ae AN a ary

Plugging in

Using 800 numbers, the internet and.

“The easier you miake it for
*cstomers to reach’ you, the
gmaore likely they are to do it,”
dstys Mary Macchiusi. Her
company, Pembro ke
SP pblishers Limited, decided to

iid 4 SRO
RFR AT OS

Seitetebetet

ptt an” ‘800 number in the

Spring of 1994, “So far, we're
‘Spteased,”. ‘reports Macchiusi.
‘s“We sell direct to customers
across Canada and through

‘Sdistributors i in the U.S.A, and .
Australia. They’re happy, and.

‘athat makes us happy.”
~

at

rathe communications gap,”

Says. Graham Young of:

i

: SSientor Resource Centre Inc:

= “lt encourages customers to
See you. what's on their
sillinds.” Today companies are
“éiso using it to take orders,

broaden their market areas —
aiaid stay in touch with suppli-
mers who are vital to their

“business.

a;

: The cost can be surprising-
Zi modest. “The telephone
“industry has entry packages
“sated at small business,” says
; “Young. “We also offer a lot of

3
i

*Z
w

options | so a small business

«can tailor the service to its
“qeeds.”

= *
~ a

= The Internet

rwihich produces and distrib-
mutes CD-ROMs chose the
Internet. for the same reason
= Pembroke chose an 800
= number: better customer. ser-
2 vice. “We went on- -line for
=.their convenience,” explains
=Damian Cristiani, Triad’s
Director of Sales. “Because

; Ewe *re in a high tech business,

zat e-mail ‘address was the log-
Sigal choice.” Besides, he adds,

iad. has, global, plans. We-...€5

expect access to the Internet
to be increasingly important.”

4 |
= “The 800 number bridges

= Triad Distributors Inc...

“The Internet,” explains
Harvey Lewi, Manager of
Personal Software. Marketing
for IBM Canada Lid., is basi-

cally a collection of personal

computers connected by tele~
phone lines.”
you need a computer, a
modem, the right kind of soft-

ware- and--a-- connection ~~
through an Internet service |

provider.

“Information ‘is stored in

~ different formats,” says Lewi.

“So, when choosing your soft-

ware, make sure it will be able
‘to translate the information
into‘a form you can‘use.” He .
Tecommends software that can -
handle the world-wide web.

format. “That’s: the most

sophisticated format now
“available.”

Choosing the right service

provider is just as important.

International is better than.
Check

local, advises Lewi.
whether the service will set up

_ and maintain your site. “You

should also make sure the ser-

vice has enough lines.so you...

can get on-line even during SL
~ Jong” 2 Other. -pay-offs include

a improved customer service by
| shortening the time lag bet-
“ween order. and delivery,
improved accuracy and a lot”
less paperwork. ~

the busiest times.”

EDI: sctvone technology “ :
. “Data.”
Interchange (EDI) is the!

“Electronic

exchange of business transac-
tions between two companies
electronically without paper
and without rekeying the
information,” says Marshall
Spence,
Electronic Data Integration
Council of Canada.

EDI enables companies to’

trade purchase orders, invoic-

information electronically,
replacing the need for multi-

To get on-line,

President’ of the’

jot to improve the bottom line

ple forms and other types of |

paperwork. “The information

comes down, the. telephone

line like a string of spaghetti,”

“says Bruce Kemp.of Edisoft

Corporation. mo Sa

“To fuih that spaghetti into

a “personal "computer, oa
modem, translation software,
EDI standards (from the EDI
Council), a communications
network to send the informa-
tion securely, some. training
and (usually) a maintenance

contract with your. software

developer. - The computer,
modem and software are one-

time costs. The rest are
recurring. oo
a “Recouping “the cost

depends on the application,
the commitment of the com-

“pany to the process and the

need to re-engineer (change

‘the way they do business),”

explains Spence. For many
companies, he adds, the most
important pay-off is staying in
business. “If you don’t do it,
‘you won’t be a supplier for

Making choices

How can you decide what
technology you need, where
to get. it and how much to
spend? One of the best ways
to decide what you need is to

“talk to your customers and
~ people in similar business. In

fact, networking -(the human
kind) is still the best way to

sand‘ other: ‘business-related ~ ao discover w what's: like lyct =to!
™and who can help you pet set’

up at a price you can afford.

When You Look Good, You Feel Good 1

ion, you-need

, 6 It's true -- when you look
good, you feel good. That's |
the whole idea behind Images
by Karlene, a full service J
grooming centre.

“We offer all the extras,”
says owner Karlene Clark.
“Whatever we can do to
‘make people feel and look
better -- a litle pampering in
their busy lives:”

” Whether that means a trim J
or an all-out makeover,
Karlene has a sawy staff of trained specialists to do the job -- hair stylists, manicurists,
artificial nail professionals, body waxing and hair removal experts, plus skin care and
make-up artists, to name a few. The salon even has a skin-safe stand-up tanner.

