HotTimes
CHRISTMAS 2002
A NEWSLETTER ON WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT
ISSUE 8 VOLUME 1
NORTHWEST
STOVES LTD.
Merry
5505 - 268th Street
Langley
British Columbia
Christmas
Canada V4W 3W1
by Dan Cook
Phone:
(604) 857-8816
Toll Free:
I write this and Christmas is only I want to take the opportunity to with Cathy and our boys, fol- 1-800-663-0462
one month away! Another year wish you the best of the season. lowed by a quiet evening as a fam-
has just flown by and before long The busy fall will eventually ily. Whether it’s spiritual, or not, Fax:
I’ll be trying to remember to write slow down (if only because it’s my wish is for you to be able to (604) 857-8963
2003 for the date. Forget about 5PM on December 24th) and I enjoy your favourite tradition this Toll Free Fax:
2002, where did 2000 go? hope you can take time to relax. year. 1-800-667-6162
The retail business is both tiring
This fall, at Northwest Stoves, we and trying and Christmas can be This newsletter is a little different Website:
have managed to keep our inven- a time to recharge the batteries. than usual. I hope you enjoy it. www.northweststoves.ca
tory in good shape. Thanks to We will continue in the New Year
Wayne for paying for a warehouse Christmas is also a time of tradi- with our series on the History of
full of stock and to Dan Kosovic tions; maybe it’s the turkey and Northwest Stoves. In the mean-
for managing the purchases so stuffing at Grandma’s house, or time make sure you look at all the
well. We also appreciate all of the getting together with close specially priced items as well as
dealers who took part in the early friends, or that special event with the gift suggestions we have
buy program. It really helps out the family. One of the traditions I packed in this issue. If you read
with the planning when some of enjoy is attending a can- Dave Berry’s quote included else-
the inventory is already in your dlelight Christmas Eve where in this newsletter you
location, and many of you have service at our will understand when I IN THIS ISSUE…
mentioned how well you did with church say to you "Seasons
selling items just because you had Greetings!", "Happy PAGE 1
it in stock. Hanukkah!", or "Look Merry Christmas
out for the wall!" but
At Northwest Stoves, October especially a very PAGE 2
proved to be our biggest month in "Merry Christmas!" Christmas Quiz
history, and November has con-
tinued to be busy, although not
Facts on Firewood
quite at October’s level. We
owe all of you a thank you for
the business this year and espe- PAGE 3
cially for allowing us to a have a Santa’s Suggestions
record month. I also want to
thank all our staff that so efficient- Pilgrim for Christmas
ly manned the phones, entered
orders, and shipped product dur- PAGE 4
ing these extremely busy weeks. Top 10 Signs
Our Staff
8. When distributing gifts in
Your Northwest Stoves Holland, St. Nicholas is
“Peace on earth will
Christmas Quiz: accompanied by:
a. His wife Lucy
come to stay, when we t
b. His servant, Black Peter
live Christmas every W e
Welcome to Christmas 2002. 5. The poinsettia, a traditional c. Thirteen elves
day.” Most of us have been around a few r
Christmas flower, originally d. St. Stephen
years and have gathered many grew in which country?
Helen Steiner Rice memories of Christmas past. Here a. Canada 9. "Hot cockles" was popular at
are a few Christmas Quiz b. China Christmas in medieval times.
Questions to see how good your c. Mexico It was:
“I will honour Christmas knowledge of Christmas Trivia is.
