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SYOB Class 2014
The Start Your Own Business Class has begun!  This cooperative effort between the Small Business Development Center at Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia Main Street has helped start or expand 38 area businesses since its inception.  Pictured above are some of this years class members.

Emporia Main Street 
E-Newsletter


Warmer weather is right around the corner, but Valentines Day is almost HERE!  Check out information about an under served market, community questions and much more in this week's E-News!
 

 

Studio 11 Classes  

 Valentines Shopping Event at Studio 11!

Live music, drinks, snacks, deals & more! Come shop for the perfect gift, enjoy live local music & have some treats on us!

Thursday, February 13th from 5-8 p.m. at Studio 11!

CLICK HERE for details 

2014 Dinner Ticket
Click HERE for the Dinner and Taste Ticket
2014 General Ticket
Click HERE for the general Taste Ticket

 The Taste is April 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium.  This classic event features Kansas Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, local restaurants, live music and a lot of fun!  We also have a Taste AND Dinner option.  Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m., and dinner attendees gain early access to The Taste.  We sold out of tickets the last three years, so remember to get your tickets EARLY!!!  Click the links above to reserve your dinner ticket or your general ticket (we will hold on-line tickets at the door).  Don't wait!  Get your tickets TODAY!!!

  Main Street Merchandise

You can order the items listed below at a variety of local merchants, at the Emporia Main Street office or on-line at www.emporiamainstreet.com  

 

Emporia Opoly Game Board 

Emporia-Opoly Game Boards are in and moving QUICKLY!  This Emporia version of the classic Monopoly board game features local businesses, historic sights and special Emporia Tokens. This is the perfect gift for current or past Emporians.  Because there is a limited quantity, we suggest you get yours soon..

 

Gift Certificates 2013 

Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates are always the perfect size!  Give the gift of shopping local this year with the gift of Emporia Main Street gift certificates, good at our member merchants throughout Emporia.

  Quarter Mania Logo  

Quarter Mania

March 13th in the Granada Theatre

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE for a video explaining this fun event that helps local businesses AND provides great prizes for you!

  February Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters

  Mobile App QR Codes

 Learn more about local amenities, organizations, businesses, events and more with the E-Town Mobile App!  The ETown App is a joint project among Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College, USD 253, The Emporia Gazette, the City of Emporia, the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Emporia Main Street.

 

For IPhone Users, click here: 

 

For Android Users, click here: 

 

For the NEW iPad Version, click here: 

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/e-town-app-emporia-kansas/id712001984?mt=8 

 

New additions AND a Web version COMING SOON!


FHTC Logo

 

 

Online Moodle 2.5 Boot Camp

Instructor: Kim Dhority

Session 2:  Schedule: Modules open  March 24-May 26. (Must be registered by  March 15).

Cost: $25; graduate credit is available through Baker University at an additional cost. 

 

Do you want to offer online classes?  Do you want to be able to give handouts or presentations to your students anywhere?  Join Kim Dhority for an informative and helpful "boot camp", and learn how to use the open-source learning management system called Moodle.  Through seven interactive and informative online modules, the class will cover course set-up, maintenance, resources, activities, advanced features, and more! This course is ideal for college instructors and administrators, and is available for graduate credit through Baker University for an additional fee.   Please contact 620-341-1392 for additional details. 

 

Eating in Season

Instructor: Tracey Graham          

Cost: $5

Schedule: Session 1: Tuesday,  January 21, 6:00-8:00 PM

                  Session 2: Tuesday, February 18, 6:00-8:00 PM

 

We all know that locally-grown foods (from your garden, your friends' and neighbors' gardens, the Farmers Market, etc.) are the very best.  Even in the depths of winter, there are many lovely foods available locally.  Tips for creative ways of consuming high-quantity foods while they're at their peak is the focus of this class.  Explore how to take advantage of the abundance that is available at different times of the year, and sample some recipes whipped up from what's available right now.  Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.

  

 

 

 

Enroll today!  Visit http://flinthills.augusoft.net or call 620-341-1392.

 

Sunflower Gymnastics Meet

Sunflower Invitational
Sunflower Gymnastics is hosting the 2014 Trampoline and Tumbling Sunflower Winter Invitational at White Auditorium on Saturday, February 15.  This is their 12th event since 2007.

The event is bringing 310 athletes from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado to compete at what has become the largest Trampoline and Tumbling meet in a 5 state area.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help at the meet please contact David or Stacie Doemland at 620-340-0831 or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

There are also opportunities to purchase sponsorship ads in the program for $50 a spot. The ads are a horizontal measuring 4.75" x 1.9" (28p9x11p1).

