Page 1

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 tm@nekef.org

Board Chair David Key (785) 336-2184

dkey@ksu.edu

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

thetopshop@bbwi.net

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.

Page 2

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

Page 3

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