Karlene and her staff keep up with the latest trends and developments, and the shop
also stocks professional skin and hair care products. That means the staff of Images by
Karlene can advise you on which products and services work best for you.

Images by Karlene
4652 Lazelle Ave.

A dE le a A Dh Ne Mila Min a alll Mad ah a se lA A le i

635-4997

“We're 2 years old and growing,” says Al
Levesque, owner of Cactus Flower Dance Studio.

As country dancing continues to soar in
popularity, more and more people find they not
only enjoy an evening out, they reap the
benefits of exercise at the same time. Al says
* the main reason is, it’s just plain fun. .
' He teaches a wide range of dances, such as |i

the two-step, the country waltz, and many |@

different polkas. “All the country dances you jj

could want.” That includes, of course, the ever- |}
popular country line dancing.

At Cactus Flower, the beat is easy and the

‘ dancing’s fun -- Al's made it easy for folks to
sign up, too. “We don’t have a spring or fall
' registration,” he says. “You can sign up any
“night.” Couples’ dancing happens on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday nights, and line-dancing,

; Tuesdays and ‘Thursdays.

Cactus tus Flower Dance Studio |

ee eee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee

FaP ener eaee suena.
. 5

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 25, 1995 - D5

fee More Than Just Hobbies

Ais, cratts and hobbies are more than just ‘a
business to the owners of The Creative Zone. To’
- Ken and Kathy Legault, they’ re also a lifestyle. “I've
had 40 years experience in model railroads, and 25
. years in ‘radio-controlled: model airplanes, "Says
Ken, “This Is. what | like todo."

‘His wife's interests lie more on the artistic side,
he says, such as tole painting and decorative home
crafts. Ken and Kathy’s own favourite pastimes are
the-reason they feel it's important to provide a wide
selection of high quality craft and hobby Supplies a at
‘reasonable prices. oo
“We offer the best products at the lowest price,”
Ken promises. **That’s throughout the store. ril
never be undersold.”

The Creative Zone shelves boast thousands of

eraft and hobby supplies, providing not only the
parts and tools, but also new ideas for creative
folks. The Creative Zane i is located j in the Skeena

Creative

Skeena Mall, Terrace

635-1422 -

High Quality Flooring, Warehouse Prices |

Don’t let the name foal you -- End of the
Roll means more than roll-ends. It means a
warehouse selection of brand-name flooring
in full and partial rolls.

To Stephanie Wales, it’s also the sensible -
way to buy linoteum, underlay, and carpet.
vlts basically cash and carry," she explains.

“You're nat paying for expensive sample —
racks and fancy in-store lighting.”
‘When she and husband Craig opened the
j Terrace store last spring, it was no surprise
’ folks liked to get good flooring products at
‘warehouse prices. “We're linked ta’ 23
stores across the country,” Stephanie says,
*“so we have buying power.”

“She points’ out that. nearly every product

in the store is Canadian-made: “It's all high quality flooring.”
“Our staff has years of experience in the flooring and installation trade,” she adds, “so we
can answer any questions people might have on their floor renovations.”

BUSINESS MACHINES

Computers »
to fit
every need

from
Home office
fo
Desktop
Publishing
0

forporate
oardroom
al

Many

Keep in touch
with a new

MODEM!

It’s easier than you think.

We have many in stock to
choose from including high
speed fax/modems with voice
mail and answering machine
capabilities,

gy on TIMEX
DATA LINK 4

Using Timex’ and Microsoft’ porsenal time
monager software, you enter and store
information on your PC. Then, select the
entries you wanl lo send to your wateh,

Ho Wires. Ho Cables.

Down londing information with the ‘Timex Dats
Link communications technology ip ng easy as
pointing your watch at a PC monitor. The
watch sensor reads foshing bara of light.
‘Thnt's the datn. In seconds, the watch londs up
to 70 ontries. Update asaften as you tike.

JUST A FEW OF THE REASONS TO SHOP
AT WILKINSON BUSINESS MACHINES.

Photocopiers, Computers, Daytimers, Briefcases, Choirs, Cash-
Registers, Paper Supplies, Desks, MAC'S, Polite Employees, ‘Toners,
Till Tape, Ribbons, Powerbars, Monitors, Trained Service People,
Disks,. Postal Machines, Hard Drives, Scissors, Labels, Bulletin
Boards, Stenos, Printers, Networking Products, Cabling - And, of
course beeause its the right thing to do. . :

_FOR UNDER $150. 00.

feceive information by simply
pointing the Timex Data Link
watch at your PC monitor, *

Enjoy convenient information
access with on-your-wrist
portability.

“We Care About Your Business”

Wilkinson [i |

ch

“AITIMAT « Ph 632-5037 « Fax 635-4071 | :
PRINCE RUPERT e Ph 624-5714 * Fax 624-554)

BUSINESS MACHINES |

Wilkinson |