T d. Spain a. A dish of oysters and
in my heart and try to Have fun, then check the answers
n mussels
keep it all the year.” on page 3 to see how you scored! 6. In Greek legend, malicious b. A hot spiced drink
creatures called Kallikantzaroi c. A game in which a blind-
Charles Dickens sometimes play troublesome folded person was struck
1. Electric Christmas tree lights pranks at Christmas time. To T d. The title of a popular
were first used in: get rid of them, you should: drinking song
“May you have the glad- a. 1492 a. Placate them with gifts of
ness of Christmas, rice pudding 10. During the ancient 12-day
b. 1895
which is hope, the spirit b. Burn either salt or an old n
Christmas celebration, it was
c. 1944
of Christmas, which is shoe k
considered unlucky to:
d. 1976
peace, the heart of a. Let the log in the fireplace
c. Sing hymns in a loud voice
Christmas, which is
2. Good King Wenceslas was king
a d. Throw your sandals at them stop burning
love.”
of which country?
c t b. Sneeze
a. Abyssinia
y 7. A boar’s head is a traditional c. Spill wine or ale
Ada V. Hendricks
b. England
g Christmas dish. According to d. Hunt reindeer
c. Bohemia
m y k
a popular story, the unlucky
d. Gondor boar whose head began the Check the Answers on page 3 and
custom in the Middle Ages see how you scored.
3. The real St. Nicholas lived: was killed by:
a. At the North Pole a. Choking to death on a book
b. On the Island of Malta of Greek philosophy
c. In Turkey
T W
b. King Wenceslas, who
d. In Holland speared it from horseback
c. A falling fir tree
4. In Syria, Christmas gifts are d. Remorse, after goring St.
distributed by: Nicholas
a. The Three Kings
T
b. Tom O’Bedlam
W
c. One of the Wise Men’s
Camels
“Christmas is the sea- d. Father Christmas
son for kindling the fire
of hospitality in the hall,
the genial flame of
charity in the heart.”
Facts on Firewood
Washington Irving
you are perfectly normal.
0 – 2 correct Congratulations,
Santa’s Suggestions -
3 – 5 correct Good guessing!
6 – 8 correct You need to get out more!
9 – 10 correct Liar!
Gifts for Staff and Friends How Did You Score?
handed down from the Druids.
from year to year. The Yule Log custom was
............................CAT. PAGE ........CODE ..........................SUGG. RETAIL ter, to ensure that the good luck carried on
Ecofan ...................................69..................DZ-ECOFAN .....................$ 112 Log would be kept to kindle the fire next win-
Ecofan Airplus .....................69..................DZ-ECOFAN802.............. $ 145
the "Yule Log". Sometimes a piece of the Yule
The log burned at Christmas time was called
Smart Splitter .......................50..................DK-SMAA0001 .................$ 185 Let the log in the fireplace stop burning
Poker Fan..............................69..................DZ-801 ................................. $55
celebration, it was considered unlucky to: “There is nothing sad-
der in this world than to
10)During the ancient 12-day Christmas
Super Safe Fan .....................69..................DZ-707B ...............................$ 25
Storage Brackets .................N/A.............DK-BRAC0001 ....................$ 25
Ouch! awake Christmas morn-
ing and not be a child.”
name of the person delivering each blow.
Santa’s Helper remote ........66..................DS-1310 ................................$ 40 ing the blindfolded one, who had to guess the
Skytech remote ....................70..................DS-1400 ................................$ 85 us know). The other players took turns strik-
until the Victorian era (if anyone still plays it let
Erma Bombeck
Skytech remote ....................70..................DS-1001 ..............................$ 129 "Hot cockles" was still a Christmas pastime
Soapstone steamer ..............N/A.............AH-9099112 .......................$ 149 blindfolded person was struck
medieval times. It was: A game in which a
Denim log tote .....................N/A.............DZ-LB202.............................$ 30
“In the old days, it was
9) "Hot cockles" was popular at Christmas in
Draft gauge ..........................67..................DZ-DWYER.........................$ 49 away to Spain. not called the Holiday
Millistat/thermostat ...........63..................DZ-MS2................................$ 33 by putting them in a bag and carrying them
Season; the Christians
Analog moisture meter ......68..................DZ-MT270 ........(net price) $ 88 chimneys, but he also punishes bad children
called it "Christmas"
ping the presents down their recipients’ "Excel"
Digital moisture meter .......68..................DZ-MT700 ......(net price) $ 159 Black Peter is responsible for actually drop-
and went to church; the
Safety Gate ...........................86..................FK-G70 ...............................$ 289 is accompanied by: His servant, Black Peter
Jews called it
Magnetic thermometer.......63..................DZ-316 .................................$ 15
8) When distributing gifts in Holland, St. Nicholas
"Hanukkah" and went to
Probe thermometer .............50..................DK-687 .................................$ 20 brought it back to his college.
