Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/970533
HAMIOTA 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY APRIL 21, 2018 W E S T M A N Just go to Casterland Winnipeg 204-783-5500 Calgary 403-243-3553 Edmonton 780-432-5575 Vancouver 604-543-7744 Casters ~ Specialty Hardware ~ Glides www.Casterland.com Casterland Casterland Casterland ® C elebrating 40 Years of Service and Sel ection 3561106 Casterland 16H Ap25.eps; Customer is responsible for accuracy www.treherne.ca Campground Reservations: trehernecamping.ca VISIT TREHERNE! Home of the Run for the Hills Marathon held annually in September. Situated in the scenic Tiger Hills, Treherne offers a wide variety of shops, activities and tourist attractions including: * Aquatic Centre with Aqua Climb Wall * Full Service Campground * Nine Hole Golf Course * Walking Trails * Museum * Glass Bottle Buildings Visit our website at: www.portagemutual.com We'll be there when you need us most. For top-notch home and personal property coverage, backed by top-notch claims service, get the Residential Pro package from Portage Mutual Insurance. A n edge on the compe- tition can make the difference between success and failure in the cabinetry business. Vern and Marlene Harms, owners of Creative Kitchens in Killarney, kept ahead of their competitors for many years by creating one-of-a- kind cabinets by hand. "I learned the cabinet-making business right out of high school," says Vern, who farmed and constructed high-end kitchen cabinets for a decade. In those days, it was still possible for a woodworker to make a profit on hand- made cabinets. "The edge I had over larger competitors was my ability to design cabinets that were customized to meet buyers' specific require- ments," he says. However, the introduction of comput- er-operated machinery and the growth of the Chinese manufacturing sector resulted in the virtual elimination of small cabinet producers. Almost overnight, computerized cabinet factories capable of producing hundreds of units per day sprouted up throughout Can- ada and the U.S. Moreover, many companies reduced their operating costs by shipping construc- tion material to China, where it was milled into stylish door and drawer fronts, allowing North American manufacturers to custom- ize their kitchen cabinets for less money. "It became impossible for me to compete cost-wise," Vern says. But his devotion to and knowledge of cabinet-making led him to seek a new way to adapt in the competitive business. "Marlene and I decided to rent out our farmland and become a distributor of Dé- cor Cabinets in Morden." The couple constructed a 2,500-square- foot showroom on their property, about eight miles north of Killarney on Hwy 18. The shift from cabinet builder to cabinet distributor/supplier was made easier by loyal customers who knew the Harms were devot- ed to fine craftsmanship and buyer satisfac- tion. Former clients who wanted to upgrade their original kitchens purchased Vern and Marlene's new line of Décor Cabinets. "Décor has established itself as a pre- mium builder that can compete favourably with big box retailers," says Vern, adding that the high-end cabinets are built of solid wood and cabinet-grade plywood. He notes that cabinets from large build- ing stores are often made from particle board and sold in increments of about three-inches, making them difficult to match to the length of an existing wall. By comparison, Décor cabinets are made of high-density fibreboard and are manu- factured to within 1/16-inch of a wall's total length, making for a precise fit. One of the many services provided by Creative Kitchens is in-house consulta- tion, including measurements for kitchen and bathroom installations and suggestions for incorporating the most recent trends in cabinet styles, colours and countertops to complement new or renovated rooms. Vern estimates about 80 per cent of buy- ers choose Cambria quartz for countertops because of the company's reputation for quality and its selection of 70-plus designs. Cambria has just introduced a line of 10 Luxury Series quartz countertops that compare to a higher-grade granite. But for budget-minded homeowners, laminate countertops are a very acceptable alterna- tive to quartz. "Laminates are about four to five times cheaper, come in a vast array of colours and patterns and will last many years," Vern says. Solid hardwoods like walnut or maple are popular countertops on kitchen islands because the tops can be used as chopping blocks and add the warmth of wood to any design. Creative Kitchens also supplies Kohler faucets, fixtures and sinks, including a popular farm-style undermount sink that is open at the front for easy access. All the cabinets Creative Kitchens sells include full-extension undermount soft- close slides for drawers and silent-close hin- ges for doors. "We also offer special features like under-cabinet lighting, a choice of crown mouldings and numerous handle designs," Vern says. And of course, he and Marlene supply the benefit of decades of experience and knowledge about the cabinetry business. That's a hard edge to beat. ■ Creative and Competitive This cabinetry company offers cutting-edge solutions BY DAVID SQUARE KILLARNEY Just one of the many displays customers can check out in the 2,500-square-foot Creative Kitchens showroom. Photo courtesy of Creative Kitchens Creative Kitchens owners Vern and Marlene Harms are now distributors for Décor Cabinets. 