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RE PSS. D SDAY, DECEMBER 6 1989 whitby business Gamble paid off for South African native A man who gambled by selling his successful business and leav- ing his native country to come to Canada, strongly believes that if you face life's big gest decisions courageously, you have little to fear from h e. Leonard Skok sent out this message as the guest speaker of the Peter Pe Award evening held by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce at Heydenshore Pavi- lion Wednesday night last week. Born and raised in South Africa, Skok built up a Toyota dealership in Killarny, outside Johannesburg. He had been elec- ted to the Young President's Organization, an elite business- men's group for top-rated cor- porate presidents under the age of 45. He had also successfully run in four 90-kilometer marathons, and owned and piloted his own air lane. owever, Skok became concer- ned about the social and econo- mic injustice that apartheid had created; and about the environ- ment in which his children would be raised. In 1987, Skok made the decision to move his family out of South Africa, and sold everything. He began in Canada by using his expertise in the automotive field to establish himself as an automotive consultant. Early next year Skok and his partner Davi d Rng will open King BMW, in Scarborough. Describing the move from South Africa as a "brave deci- sion," Skok compared the uproot- ing to the training and running of a marathon. Like running a race, the move required determination, commit- ment and discipline. But ambi- tion is also èupled with mixed emotions that rahge from fear to excitement, Skek told the audience of more than 300 on hand for the presentation of the Peter Perry Award. "Then the gun ges off the day of the race, and voure off. There's no turning back. You kee runnin ." is arriva in Canada seemed to him like "an extended holiday. "Experiencing the security one bas in Canada,' Skok said, "this really made me fepl like T'd made the right decision.s However, like the runner who starts to question his ability and motives to cross the finish line, Skok began to question his deci' sion. "It's what's referred to as 'hit. ting the wall,' "he said. "The vacation is over. You're starting over andyou go through an identity crisis.' Overcoming the crisis and now feeling a since of pride and achievement, Skok said it's like crossing the finish hne of the race and hearing the cheers frorr the crowd. "Winning in life is a state of mind." Awaiting acceptance of their application for Canadian citizen- ship, Skok concluded, "We (my family) look forward te being proud Canadians iri the near uture." Lincoln Alexander, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, who was present for the Peter Perry Award, suggested Skok was in a pesition te prove what a "won- erful country we live in." "It;s net perfect,» he said. "But show me a* country that's better and the Skoks would have gone ther.. Seminar on Whitby Chamber of Commerce members will attend a seminar about the Employer Health Tax at a breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 14, 7:30 to 10 a.m., at the Whitby Mal Restaurant. All employers are subject to the new Employer Health Tax on gross payrol and benefits, effec- tive Jan. 1, 1990. The new tax re laces OHIP. seminarwill review the new legislation and include infor- mation on installment require- ments, reporting requirements penalties, transitiona rules an1 planning. Cost is $12 for Chamber mem- bers $15 for non-members (in- cludes breakfast). To attend, call 668-4506 by Dec. 8. ADC opens in Whitby Summin up the experience, he said, "Sometimes people don't realize what they have until they compare it. He added, "My dream to go into business in Canada stems from commitment and positive thinking. Food, toy ,drive at Jefferson Jefferson Cleaners, at 1645 Dundas St. E., has begun the fourth annual food and toy drive. Non-perishable food and new toys collected will be iven to Denise House for abused women and their children. For more information call Chuck or Juanita at 434-7200. H-ire an experienced ocri cleCtaif manage 1 Q . .......... "We've got a winter special on these surfboards - 15% off, and l'il throw in a free beachball." YOUR BUSINESS Coping with seasonal variations If only Christmas could come around twice a year. Say, for instance, in the doldrums of summer. Retailers could be forgi- ven for such a dream, having to contend with the wild seasonal fluctuations inherent in most business. Many retailers. in fact, make more than 25 per cent of- their total sales during November and December. So aside from the wishful petitioning of members of Parliament or a second Christmas, owener-managers bave to realistically come to terms with their extreme finan- WHITBY Mayor Bob Attersley donates some of his suits to the newly established Goodwill ADC (Attended Donation Centre) in the Whitby Mall parking·lot, the first ADC outlet in Durham Region. Goodwill is a non-profit, charitable agency which provides vocational rehabilitation services and suppor- tive employment. Shown with Attersley is Goodwill president J. Philip Gandon (left) and manager Bill Henderson (right). Fr.- Prem photo cial swings. As a small business person, you have to brace your- self for uneven monthly revenues although your fixed expenses - rent, loan repayments, insurance premiums - come due at pradic- table intervals. To better cushion the roller coaster swings in sales, retailers and manufacturers should aggressively prime their seasonal lines. Thats the advice of Donald Rumball, a Toronto author who specializes in entrepreneurship and small business. 9 "Sporting goods stores, for in- stance," says Rumball, "are par- ticularily adept at promoting their sprin lines, even while the snow is still on the greund." Gift card manufacturers don't hibernate, either. Not long ago, cards used to be given only on family birthdays and festive holi- days. Now, a er a strong and sustained marketing blitz, it has become appropriate to give cards on all kinds of occasions, such as "Secretary's Day.» Sometimes a business can compensate for seasonal varia- tions b diversiying. That's what White se Crafts and Nurseries Ltd. of Unionville did. Some years ago, the plant and garden products chain successfully bran- ched out into selling hobby and craft accessories to-take up the winter slack. Most businesses, though, stick to the tried and true. "Yeu try to brin gin a related product line. So if you sell windsurfing equip- ment in the summer, you migt try selling ski equipment in the winter. But yeu should never even think of selling something you really don't know, such as automobile products," says Peter Woolford, vice-president of policy for the Retail Council of Canada, a national trade association representing over 5,000 mer- chants. Woolford says there's reall little that can be done to smoo over seasonal buying patterns of consumers. "People buy accord- ing to the nature of t' eir social and ersonal calendar -. So in the reti business, you have to be ready when the customer decides to shop from you," says Woolford. Most merc ants, of course, are acutely aware of the buying surges and target their advertis- ing accordingly. Some retailers try to generate extra buyin excitement by creating special events, such as store anniverary sales. Others discor.nt their pro- ducts when time is slow. And then there are those merchants who believe irn no price reduc- tions at all, jrst better services year round. ri~ ~ ri~ r~a ~ ~ ~, ~ r~ ~ 14 ~ h~J ~U fA r.~ P~.A 'J. ~L jf~ employee state of mind' health tax Dr. Gouldberg wishes to announce the relocation of his DENTAL PRACTICE to 130 Byron Street North, Whitby. By appointment5l9O0145 - ---Md