synagogue; the atheists
Qwick wick fire starter.......N/A.............DK-695 ...................................$ 3
throat. He then cut off the boar’s head and
ming a book of Aristotle’s writings down its went to parties and
Gas leak detector.................50..................DK-169 ...................................$ 3 saved himself from a charging boar by ram-
drank. People passing
Stove scents bottles .............64..................DZ-SC**................................$ 11
The story tells us that a university student
death on a book of Greek philosophy each other on the
Stove scents stones..............64..................DZ-SCSTONE .....................$ 10 the Middle Ages was killed by: Choking to
street would say "Merry
unlucky boar whose head began the custom in
dish. According to a popular story, the Christmas!" or "Happy
- Phone for current availability. 7) A boar’s head is a traditional Christmas Hanukkah!" or (to the
they can’t sneak down the "Excel" chimney. atheists) "Look out for
bone by the door and keeping a large fire so the wall!"
Pilgrim for Christmas
effective methods include hanging a pig’s jaw-
(or salt) drives off the Kallikantzaroi. Other
Apparently the stench of the burning shoe Dave Berry
Some dealers mistakenly believe that Pilgrim is expensive. While it is you should: Burn either salt or an old shoe
pranks at Christmas time. To get rid of them,
true that some items are higher priced, there are a number of items that Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome
retail for under $150. The Christmas season is traditionally the time to 6) In Greek legend, malicious creatures called
sell the Pilgrim product – this is when people are looking for unique brought it to America in 1829.
Christmas items. The following items all retail for under $150 (as do "Flower of the Holy Night". Joel Poinsett first
all of the grates we stock):
In Mexico, the poinsettia is known as the
Mexico
FH-C2 ...........................Suede Log Carrier....................pg. 12 .............$ 89 flower, originally grew in which country?
FH-LC200 .....................Suede & Black iron Carrier ....pg. 12 ...........$ 129
5) The poinsettia, a traditional Christmas
Northwest Stoves
FH-AH6 ........................Ash Holder ...............................pg. 12 .............$ 75 smallest one in the Wise Men’s caravan.
FH-WH6 .......................Wood Holder............................pg. 13 .............$ 89
The gift-giving camel is said to have been the
Christmas
Hours
One of the Wise Men’s Camels
FH-WH4 .......................Wood Holder............................pg. 13 .............$ 95 4) In Syria, Christmas gifts are distributed by:
FH-WH11......................Wood Holder............................pg. 13 ...........$ 120 Santa Claus.
FH-WH13 .....................Wood Holder............................pg. 13 ...........$ 135 where his name eventually became the familiar Closed:
FH-WC1........................Wood Cart.................................pg. 13 ...........$ 110 and Dutch settlers brought him to America
who first made him into a Christmas gift-giver, Noon on December 24th
FH-LH36.......................36" Log Hoop ...........................pg. 13 .............$ 99 Myra in the early 4th century. It was the Dutch Until December 29th
FH-LH48.......................48" Log Hoop ...........................pg. 13 ...........$ 115 St. Nicholas was bishop of the Turkish town of
3) The real St. Nicholas lived: In Turkey
FH-1050.........................28" Black Iron Toolset..............pg. 5 ...........$ 139 Open Regular
FH-2100.........................18" Toolset .................................pg. 14 .............$ 99 tenth century.