3062 Portage Ave. 204-832-7387 www.petrescueshelter.com Manitoba's first registered charity NO-KILL animal shelter A Community that Cares Hamiota is a great place to call home BY PAT REDIGER H amiota is a growing community whose residents pride themselves on being 'Lead- ers in Community Innovation.' The Town of Hamiota and the Rural Municipality of Hamiota have a combined population of 1,288 and a trading area radius of 40 kilometres, which encompasses approximately 10,000 people. "Our community's lifestyle, di- verse job opportunities and support services make Hamiota one of the most vibrant communities in west- ern Manitoba," says Nancy Smith, economic development officer for the Hamiota Economic Develop- ment Corporation (HEDC). Smith says business is booming in Hamiota. The agriculture, health care and education sectors are the major employers within the area, and over 100 new jobs have been created over the past few years, with many of these in the expanding live- stock sector. Smith notes that Hamiota's retail and service sectors are diverse and provide a full range of services for residents and the surrounding area. "Hamiota has a wide range of businesses, including many home businesses. These businesses provide a wide variety of services at com- petitive rates," she says. "There are many agriculture businesses such as grain and livestock. The health cen- tre provides the best health care and numerous jobs. We are fortunate to have two schools and on top of that a public licensed day care and nursery school that also provides careers." Hamiota works hard to attract new business by creating a com- fortable climate for entrepreneurs. Through her job, Smith serves as a community networker and mar- keter, promoter, researcher and sur- veyor of the community. She takes part in education, health care, and age-friendly meetings and assists wherever she can. "If a business was interested in locating to Hamiota, I could assist by providing information about the town, help with a business plan, educate the residents, and support and promote their new business and grand opening." Smith adds that there are many benefits to setting up shop in Hami- ota. Buildings are reasonably priced and commercial lots are affordable. New businesses receive a welcome package from HEDC and copies of the monthly newspaper, the Hami- ota Leader. As well, HEDC provides loans, mentors new and existing business owners, investigates projects in the agriculture sector, and organizes the Hamiota Trade Show. If an individual or business relies on the internet to complete their job, Smith says they can easily work out of Hamiota. Community- owned high-speed service is cur- rently being installed and residents and businesses can get hooked up at a "very affordable price." The quality-of-life factor is im- portant when it comes to attracting businesses to an area, and Smith says Hamiota is a great place to call home, with affordable living op- tions and a unique balance between recreation and cultural/arts activ- ities. Sports options include hockey, curling, karate, archery, volleyball, badminton, basketball and golfing. There's a gym and an aquatic centre for residents to keep fit. And Smith says Hamiota is known as the baseball capital of Manitoba and takes great pride in the "well-kept, picturesque municipal park with second-to-none baseball diamonds that are host to many regional and provincial tournaments." Cultural offerings include a mu- seum, library, drama club and the Heritage Arts Centre, which offers art classes and plays host to com- munity events. "I have lived in Hamiota since 2000 and I thoroughly enjoy living and raising my family in this caring community," Smith says. "I love how people truly care and have strong ties to our commun- ity. When in need, everyone steps up to help — this is a unique and treasured piece to our town that no amount of money could buy." The Heritage Arts Centre is among the cultural attractions in Hamiota. Hamiota works hard to attract new business by creating a comfortable climate for entrepreneurs. Through her job, Smith serves as a community networker and marketer, promoter, researcher and surveyor of the community.