enterprise facilitation's entrepreneur spotlight
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Meet Northeast Kansas Entrepreneurs! Read the latest Enterprise Facilitation Project Outcomes and upcoming events.TRANSCRIPT
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Northeast Kansas Enterpr ise Faci l i tat ion Ini t ia t ive Volume 8 , Issue 2
February 2012
Project Outcomes:
(June 2, 2003 to January 31, 2012)
Total Clients
Assisted: 739
Businesses Started:
56
Businesses
Expanded: 19
Jobs Created: 217
Businesses
Retained: 10
Jobs Retained: 68
Tune-Ups of Existing
Businesses: 64
For more information about Enterprise Facilitation, contact:
Facilitator Teresa McAnerney (785) 364-0583 [email protected]
Board Chair David Key (785) 336-2184
Northeast Kansas Enterprise Facilitation's Website www.nekef.org
Joni Deters got to know the custom t-shirt
and screen printing business well during
her time spent working at “The Total
Look” in Seneca. After a damaging fire,
the owner of that shop was ready to sell or
close. That’s when Deters decided she
was ready to be an entrepreneur.
While mulling over the details, she was
introduced to Teresa McAnerney of
Enterprise Facilitation. Together they
discussed elements of the business plan
and best practices of ownership and
management.
“Joni is so high spirited and friendly, I
doubt she has ever met a stranger,” says
McAnerney. “Her customers are top
priority and she gives them great advice
and service, which is key for building
repeat business,” adds McAnerney.
Deters began the business at the past
location but knew she needed a new space
to expand and grow. Deters credits her
supportive husband, Dale, for finding the
perfect building at 33 North 5th and it
wasn’t long before that was the address of
“The Top Shop”.
With her experienced crew, Dottie Deters,
embroiderer and April Kramer, graphic
artist staying on, she was soon thriving in
her new location.
The Top Shop, located just a block north
of Main Street, welcomes single orders or
team orders with a bulk discount, products
and services include; custom screen
printing, embroidery, vinyl banners, signs,
car decals, koozies, vinyl lettering,
custom wall art and graphics, one way
screen shades, and more. The most recent
service added is Direct To Garment
Printing, which allows the use of any
picture or image in a jpeg format to be
applied directly onto the garment. Great
ideas for custom T-shirts might include,
images of your player or team,
individuals, buildings, pets, wedding
parties etc.
Promotions include discounts for bulk or
team orders, and now offering a punch
card, get a punch for every ten dollars
spent and after five punches you receive
ten dollars off you next purchase.
The Top Shop
33 N. 5th in Seneca
785-336-6315
Find them on Facebook
Store Hours
Monday -Tuesday: 8-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9-8 p.m.
Thursday-Friday: 8-5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9-1p.m.
The Top Shop– They’re Tops in Tops and Much More!
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
The Top Shop is located in Seneca and owner Joni Deters will help you create customized apparel.
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Northeast Kansas Enterpr ise Faci l i tat ion Ini t ia t ive Volume 8 , Issue 2
February 2012
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
A couple of weeks
before Valentine’s Day,
M’Lovely and Yours
Truly were seated next
to a south window
adorned with Valentine
Day’s hearts. Beneath
this window was a
narrow table for two.
We spied a handwritten
menu list on the north
wall of the café: M
Roast BBQ Beef, T
BBQ Drummies, W
Pork Chop, T Fried
Chicken, F Goulash, and S Ck Fried Steak. Since it was
Wednesday, we asked about splitting a Pork Chop meal.
Machelle, smilingly, said they also have small plates; we
ordered two small plates.
As we ate, we could not but overhear a conversation at
the center counter of this pretty small café (hence the
narrow tables). A young man mentioned he had an eight-
week old son named Ernie Allan, named after Grandpa
Ernie. Rosa (Entrepreneur/Owner) looked lovingly at this
young man and with satisfaction in her voice, declared
that somewhere up there Ernie is smiling down at you!
The two of them continued to reminisce about Grandpa
Ernie. They recalled that whenever anyone complained
about the cost of gasoline, Ernie would say, “If you can
afford a car, you can afford the gasoline.”
We asked about the menu on the north wall. We were
told everything changes except for T Fried Chicken. We
asked why? Because, said Rosa, “people like Fried
Chicken.” However, she admitted that Fried Chicken
used to be served every Wednesday, but a route salesman
complained about being unable to always arrive in time
for the Fried Chicken. Fried Chicken is now served every
Thursday.
Rosa shared that she’s been at here at the Whiting Café,
for twenty-eight years this coming fall. How did you get
started? “My mom, Gwyn Himman,” said Rosa,
“operated a café in Denton for one and a half years
before moving here to Whiting and opening this cafe.”
Rosa added, “She dragged me along!”
What has been the most unusual food prepared? “Pretty
normal,” said Rosa, adding “with real potatoes and
homemade pie.” What about unusual events? In Rosa’s
25th year of being in business, Kansas Sampler
Foundation, Inman, KS chose the Whiting Café, 308
South Whiting Street; Whiting, KS 66552; (785) 873-
3125, for a makeover, including new windows and a
mural painted on the outside wall.
Years earlier, a couple arrived in a big wagon pulled by a
team of horses. This couple had followed highway 9, all
the way from California. They asked if they could take a
picture of Rosa and her cafe. Rosa indicated her hair
needed cutting. The California cowgirl said that she cut
hair. A stool was removed from the wagon; Rosa had her
hair cut while sitting on the stool, and then a picture was
then taken.
(Continued on page 3)
BG Buzzzzz
Whiting Cafe
By Betty/Gary Lortscher
January 30, 2012
Pictured above from left to right: Rosa Thomas (Entrepreneur/Owner), Alyssa Brown, and Machelle Brown
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Upcoming Events
Northeast Kansas Enterpr ise Faci l i tat ion Ini t ia t ive Volume 8 , Issue 2
February 2012
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Another interesting episode occurred after the
Whiting Café had been broken into. A motion
alarm system had been installed. One night
the alarm went off. Rosa called John (long-
time customer); he converged from the east
and Rosa converged from the north. They
were prepared to do battle; false alarm.
As we settled our bill we commented how
much we enjoyed the ‘normal’ ole fashioned
food and that the Valentine Day hearts in all
the windows really added a special touch.
Rosa proceeded to announce that “We are
Holiday correct!”
With contented smiles on our faces, we
waddled out the door wondering how much
people miss by frequenting fast food joints
and big non-personal restaurants.
(Continued from page 2)
John Kreider (Long time customer) and Rosa Thomas (Entrepreneur/Owner).
HOLTON SPRING EXPO
Friday, March 9. 4pm-8pm
Saturday, March 10, 7am-3pm
Holton, Fair Building
Come by and see NEKEF’s
Display!
NEKEF Board Meeting
Thursday, April 5
Breakfast meeting 7:30 am
The Dinner Bell
Wetmore, KS
Atchison Taste of Home Show
Saturday, April 14
O’Malley –McAllister Auditorium
Benedictine Campus
Come by and see NEKEF’s Display