12 January 2009 www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
Have curling shop, will travel
Winter Games
By Melissa Kosowan
Rob Davidson knew he
wanted to start a business in
benefit business
Muskoka and considered
everything from a restaurant to Continued from FRONT perfect venues with the
a car wash, but it wasn’t until snowboarders and wrestling required infrastructure,” he
he got back into curling that he and table tennis will be held says. “The games will be the
discovered his calling in life. at Deerhurst Resort. athletes’ first step towards
“I’m really trying to revital- In Lake of Bays, women’s the 2014 Olympics. They
ize the curling in the area,” he hockey will take place at the are chomping at the bit to
explains. “It just seemed like a Baysville Arena. perform.”
real natural fit to start a busi- In Bracebridge, tae kwon Don McGillis, owner of
ness and help people raise do, synchronized swim- the Muskoka Riverside Inn
money for their curling clubs ming, badminton and gym- in Bracebridge, is sure it will
too.” nastics events will happen at benefit his business.
In late November, Davidson the Bracebridge Sportsplex. “I hope it will good for
started Davidson Sports, a In Gravenhurst, curling everybody – restaurants,
mobile curling centre based events will be held at the hotels, retail stores,” he
out of Bala that caters to the
CLEAN SWEEP: Lori and Rob Davidson started a mobile curling shop.
Gravenhurst Curling Club, says.
curling industry. while men’s hockey will be Anne White, director of
“The hardest part about like, okay, so I can have this ing equipment, Davidson trav- to retail stores in the area that held at the Gravenhurst Cen- communications for Deer-
finding out what business to product in a particular unit and els from Midland to North Bay carry curling equipment. tennial Centre. Air rifle and hurst Resort, is looking for-
get into was trying to find a I can take it anywhere I want. I to set up shop at various curl- Davidson, who runs the wrestling competitions are ward to the games as well.
place to establish it,” he don’t have to own real estate ing clubs and events. business with his wife, hopes also slated to be held in “We’re really excited that
explains. “There were either and I can park it in my drive- Dedicated to the sport, he to eventually expand the busi- Gravenhurst, but venues a destination like Muskoka
very limited spaces to get into, way and I can run the business often donates part of the pro- ness to other sports and set up have yet to be determined. would secure another major
either buying real estate or out of my house. For now it is ceeds from sales when sta- a retail location in Muskoka. In The Township of Musko- sports tourism event like
renting real estate and then it a great way for Lori my wife, tioned at a club event, or the meantime, he’s focusing on ka Lakes will host ringette at this,” she says. “I think
came down to the pricing of it. and I, to get into a business at donates equipment, which the expanding his business. the Bala Arena, while box- along with Ironman, pond
People just think their real a marginal price and learn club can then use as prizes or “It’s really a thrill to be in ing and kick boxing events hockey and other things that
estate up here is worth far about being a small business raffle as a fundraiser. business based out of Musko- are being held at The have gone on, this is certain-
more than it actually is. entrepreneur.” But more than just a retail ka,” he concludes. “That was Rosseau, a JW Marriott ly another feather in our
“We looked at that option Representing Goldline Curl- store, his company also sup- kind of my goal in life and now Resort & Spa, located in cap.”
and then all of a sudden it was ing, a leading company in curl- plies equipment at wholesale I’m here.” Minett at the Red Leaves She adds, “What’s really
resort community, which exciting is it will be coming
will host the biathlon event. right after the Vancouver
South Eastern Georgian 2010 Olympics, so it will
Algonquin slowed by automotive slump
Bay will host alpine and have a momentum at a time
Continued from FRONT In response to the unprece- March – that’s still going to tomers, including Toyota, freestyle skiing events at when there’s a real interest
auto makers. Those large dented downturn in the U.S. happen,” notes Suttie. “Those which announced in Decem- Mount St. Louis Moon- in sport.”
companies have extended automotive market, Algo- people are affected by this ber that it was facing its first stone. Malone says traditionally,
their holiday shut-downs to nquin Automotive announced temporary shutdown as well, financial loss in 70 years. Rounding things out are the weekend before a March
mid-January or later. in November that it would unfortunately, but they just “While we do not expect the indoor field hockey break is a low occupancy
Algonquin Automotive is a reduce its workforce by get a jump start on their EI sales to remain this low for events, which will be held at time for hotels and resorts.
supplier of automotive acces- approximately 40 positions claim.” long, it is clear that our Muskoka Woods near the “This is a low occupancy
sories, creating products such over the coming months. U.S. vehicle sales are industry is much smaller and village of Rosseau. weekend that is now becom-
as running boards, tube steps “We did permanently let down by over 25 per cent due we need to take appropriate Malone says work an ing a sold-out weekend
and painted cladding pack- go people in November that to the credit crunch, and steps to restructure for long organizing committee has throughout Muskoka,” he
ages. are leaving us at the end of major automakers are also term success,” he says. “The been working on securing says. “The economic impact
cancelling or delaying most recent announcements by the
venues over the past three of bringing 10,000 visitors
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