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PAGE 16, WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 1982, WHITBY FREE PRESS PROGRESS EDITION Computerized laundry system at Industrial Glove & Garment One of the most typi cal complaints about the workplace today is that it is rapidly becoming computerized. Would you believe that they have even computerized the laundry. Not the laundry one has at home in the base- ment but an industrial laundry that does those really, really tough jobs. For those jobs you don'b need Tide or any other brand of "new and improved soap" but strong. detergents and chemicals. The place that boasts this computerized laun- dry is Industrial Glove and Garment, 1742 Brock Street South, Whitby. The company was ac- tually founded in 1968 but only last month has it become known as In- dustrial Glove and Gar- ment. Prior to that it was known as Uni-Rent Supply Services and In- dustrial Glove Restor- ers. The firm is owned by Robert Warden and Brian Bond who took over the firm four years ago. Aside from cleaning and repairing, the firm also rents and supplies industrial gloves andi garments such as shirts, work pants, coveralls and shop coats. They currently have1 three trucks that pick- up and deliver to their1 - over 270 clients spread across southern On- t tario. In fact, the firm has a tie into the news- 1 paper business as it supplies industrial gar- 1 ments to Toronto's three daily newspapers. "We are, I would say, a high growth com- pany," Warden says adding that "We are doing four times the business we did when we took over." When Warden and' Bond started out, the firm employed 14 people. Today, with four times the business, they employ 25 people in their 9,000 square foot facility. Warden attributes much of bis company's success to the efficiency gained through the use of computers. For example, each client is told each week what garments have not been cleaned or have not been used. This acts as a form of inventory control, Warden says. This information is provided to the customer on the packingi slip. Even the firm's office is computerized.1 "We do a fantastic jobt because of it," Wardeni says adding that his is 1 the only business in the field who can provide1 that information on a regular basis. The current state ofa theý economy does affect m their business, but not to the same extent as other enterprises. "Our rate of growth has slowed but we're doing just fine," War- den says adding that the company is "looking for high growth" once this slump has been over- come. The company also has one other obstacle to its growth. Warden and Bond have applied to the Town of Whitby to have a 6,000 square foot addi- tion constructed to the rear of their building. However, because of the town's slightly dif- ferent plans for the Port Whitby area, it is possi- ble that the application will not be approved. Warden says that he can understand this sin- ce no one wants an in- dustrial facility in the middle of a harbor- oriented residential and recreational facility. The company is currently waiting for a proposal to come for- ward fronm the town and Warden says they "are ready to compromise if the townis." But while the com- pany would like to move to a new location, it does not want to leave Whit- by. "I don't want to leave Whitby," Warden says. "Firstly, I don't want to leave my employees and second, Whitby's a nice town." Fireplace Plus family business since 1975 The Fireplace Plus is a family business, opened in 1975 as a fire- place specialty shop serving Durham Region. . In 1975, the business started with about 1,800 square feet of ware- house and showroom space. Today, the busi- ness has been expanded and in addition to fire- places offers a full selection of woodstoves, prefabricated chim- neys, glass doors, chim- ney brushes and all related accessories. The showroom and ware- house have been ex- panded and encompass approximately 4,500 square feet today. The Fifeplace Plus always emphasizes safety in installation and operation of your fireplace or woodstove. They try to assist customers in all phases of installation. If a full installation is desired, The Fireplace Plus will arrange it. In order to offer their customers the best ser- vice the firm always keeps up-to-date on pro- ducts and new develop- ments in the woodburn- ing field. In addition to manufacturers meet- ings they attend the two largest woodheatiné seminars in North America each year, one in Toronto and one in the United States. The Fireplace Plus is a member of the Cana- dian Wood Energy In- stitute, the Wood Heat- ing Alliance in the United States, Better Business Bureau, the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. If you are in the mar- ket for a woodburning appliance, visit The Fireplace Plus where you wifl view an excell- ent selection of products serviced by knowledge- able sales people. The showroom hours are Tuesday and Wednes- day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. f Ob1 1 g Pki 900 Hopkins at Burns St. E. Whitby: 668-3192 STORE HRS.: Tues. - Wed.9.6 Thurs. -Fri.9 - 9, Sat.9 - 5 ,)INDUSTRIAL GLOVE & GARMENT LTD. 1742 Brock St. S., Whitby, Ontario (416) 668-8712-3 • Tor. Line 686-1950 RENTAL, SALES & SERVICE OF INDUSTRIAL GARMENTS Coveralls Shop Coats Dresses Shirts Pants Wipers Mats Etc. Work Gloves Cleaned & Repaired Formerly - Uni.Rent Supply Services Ltd. Industrial Glove Restorers