Duke of Bohemia, not a king. He lived in the Business Hours:
FH-2322.........................23" Toolset .................................pg. 14 ...........$ 125 The historical Wenceslas was actually only December 30th & 31st
FH-PG100/200/300 ....Screens.......................................pg. 24 ...........$ 125 country? Bohemia
FHSG3131.....................Spark Guard .............................pg. 25 ...........$ 149
2) Good King Wenceslas was king of which
Closed:
January 1st, 2003
candles.
new lights proved safer than the traditional
came from an American, Ralph E. Morris. The
The idea for using electric Christmas lights
used in: 1895
Regular Hours
1) Electric Christmas tree lights were first Resume:
Christmas Quiz – Answers
January 2nd, 2003
Top 10 Signs
you won’t be receiving a
Christmas Bonus this year:
Revised from David Letterman
“A lovely thing about 10. Co-workers refer to you as 6. You invested 100% of the 3. Whenever you ask for a raise,
Christmas is that it’s "the ghost of unemployment company’s pension plan in a guy shows up at your house
compulsory, like a thun- future". Nortel. and breaks your jaw.
derstorm, and we all go
through it together.” 9. The last time you saw your 5. You keep getting memos 2. In your most recent
boss was when he testified reminding you that performance evaluation,
Garrison Keillor against you at the employees are required the word "crap" appeared
embezzlement trial. to wear pants. 78 times.
“At Christmas, play and
8. On your door, you find a 4. When your boss came over The number one sign you won’t
make good cheer, for
lovely wreath of pink slips. for Thanksgiving, he was be receiving a Christmas Bonus
Christmas comes but
crushed under an avalanche this year:
once a year.”
7. What you call "my new office," of stolen office supplies.
Thomas Tusser
everybody else calls 1. The boss’s Christmas card
"the supply closet". says, "Don’t let the door hit
your ass on the way out."
“From home to home,
and heart to heart, from
one place to another, DAN KOSOVIC (ext# 27)
the warmth and joy of
Christmas brings us Our Staff Purchasing, Parts, Technical,
Warranty Claims To leave VOICE MAIL
closer to each other.”
email: please phone:
TODD AYLEY (ext# 21) dkosovic@northweststoves.ca 604-856-8750
Emily Matthews
Shipping & Receiving Manager
email: JOHN MITCHELL (ext# 54)
or 1-888-663-8816
tayley@northweststoves.ca Outside Sales
To leave a voice
email:
GRANT BIECH (ext#22) mail, call and
jmitchell@northweststoves.ca
Customer Service, Website, enter the extension of the
Shipping & Receiving person you are trying to reach
DAVID ROSVOLD (ext# 31)
email: and you will be automatically
Catalogues, Literature, Price Lists,
gbiech@northweststoves.ca directed to that person’s line.
Accounting
We will take your call
email:
DAN COOK (ext# 26) promptly, or you can leave a
drosvold@northweststoves.ca
Sales & Marketing, voice mail for a quick call
Customer Service back. No time to talk? Then
WAYNE ROURKE (ext# 32)
email: just send us an email.
President, Owner
dcook@northweststoves.ca email:
wrourke@northweststoves.ca
Our email:
MIKE HARSTONE (ext# 30) nws@northweststoves.ca
Outside Sales DAWNE SCHILDT (ext# 29)
email: Customer Service, Order Desk,
“Heap on the wood! – mharstone@northweststoves.ca Please note the change of our
Invoicing, A/R
the wind is chill; but let email addresses to ".ca" from
email:
it whistle, as it will; REID HARVEY (ext# 55) ".bc.ca". Please update your
dschildt@northweststoves.ca
we’ll keep our Outside Sales records if you have not
Christmas merry still.” email: already done so.
GREG STALMAN (ext# 36)
rharvey@northweststoves.ca Customer Service, Returns,
Sir Walter Scott Shipping & Receiving
Our website:
email: www.northweststoves.ca
gstalman@northweststoves.ca