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-qr -- “we... n-uuuls ago try the Conference Board of Canada,' a tur- naround from last November when the region was more optimistic than the country as a whole. Region business people are less op- timistic about the future than are a group of 1.000 business executives across Can- ada surveyed several months ago by the Conferenre Ree-4 " " . A survey of the same 1 November found them much timistic then, said J. Alex Mu: of business and economics i Laurier University, and auth latest report. Computer Order Saving Terminus Inc., a Toronto-based company which can save shoppers money by eliminating the middleman. "By eliminating what the regular retail system has to have, large inventories, sales staff, warehouses. advertising. we're able to cut costs - the bottom line is we can save the consumer money. and secondly. save them money on top-line mer- chandise." explained Waterloo COST sales agent Jane Sherk. COST sells everything from appli. ances and furniture to childr.un's toys and luggage at dealer cost plus a to per cent commission. one half of which goes to the sales agent. According to Sherk savings can be as much as $150 per item on the large appliances which COST offers. Sales agents keep a catalogue of items at home whip}. in.“ Low -. Economic recovery for the region is expected to be a slow the year ahead with unen staying at about the pres according to the latest survc Laurier Jnstitute for Business nomic Studies. Pessimism 'etting in in Region Retailers know this, hence the constant barrage of special sales and discounts being offered. But there is an alternative, direct catalogue sales through COST, -- With inflation continua“) chip ping away at the consumer spending dollar. everyone today is looking for bargains when they shun This alternative to everyday shopping can save you money “dado. Monk Chromcte Statt S' agents keep a catalogue of at home, which lists both the Jane Sheri to-- when they shop .", Ch know this. hence the barrage of special sales "--_"'-_ vy' VJ. Alex Murray, dean economics at Wilfrid y, and author of the Tiid-ttia-s-. BtATmuttt canon-cu same firms last for the Waterloo a slow process in unemployment Present level, mort 0p- y by the' and Eco- fl, '--\\~‘I may W competitive sometimes. but our prices are at this super-special level all year long." COST was incorporated in I980 by current president Dave Wilson, pre- viously an employee of to years with Radio Shack. Today the company has 500 certified sales agents throughout Ontario. and in the future the COST plans to expand across the country and possibly into the United States. “It isn't that our prices an always better. and we don't adver tise we have the best prices, be cause of specials," Sheri: explained "With sales their prices mav be Sherk also said that because of special sales offered by stores. COST's merchandise prices ma y not always be the lowest available on the market. Sherk admits that while COST can save money. the company can't offer many of the features store outlets have to offer, such as being able to see what you are buying, or having immediate) delivery. "With us the purchaser can't be in a hurry --- this isn't for the impulse shopper." said Sherk. "This is for people who are looking for a good deal and don't mind waiting." For these reasons, she said, con, ventional retailers and shopping malls have nothing to fear from organizations, like.COST. although V the company has sparked protest from store owners in other commu- l nities. "Someone has asked Are we going to take the place of shopping malls.' The answer is no. People like to go to malls, they like the convenience and they will always shop there. We're just an altermr tive that can save shoppers money." she said. , d gearing their expecta- - __..,.....e w investment cited high 'f.'"""'"""" an " and unstable interest rates and the high amiayfsaige future downward, Dr. his: of economic Ti'de2t th "The unemployment situation is ex- centan (""i'lu2,eggle, ng lsrtine '2": pected to remain largely the same, tlt rf p In.” g md investment is a contentious issue but the pro pe or mance (sa es, cos " an future foreshadows improvement for the profits) over the previous year, Dr. lar e and small com an ., Murray said. "Fiftyeight per cent said tr . y. they were better off as compared with 53 in summing up, Dr. Murray said that per cent who felt that way last November with executive attitudes as a measure of and 38.7 per cent in May. 1983. economic confidence, "it would appear When asked about future prospects, the that recovery will be a long. slow process 'TT","'"--------,;"-)':', The majority of local executives. 55.2 per cent, felt that current unemployment levels would remain unchanged in the coming year. Only 17.1 per cent am ticipated less unemployment, Some op- timism was expressed by large compa- nies. 31.6 per cent of whom thought unemployment would decrease. There was a pronounced difference of opinion in the Waterloo region on the question of whether this was a good time for a company to invest: 43 per cent said it was and 41 per cent said it wasn't. Those favoring investment felt the economy would likely improve and ca- pacity had to be there to meet demand. Those negative to investment cited high and unstable interest rates and the high level of economic uncertainlv - n ..._....--l |ulrr3, than 20 in all, to be filled, All I must he paid for in advance customers either pick up the chase themselves or arrange very at their expense, which fake as long as six weeks for I items . suggested manufacturers, p and COST price. Customers their order with the sales reprl atives, who forward it to the pany's head office in Toronto purchase order is relayed to ticipatine manufacturers. I th_ an . .. - "V V_. _ . a. "rore L all, to be filled, All items pai_d for in advance and d h - My”! -.._ wiUV‘ an t ey wi a ways . ke're just an ant-ma .heottete Martinue ave shoppers money." Chronicle Staff Paul Oleson and, Vira said that because of match-making business offered by an...“ -w. - - price. Customers place uvilL av, . manufacturers prices - war-.." unusual”. Chlonkhphoto sparked prougi . "tnot-Gum,] ars an compu ers are I' asked 'Are we - 1lace of sho.pryrne A I A - ‘- tt "e, wnu-n may weeks for large sales represent arrange deli / stores. Oh, this is not match-making in the t K may not tional sense: these two University of w ilable on students are matching up buyers and M? used cars through their newly-created 1 ices are terized telephone referral system, Cm 't adver, Classified. ices, be, Used car sales may never be the same :plained. It works like this, Individuals wishing may be their cars contact Computer Ciassim but our 8864726. register, and information abo 'ial level vehicle (make, color. year. condition etc.) into a computer database. Prospective l v 1980 by then call up, indicate what kind of car [ht on. pre- looking for, the computer is consulted ars with match is made. 'ii'i,':ii,i' classified information the com "'u'nrsmsssh.ss more pur par "For selle sell a Car." file is more ....u a computer database. Prospective buyers then call up, indicate what kind of car they are looking for, the computer is consulted and a match is made. ()leson and Baliwalli stress that this system offers numerous benefits to both vehicle buyers and sellers. "For sellers. it's the fastest and easiest n'nv fr, .1." A __-- .. . ‘ a car." said Batiwaiii.' c, is more than found usually Paul Olooon "Executives appear to be cautious and conservative at this time, managing lean operations and gearing their expecta- tions of the future downward," Dr. Murray said. 'm Mi, majority of firms C47.6 per cent) expect- ed to be better off by mid, 1983. 33 per cent expected to be about the same and only 8.6 per cent expected to be worse off. "Comparing these figures with those of the previous two Laurier Institute sur- veys confirms again the pessimism about this area's recovery over the next 12 months." Dr. Murray said. "Since June 1983 the percentage of executives expect- ing to be better off has fallen by 16.4 per cent. while those expecting to be worse off has risen by 7.3 per cent." "so-a ' g. and, Viraf Baliwalli and Viral Baliwalli at work ', year. condition etc/r/s fed >..I..-.77 n , "ever be the same again. Individuals wishing to sell 'ss.,.-,, n- --, ”Wu...“ “1 at” Computer Classifieds at .J I... _ w... .uuveo a signing bonus of tgo am up, Dr. Murray said that negotiated several other changes in (in attitudes as a measure of new compensation package. including dence, "it would lppear dental plan and additional statutory holi rill be a long. slow process day. ~tb‘us‘ltx" st and easiest way to "The description' on lly in an ad, we keep king in the conven- versity of Waterloo uyers and sellers of vly-created compu- system, Computer are into the .. cisss s . about the cent) expect- indeed is. 33 per cent buovan """'"--cTC":":".".""::"::',': "Once people hear about the benefits they'lt get from it., I'm Baliwalli said. And, while Computer Classifieds i Canada. the telephone referral s: proven to be “highly successful" in States. where Baliwalli first came He's convinced the idea will catch I here and is already talking about exp service to cover the entire south-wesl Io. the information on our list until it's sold. and you can constantly update the information." Sellers must pay a $15 fee to register their car. Using the network will also save buyers time. Baliwalli said, "because they don't have to search through lots of lists to find the kind of car they whnt." _ The two partners started Computer Clas- sitieds with a 82.000 loan from the provincial Student Venture Capital Program, and although only in business for two weeks. already they've received some 20 inquiries. mostly from people looking for cars to buy. at Computer Ctmusitied -qr _..-...w.s 0! meat 1984. United Food and Commercial Workers. and runs until the end of September' 1986. Mone- tary increments involved increases of 40 cents at ratification. 30 cents next April and 20 cents in January 1986. Workers also received a signing bonus of tgo and negotiated several other changes in the new compensation package. including dental plan and addition-l .......- _ - Workers at Waterloo Spinning Mills. a member of Kraus Carpet Mills corporate structure, accepted a wage and benefit gain package Saturday amounting to $1.10 per hour over 22 months, effectively putting an end to their four-month strike. The contract was accepted by a vote of 31-9 by members of Local 1984. United Food and Commercial Workers. and runs until the end of Ramon-L" ---- _ Strike ends at Waterloo Spinning Mills Indeed and dependent on buoyant U.S. economy. telephone referral system has highly successful" in the United Baliwalli first came across it. the idea will catch on as well ady talking about expanding the r the entire south-west of Ontar- Computer Clas. m the provincial am, and although u already they've operation. the sure it'll go," rs is a first in the more