outlet at Miles Market was an example of how Bermuda's marketplace was changing.

He predicted other service companies would follow Miles' lead by adding new and different services to existing businesses.

The diversification not only made it more convenient for the consumer to avail himself or herself of both services at the same time but also opened each business to the other's customer base, he said.

This change was inevitable, he said, because though the size of Bermuda had not changed, the time it took to get several errands done -- primarily because of increased traffic -- had increased.

"With different outlets in the same place, you don't have to drive to one place for laundry service, another for dry cleaning, another for film processing, then to Miles for groceries. People can do all these things in one place,'' said Mr. Thomson.

"It's a trend common in the US and Canada.'' Under Just Shirts' arrangement with Miles, there is no additional cost to the customer. Miles gets a percentage of gross sales and staffs the outlet, Mr.

Thomson said.

"I've had a call from another large supermarket about putting an outlet there. It's been neat to watch the moves in the Bermuda market over the past few years.'' About three weeks ago, Just Shirts launderers and Hamilton ValCleners Ltd.

opened outlets at Miles Market.

Prior to these, Miles set up affiliations with Llewries Photo Shop for photo finishing.

Llewries manager Llewellyn Carter said the photo finishing outlet, opened at Miles about 18 months ago, had meant an increase in the business's overall sales.

"This has opened a new area of business for us,'' he said.

Miles also has affiliations with Just Roses for fresh flowers and with Portofino Restaurant. Items from the restaurant's menu are part of the Miles To Go service.

"We're trying to focus on customer service. Customers say they don't want the parking hassles. We're trying to create one stop for customers to get several errands done,'' Miles customer service manager Linda Cox said.

As part of the market's plan, these outlets will move with Miles to the proposed multi-million dollar Pitts Bay waterfront development where Miles market will have three times its current floor space.

Miles has plans to add more similar outlets within its space, she said. Among them could be a Mailboxes Unlimited outlet.

Mr. Thomson, who owns Mailboxes Unlimited, said: "There's huge changes taking place in the service sector.'' He said longer hours of operation has been one of the most significant recent changes.

"More places are opening for longer hours. Businesses are heading in this direction. When I opened Just Shirts and offered service until 7 p.m. people said why stay open until 7, you won't get business. Now it's one of my busiest times,'' he said.