A recently formed partnership in financing has sprouted another business in downtown Emporia.
A children’s clothing store, named PunkinDoodles, will open in August at 725 Commercial St.
The owners, Shalla and Robert Bennett, have worked with Emporia Main Street, the Small Business Development Center at Emporia State University, and NetWork Kansas to put together a business plan and financing for the store, which will feature clothing from birth to 10 years of age for girls and birth to approximately 4 years for boys.
A baby registry also is planned.
“We’re really doing ‘hip casual,’” Shalla Bennett said during an interview last week at the store site. “It’s going to be funky and hip stuff that’s still easy to take care of.”
The store’s name, she said, came from a pet name her mother called Shalla and her brother: PunkinDoodle.
Main Street Director Casey Woods said PunkinDoodles was the second no-interest loan combination used to boost business in downtown Emporia. Walburn’s Gym received the first.
Financing for the clothing store has come through the Trusler Loan Fund at Emporia Main Street, the Incentives Without Walls loan system, and a 60-40 matching loan from NetWork Kansas, a source developed in recent years to help people start or develop their businesses.
The loans were made at no interest.
“We match the terms of the partner,” said Jamie Hofling, NetWork Kansas product manager for economics.
Woods heard about the NetWork Kansas group at a meeting he attended as a Main Street volunteer, before he took over as director. The special loan funds projects that don’t fit other criteria for financial assistance.
“I said, ‘Why aren’t we coordinating with these people?” Woods said.
An alliance soon was created with the state group, which was formed about 2005.
“I probably couldn’t have done this without their help,” Bennett said. “They hooked me up.”
Hofling was in Emporia on Tuesday to hand the Bennetts a $17,830.59 check from her group.
“The great thing about the NetWork Kansas loans is that it can be for the little stuff you need,” Hofling said.
The other loans were for specific purposes; the NetWork Kansas money can be used as needed for related business expenses.
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Bennett said after the presentation. “That’s what will finish this up.”
The ideal location for the business presented itself early in the process.
“We bought the building in November. It’s a really great location,” she said, adding that they could not pass up the opportunity even though the business was more in her mind than on paper.
“I started writing a business plan and started working with the SBDC at the university,” she said.
She attended the 8-week class for entrepreneurs, sponsored by Emporia Main Street at the Flint Hills Technical College, and did extensive market research to make sure that PunkinDoodles would not only fill a niche in this area, but would fill the niche effectively.
The store will be filled from front to back with children’s clothing. It has between 1,200 and 1,300 square feet on the first floor, a 300-square-feet mezzanine, and an upstairs that will be used for office space.
The Bennetts went to market in March to buy stock for the store, in preparation for the back-to-school season, and currently are in the process of adapting the former store to fit their needs.
Robert Bennett travels extensively across the country as instrument consultant for Siemens Health Care, in addition to getting PunkinDoodles ready for its grand opening. The couple moved back to Shalla Bennett’s home town last year. She had been away since she left to attend Kansas University in Lawrence.
“We wanted to be back with grandma and grandpa,” she said.
Grandma and Grandpa — Emporians Bev and Roger Potter — were equally eager to have the Bennetts in Emporia. They have been ready-and-willing babysitters for their Bennett grandchildren, Elleana, 5, and Emeil, 3, while the couple works to finish the store.
Assistance also has come from other store owners, who have recommended computer systems and other tips they already learned from experience.
“I have to say, the retailers in town have been nothing but supportive,” Bennett said.
Woods predicted that PunkinDoodles will add business for other downtown merchants. Studies done earlier in this area identified children’s clothing as a major “market leakage” for the city, meaning that shoppers are going out of town to buy those and related items.
“We’re the most studied community in the state,” Woods remarked.
If area residents patronize the children’s clothing store instead of going out of town to shop, he anticipates that those customers will be likely to buy other items, such as shoes, in town, too.
“Just one more reason to keep people downtown,” Woods said.
Comments
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wildcatnurse (anonymous) says...
I hope you will carry Pedipeds....they are the best shoes EVER!!!!
May 19, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Super, this is reallyl needed. I'm happy to support such a business.
May 19, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
littlefifth (anonymous) says...
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a wonderful idea, but why only boys clothes up to four years old?
May 19, 2009 at 11:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
workingmomma (anonymous) says...
I agree with Littlefifth, why will the boys clothes only go up to 4? It is so hard to find cute clothes for boys in this town already. Would be nice if they had clothing for the older boys as well as the girls. Anxious to see what they carry. Will be a nice addition to Emporia.
May 20, 2009 at 7 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PunkinDoodles (anonymous) says...
Totally understand the frustration on the boys clothes. I have many friends with little boys and they are sick and tired of frogs and teddy bears in primary colors. I really get it. But the extensive market research that we did shows that moms just aren't willing to spend the same for a boys as they would a girls. And unfortunately, the manufacturers of boys clothes think we are all as wealthy as The Housewives of Orange County. Fear not though ladies, this is just our first season so we are testing the waters to see what you want. If all the moms with boys rush the doors of PunkinDoodles and demand more, we will search high and low for some reasonably priced boys apparel in larger sizes for the spring.
May 20, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )