Whitby Free Press, Wedneday, January 19, 1994, Page 9 Stoire owner looks back on 35myear history A New Year's Eve Party in the late fifties proved to be an event- fui one for Grant Dodd and hie brother-in-law Howard Souter. Then employees of an Oshawa paint and wallpaper store, they decided at the Party to Iaunch their own business, and on Jan. 15, 1959 they opened Dodd & So1te Paint & Walipapering at 107 Byron St. S. in t he down- town area of Whitby, then with a population of about 9,500. L.ast Saturday, the store now called Dodd & Souter becor Centre, niarked its 35th anni- versary -- «inm probably the oldest family-run business in town now» -- and Dodd remem- bers those early growing pains. "We were nervous because we did it on a shoestring"» save Dodd. He remembers working 70 to 80 hou!rs every week, and that after three or four years, the business "started comiing toddSorterand one ~iter Scotty kyles, worked nights and weekends to paper hang, and later had three painters and a fuli-tixne paper hanger. There wga only one other store in town, so therte was no laek of custo- mers. In the first year of business, they then started to seil carpets and7 broadiooms, and in 1962 added draperies. «Over a few years we got te the point where we had six decora- tors on staff and as rnany as 14 to 16 on staff during the summer months,» says Dodd, 62. «We had contracts to paint the public schools as well as the two high schools for a number of years. Also we painted for Red Wng Orcliards and Dupont of Canada mn \Vhitby and Ajax for a number of' years as weli as homes, interior and exterior, in Whitby, Ajax, Oshawa and Brookiin. Dodd remembers one job, in particular, in the early sixties -- a job that "couid have made me or broke me.» A frien d Lyle Blair, was pre- sident of ýepsi-Cola in Canada, band when the company moved ïts offices to Toronto from Montreal, Dodd & Bouter got the $53 000 contract to decorate the Ã3a Street offices as weli as Blair' home. "They g ave us draws as we progresed~ on the job" that took eight weeks, said Dodd. Grant's son Guy and Howard's son Grant joined the business in 1972. In 1975, Dodd & Souter sold the paint and walIrar e~art of the business to BiliPer- 'ns. «It was hard to find good hélp at the time,» says Grant. In 1977, Howard Bouter retired. Four years later, Grant Dodd built a new store acrose the street at 104 Byron St. S. In 1983, Grant retired, selling the business to his son. But his retirenient was brief. He missed the business, and returned after four or five months, buying back into the busi ness. 1%e samne year, Grant Bouter came back to work at the store. A few years later, the dra- peries part of the business was soid t Bill Wells who had wor- ked at the store for fine years. Guy Dodd died in 1988 etaf 32, a victim of diabetes. At t e time, business was "growing in lea s and bounds,» and Grant SNshares of the company to Grant Bouter, Steve dindlford and Chris Hoddy. Grant Dodd, _president, then made Grant Bouer general manager. After the boom years in the eighties the store "hurt badly» in 1991 ("ft was like someone tur- ned the tap off") «saw dayiight in 1992 and "did quite well»- in 1993, says Grant Dodd, as some of the former longtime custoniers camne back. "We've had an excellent follow- ing of customers," says Dodd. W-ork for insurance dlainis and contracta with Eaton's are also prominent in the company's his- Iealso says that of his carpet suppliers, Canadian mille are the best with which to work. Cross- Panel focus is 'Energy' 'Managing Your Personal Energy will be the programn at the DYurham Business and Pro- fessionai Women's Club dinner meeing on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at theHly Inn, Oshawa. A panel, discussing how te elevate one's personal energy levels, will consist of Annette Deschamps of Whitby Massage Therapy, Chrissie Stokeil of Thoughts & Foods, Diane Cas- sid of Durham Personal Coun- selling Services, Marjorie Bond of Intra Travel and Bonnie Hoch- Macln ail of Sole-Flex. The cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-menibers. For more informnation, cail Karen Graham at 427-6930 or Leah Murray at 728-9115. If you are unemployed and NOI receiving U. benefits, you may qualify for this re-training course. CARIER DEVELOPEENT TECHNIQUES Learn skills and techniques necessary to seek and secure employment in today's competitive job market: tresumé preparation w/ interviewing skills tjob search techniques t/ how to manage change se developing a personal training plan STARTS: MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1994 DURATION: 4 weeks / Mon. - Fri. 9:30 arn - 4:15 pm LOCATION: Whitby FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION CALL: 668-9713 Funded by: [ RJ H A m R F- G 1 N -IL Presented by: The H utchison Group <I THERE HAVE been changes over the years but staff have been constants in the growth of Dodd Grant Dodd says loyal customers and excellent & Souter Decor Centre .Phto by Mm Rc Ruor Whty F»m. ~s ley Mills in Truro N .' he says, has the «best carpet in (ëanada.' WooI stili makes the best car- pet for those willing to pay the prce but those sales occur only fIve or six times a year he says, while recalling when iower-pri- ced nylon and- polyester carpets hit the market. Dodd also noted the quaiity of bis current staff inciuding 14- year installer M~artin Koppins and 10-year employee, Cheryl Biekle. The store once earned a run- ner-up award as Ontario Retailer of the Year. UITf THE ULTIMATE SPORTS CAR EXPERIENCE... 1994 CORVETTE COUPE:._ Then You Can WaIk Away, Or Buy Ut Or Trade Ut...< You Make The Choice!! Don't be Disappointed... Choose before Jan. 2Oth to Secure Spring '94 Delivery. Note: Offer Basod On A 36 Monith Lease With $5000 Downpayment Or Trade Equivalent Plus 1 st Payment, Security Deposft, Uic, Applicable Taxes and Gas. O.A.C. See Dealer for Further Details. W mýý FM