LOFT BOX
Area farmers -- members of the food co-op Local Organic Food Team Cooperative Inc. (LOFT) -- will launch a new program today called LOFT Box, aimed at making locally grown vegetables and fruits accessible to the public. The produce is delivered farm-fresh to eight depots around Waterloo, Wellington and Perth counties. Place your order and pick it up at one of the following locations:
In Cambridge: Sunrise Mills, 840 King St.; Cambridge Candle Co., 71 Dickson St.; the UPS Store, 130 Cedar St.
In Kitchener: Joseph Schneider Haus, 466 Queen St. S.; Laepple's Organic Farm, 2298 Bleams Rd.
In Waterloo: Holly Oak, 24 Regina St.
In Drayton: at the Apple Creek Farm and the LOFT office, 6879 County Rd. 11.
Martha Gay Scroggins, director of LOFT, said they're a small group of working farmers who want to "form a relationship between farmers and customers."
To publicize the LOFT Box program, members of the co-op will be at Joseph Schneider Haus, 466 Queen St. S., Kitchener, today from 4 to 6 p.m. They will be selling produce and providing information about the program and the other food items available such as organic beef, poultry and dairy.
The co-op's new website www.localorganicfoodteam.ca will be launched today. Information is also available at www.localorganic.ca or by calling 519-638-2883.
FINISHING TOUCHES BY LINDA
Linda Hoselton has opened a retail clothing store called Finishing Touches By Linda (519-880-0324), in the Shops at Waterloo Town Square.
Hoselton has worked in the fashion industry for years, for other retailers; this is her first business.
"Waterloo has come a long way and is getting more fabulous all the time," Hoselton said, explaining why she opened her business here.
Her clothing lines are "contemporary classic," and among the labels Finishing Touches carries are Spanner, Groupe J.S. and Anne Klein -- about which Hoselton has had "wonderful feedback." Whenever possible, Hoselton buys Canadian. A website has yet to be launched.
RAREFUNK
A store called RareFunk has opened at 8 Duke St., between Frederick and Queen streets in downtown Kitchener. It's owned by Tamara Minns of Waterloo.
The store (www.rarefunk.ca) carries an eclectic mix of jewelry, clothing, handbags, footwear, home decor and furnishings, some of it new, some of it "previously loved" and much of it made by Canadian artisans. The whole store is consignment, said Minns. "For me, it's about giving back to the community."
Minns has worked with various charities, most recently with United Way Kitchener-Waterloo. She also works part time in property management administration.
RareFunk (519-342-2418) carries items that are "fun, affordable, funky finds," said Minns who finds items to carry in her store through networking and word of mouth. "Everybody seems to know somebody who has a talent," she said.
SOLID FENCES & DECKS
Kevin Jubinville has relocated his business, Solid Fences & Decks (www.solidfencesdecks.com) to 85 Westwood Rd. in Guelph from the Mississauga area. Jubinville founded the company in 2001, moved to the Guelph area in 2006, and in April, 2008, opened the Guelph office. Jubinville does commercial and residential jobs in southern Ontario. The phone number is 519-780-2752.
DID YOU KNOW?
An Auburn Hearing Centre (519-620-4327) has opened at 350 Conestoga Blvd. in Cambridge in the Canamera Medical Plaza. It is owned by Hish Husein, doctor of audiology. Husein owns the Auburn Hearing Centre (www.auburnhearing.com) in Waterloo and two in Hamilton.
. . . World Domination Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing (www.worlddominationink.com) has moved to 145 King St. E. in Kitchener from Charles Street. It now uses a Neuma tattoo machine that makes the procedure less painful.
Donna Shea networks for the Small Business section. Send her your news about openings, closings, company moves and changes in ownership. Write to her by email at shea@therecord.com Or reach her by phone at 519-894-2250, ext. 2603.
