to create a "warm atmosphere, which would make people want to come in and look around.‘"‘ Lighting is subdued; store colors are natural tones; gentle classical music plays in the backâ€" ground. ‘"We have an atmosphere that encourages browsing without the pressures of buying." Words Worth is the second bookâ€" store which Erion and Siemens have established, the first a shop entitled Book Craft which they ran for seven years in Mount Forest. Erion recalled that although both he and Siemens are avid readers, their entry into the book business was very much a "fluke." *‘*Market research advice says you have to have 25,000 people â€" Mount Forest had 5,000 â€" we proved them wrong," he said, explaining they developed a wide clientele, with customers coming from as far as 30 miles away. ‘"We hustled sufficiently and we kept it alive." "Initially we hadn‘t even thought of opening a bookstore at all. I had been doing woodworking and we had thought about a health food store. It was friends who suggested we open a bookstore." Proved them wrong Erion said that opening the Mount Forest Shop defied conventional market wisdom which says that a town must have at least a population of 25,000 for a bookstore to survive. The couple decided to sell that business because they wanted the greater challenges of a larger marâ€" ket. The only problem, he said, was in finding the right community in which to reâ€"locate. McKeough said "the discussions that are now taking place among governments, gas producers and customers are not dealing with the question of regulation versus deregulation but rather what kind or what degree of deregulation and how Pointing out some of the contradictions inherent in the present system, McKeough said, "We have record surâ€" pluses of gas waiting for markets, yet gas prices have never been higher. We price gas relative to oil, yet gas does not really compete with oil, except in a limited way. Gas and oil are regulated, yet heavy fuel oil is not. Gas is taxed heavily, yet electricity in Ontario is virtually taxâ€" free." Secretaries executive sworn in The Kâ€"W chapter of Professional Secâ€" retaries International have returned Ruth Gardner as president for another year. Joining Gardner will be vice president Sue Burlingham, Sharon Krynicki as recording secretary, Laurie Turner as The former Treasurer of Ontario faâ€" voured a natural gas price system which would be responsive to market realities. "By easing the current rigid system, the interests of both producers and conâ€" sumers would be recognized and dealt with in a timely way."‘ Caters to reader tastes Tricia Siemens and Chuck Erion, coâ€"owners of the new Words Worth Books in Uptown Waterioo. Chronicle photo They were looking for a university town, which didn‘t have a strong bookstore and considered communities from Saskatoon to Kingston, Erion continued, almost overlooking "what was right under our noses." He said that Waterloo, "a city with two universities, with its intellectual level and white collar work (force)," is a natural for his type of bookstore. In fact, Erion remarked, "I‘m surprised someone hasn‘t moved in before us." Although only open for two weeks, both Siemens and Erion are encouraged by the corresponding secretary and Joan Young as treasurer. Several members of the Chapter will be among the 1,500 registrants attending the 39th annual PSI convention July 22â€"28 at The Sheraton Centre, Toronto. Official delegate will be Ruth Gardner, CPS, chapter President. The alternate deleâ€" gate will be Sue Burlingham, the chapter Viceâ€"President. VIA Rail announces Youth pass The Hon. Flora MacDonald, Progresâ€" sive Conservative Member of Parliaâ€" ment for Kingston and the Islands, will be the keynote speaker at the convention. MacDonald is a former secretary who became the first woman graduate of the yearâ€"long course in Canadian and Interâ€" national Studies at the National Defence College in Kingston. She is the recipient of many honorary degrees and has served in numerous appointed and electâ€" ed posts. VIA Rail and Transport Canada have announced their new Youth Canrailpass which enables young people between the ages of 12â€"22 to travel around Canada at reduced cost. It is possible for a person wanting to see Canada to spend about $10 per day on transportation. For instance, the Cross Canada, 30â€"day pass costs $325. There are reception they‘ve had from the public. "We‘ve had a very positive response from people â€" they‘re glad we‘re here; commenting that we‘re an asset to the community and it‘s about time there was a real bookstore in Waterloo,"" Siemens said. And Erion is already dreaming of what‘s ahead for the shop, envisaging a café in combination with the bookâ€"selling business, although probably at a different location in Waterloo. "Find food and fine books together â€" that‘s our longâ€"term dream." also more regionalized passes available in eight, 15 and 22 day lengths. The eightâ€"day pass costs $85, and it enables the holder to travel anywhere the train travels in Southern Ontario and Quebec. Anyone making a contribution beâ€" comes eligible for a free draw for a Raleigh Superâ€"Burner BMX bicycle, which each participating dealer will announce in a lucky draw at noon Saturday, June 30. The drive is held in conjunction with the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada and involves five Waterloo dealers, according to Ted Britton of Britton Automotive and Industrial Supâ€" ply. The Youth Canrailpass is ideal for the young traveller because it is possible to get on and off the train as many times as is desired. . Autopro dealers join MD fight Entry forms may be picked up at Ron Snyder Waterloo, Leaman Auto Service, Columbia Autopro, Lakeshore Service and Glenco Automotive. Several Waterloo Autopro dealers have joined in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy by making a public appeal for funds until June 30.