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Author: Anne Panter
Graphics: Adam Panter
Reach us at apanter@kawartha.net
Last Christmas, my son's "wish list" included a particularly obscure book he had seen advertised. Since then, we have asked about it in book stores from Peterborough to Woodstock, to no avail. Finally, this week, I logged into an internet "book store", found and ordered the book in less than 5 minutes, and received confirmation the next day that it was in the mail.
I have no idea, nor do I care, where the book is coming from. Whether it's Los Angeles or Poughkeepsie, the postage is the same, and delivery will take the same amount of time.
The message here is that book stores - and clothing stores, and summer resorts - in the Kawarthas are now competing with similar enterprises the world over, via the internet. People can (and do), shop (and buy) and plan (and book) their vacations from the comfort of their own keyboards. This is both a challenge and a wonderful opportunity to local businesses. Our location has always been a mixed blessing. We are one of the world's most scenic areas (I may be biased) still unspoiled because we are beyond easy commuting distance of the "the city" . Of course, this also means a seasonal market and few employment opportunities.
On the internet, however, location is irrelevant. I can shop just as easily in London, England or London, Ontario. With the current state of the loonie, however, there is an advantage to shopping Canadian! And local businesses can have access to these world markets very easily: all you need is an email address.
Since the summer of 1996, all members of the Fenelon and Bobcaygeon Chambers of Commerce have been listed on the internet. You may recall seeing students teaching internet lessons in the libraries over the past two summers. These same students also built quite comprehensive web sites for Bobcaygeon and Fenelon. (The projects were sponsored by Community Access Program and HRD -ie. the federal government - and initiated by members of the Internet Users' Group). There are web pages for many local non-profit groups (too many to list here - see the internet address below, or search for "Bobcaygeon" or "Fenelon Falls"), plus a page for each of the Chambers of Commerce, with a listing for each business, indexed both by name and by product or service. Some businesses have proceeded to add their own web page, and are now doing business over the 'net. For the others, however, the listing is just that: a name, address and phone number. While it may be bringing in some business, without an email address it is just a "black hole". Internet users are are not inclined to make long distance phone calls - that's why they are using the 'net in the first place.
Unfortunately, even the Chambers of Commerce have yet to open an email account, so the only email address on their pages is my own - I send responses to the Chambers by fax!
What's required to take advantage of this market? A computer, a modem, an internet account, and a little knowledge. The computer and modem needn't be expensive. The minimum is a computer that can run Windows 3.1 and a 14,400-speed modem. Ask around and you can find these second-hand, and cheap. An internet account costs about $140 a year. You'll save that in long-distance calls very quickly!
The knowledge is free for the asking at the monthly meetings of the internet user group: 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month at the Lions' Hall, (across from the Promoter) on Main St. Bobcaygeon. 'See you there on Augst 13th.