B usiness &
P rofessional

• Computer Repairs - Upgrades - Repiacements
• Infections Treated - Antivirus . - CounterSpy
• Cable/DSL Internet Connection Sharing • EBAY, Yahoo, Stocks and AOL
• Computer Purchase Consulting • Training and Installation
• Wireless and Wired Networking Help

iPod and iTunes Support

Strong Suit from page 59

grs,Q.

The world is complicated, we're not.

Customized. Plans... Maximized. Value.

KE i DIFFUS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC

Individual & Employee/Group Plans

Charles H. Keys, CSA*
President

"Certified Senior Advisor
Long Term Care Specialist

39555 Orchard Hill Place, Ste 430
48375
office: (248) 347-7032 -
fax: (248) 347-7035
info@kbia-inc.com
www.kbia-inc.com

NOVi, MI

Life • Health • Dental
Vision • Long Term Care
Cafeteria Plans
Disability • Annuities

959640

istCall
Computer
Solutions
gThi
lumli

On-Site Repairs it Upgrades • Training

GREA T RATES

248-515-5702

Orkih

..

Certified References

1010910

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE?

Life Insurance is often available on a favorable
basis to people with well-managed, stable
coronary artery disease. Death benefits
$100,000 to $5,000,000.
Call Bruce Finsilver 248 540-9444

1013420

Ow,

*

LIF

THE CAREFREE WAY TO
CLIMB STAIRS

When you're disabled, or just not able to move around as
freely as you once could, stairs can be a real problem.
But there is a simple answer. The powered stairway lift.
Easily installed to fit curved or straight stairs. They give
you back the ability to move around your own home.
Folds back-gets in nobody's way.
CALL OR STOP BY FOR A FREE DEMONSTRATION

I love my
-Stairway Lift!

It takes me up
and down the
stairs with the
push of a
button. Call for
details!

ACTON RENTAL & SALES

LARRY ARONOFF

(313) 891-6500

(248) 540-5550 1053440

Are You Collecting Payments?

• Did you provide seller financing on a

house, boat, airplane, mobilehome...etc.?
•Are you holding a note?... Convert it to cash!
•Tired of waiting for your payments?
•Cash for your payment stream &
structured settlement.

Convert Them To Cash Today!

LTD Financial Resources,

www.ltdfinancialresources.com

60

1022620

(866) 526-8926

Proud members of: BBB, ALFA, Al3WA

LLC

guys, like you often hear in other
places of business today."
Freed dislikes dwelling on the nega-
tive, but admits that the tighter con-
trols implemented on the U.S.-
Canadian border after the Sept. 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, plus the recent
increase in gas prices, might have
made some customers think twice
before driving over to Windsor. "We
increased our advertising to remind
people we're still here,' he said.
The store often ships tailored pur-
chases to U.S. customers so they won't
have to make two trips across the bor-
der.
Ira Saperstein of Farmington Hills,
Who's a lawyer in Southfield, has been
shopping at Freeds for more than 20
years. He makes 6-10 trips a year to
the store.
"The post-9-11 border tie-ups were
horrible, but alll of that has pretty
much disappeared now, and it's easy to
get to the store Saperstein said. "I buy
my entire wardrobe there, and I often
bring friends with me. I've had the
same saleswoman for 15 years. They
are wonderful people to do business
with; a first-class service operation:'
Another big challenge for Freeds of
Windsor is the evolving dress code
among businessmen and the advent of
casual attire at many corporations and
businesses. "In the old days, people
stepped out all spiffed up and nicely
dressed, with ties and jackets; it was a
pleasure to see them that way' Freed
said. "But that dress code seems to
have lapsed, and many people just
aren't dressed properly today.
"The casual work days at many
businesses affected our suit sales,
especially among young people, but
many companies have reversed the
casual day policy now They realize
that, if they really want to do business
with their own customers, they need
more professional-looking employees.
"Of course, we're stocked up to be
ready for them either way —suits or
casual clothes." -
Freed's brother-in-law, Alan Orman
of Windsor, became Freed's partner in
the late 1950s, and their sons, Ari
Freed, 44, and Dan Orman, 43, both of
West Bloomfield, now run the day-to-
day operations. "In almost 50 years,
Alan and I have never had a harsh
word between us," said Freed. "It is
truly an exemplary relationship:'
Added customer Saperstein: "Gerald
and Alan are very dapper. They always
look like they just stepped out of
Gentlemen's Quarterly magazine."
Ari Freed, who has an economics
degree from York University in Toronto

-

and an MBA from the University of .
Windsor, is the store's main suit buyer
and advertising director. He developed
the idea of using coaches and athletes
as advertising spokespeople.
"The best way to attract male buy-
ers is through some sports connec-
tion:' he said. "They read the sports
pages, watch sports on television and
hear sports on the radio"
Former Detroit Pistons Coach
Chuck Daly and former Lions Coach
Wayne Fontes were the first celebri-
ties to appear in Freeds of Windsor
ads, followed by ex-Red Wings and
Pistons Coaches Scotty Bowman,
Rick Carlisle and Larry Brown as
well as Lions Coach Steve Mariucci.
New Red Wings Coach Mike
Babcock is now making a commer-
cial.
"Working with Fontes was a lot of
fun: said Freed. "Shooting the spots
required many takes because he kept
mumbling the words, He just wanted
to emulate Chuck Daly, who has a
reputation for being a real clothes
maven."
Freeds also sends direct-mail ads
to about 12,000 customers, hits
many of them with weekly "e-mail
blasts" and runs "three-or-two-suits-
for-the-price-of-one" sales.
Suit prices range as a high as
$1,000 and sizes go from 34 extra
small to 76 extra long. "We have the
largest suit selection under one roof
in Canada;' said Ari Freed. "We sell
to customers who have moved to far-
off cities and anyone can shop us on
the internet at www.freeds.com!'
What's the "in" look for suits
today? "Single-breasted, two- or
three-button jackets, center and side
vents, no baggy, pleated pants, luxu-
ry fbrics and more stripes instead
of solid colors:' Freed answered.
"Ari and Dan have done a great job
for us," said Gerald Freed. "They've
been the 'icing on the cake' for the
store. Whether the customer's dress
code is formal or causal, they come
up with the right merchandise."
Freed and his wife, Miriam (Mikie),
have been married for 48 years, and
the they also have a son, Mark, who
runs an advertising premium compa-
ny in Toronto, and a daughter, Natalie,
and seven grandchildren. Natalie's
husband, Bill Newman, is an owner of
the Say-On Drug Store chain in
Oakland County. 1-1

December 1 2005