If you would like to place a sponsorship ad please contact David Doemland at 620-340-0831 or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> The deadline is February 10.

Property Availability Guide
For property owners with property available for rent or sale, this is a free service to collect information and post it on the Emporia Main Street Web Site.  With other market information available, we hope this site makes it easier for potential businesses and property developers to find spaces they need.
CLICK HERE to enter information about your available property and view previously submitted information.
Business Investment Guide
Business Investment Guide 
 

Do you know a business that should locate in Emporia?  Maybe you know an entrpreneur looking for resources or a business owner looking to expand?  The Business Investment Guide is community information designed to help you point your contacts in the right direction!

 

CLICK HERE for the INVESTMENT GUIDE

What do we want?  CLOTHING!  What do we need?  Keep reading...
  shopping-bags-girl-sm.jpg      
  New market information gives us a more in depth look at one of Emporia's needs.
Every consumer has wants and needs.  Every business has wants and needs.  Therein lies the challenge in development: balancing what the community wants with what businesses can realistically provide.  Sometimes consumers wants are really needs and sometimes the things consumers need aren't as appealing as what they want.  One of the ways to achieve the necessary balance is to look at market gaps, and encourage people to address areas of need.

Clothing options (or lack thereof) is something that we hear from the public on a consistent basis.  But, we also hear several wants that don't necessarily coincide with identified gaps in available market data.  Market ecstatic-shopping-bags.jpg gaps exist when consumer models indicate that our local consumer capacity to spend in a certain market category is greater than actual retail spending in that same category.

For example, the projected consumer expenditures (demand) for 2013 in the category of Jewelry Stores within a 25 mile area (NACIS Code 44831) was $3,043,776.  The actual consumer sales (supply) was $3,887.794.  So, we exceeded market expectations in this category by $844,018.  This indicates a "negative gap" or an area where the market may be saturated.

A little disclaimer- there are two basic reporting services for market data that are consistently used: Esri and Nielsen Claritas.  Each obtains market data in different ways and makes some market calculations utilizing their own unique approach.  Thus, the two services can have significantly different numbers for the same product category.  Additionally, the existence of a market gap in a consumer category does not guarantee success.  Product selection, marketing, aesthetics, price point, cash flow management, service, advertising, location, passion, product knowledge, hours of operation and a myriad of other factors contribute to a successful business.  So, although a market gap indicates that a market opportunity may exist, it does not guarantee a successful business venture. 

In the category of clothing stores, new market data indicates gaps in the following categories within a 25 mile ring around Emporia:

Men's Clothing- $1,370,594
Women's Clothing- $2,818,803
Children's, Infants- $1,384,457
Family Clothing Stores- $3,960,057
Clothing Accessory Stores- $54,466

Many people will look at those numbers and say "See, we can support a (insert large chain here)".  But remember, our market demographics AND sales have to match a company's profile.  We must also remember that it is healthier for a community to create diverse options, which means that these market gaps should be addressed both by existing stores and new boutique options.  Market analysis requires a nuanced approach that takes into account the unique nature of the local market, disposable income, market trends and changes in consumer behavior.  Clothing sales on the internet, for example, change the way people obtain clothing.  Brand addiction to specific stores that aren't remotely interested in Emporia can also impact consumer buying habits (and travel).

Each clothing category contains item subcategories.  These subcategories show how the local market compares to the nation expressed as a percentile.  They also show the negative or positive change in purchases within subcategories.  Let's look at Men's and Women's clothing options within a 25 mile ring of Emporia. 

The ideal market would be in the 100th percentile. Lower numbers show a market gap. 

Men's- We score in relatively low percentiles in the following areas:
- Men's Sport Coats/Tailored Jackets (66th Percentile) 
- Men's Sweaters/Vests (81st Percentile)
- Men's Sportswear (85th Percentile)
- Men's Nightwear (85th Percentile)
- Men's Shirts (88th Percentile)

We only see positive sales growth in the categories of Men's Coats/Jackets and Men's Undergarments with the largest declining sales area in the category of Men's Coat's/Jackets.  This would indicate that male clothing customers in the area are more casual.  Empirical evidence validates the data.  Think about professions that once wore suits and ties every day that now simply require a dress shirt or polo.  Consumer tastes changed the demand of certain categories of men's clothing.

Women's- We score in relatively low percentiles in the following areas:
- Women's Suits (37th Percentile)
- Women's Skirts (40th Percentile)
- Women's Sport Coats/Tailored Jackets (62nd Percentile)
- Women's Vests/Sweaters/Sweater Sets (81st Percentile)
- Women's Active Sportswear (82nd Percentile)

Every women's clothing category shows a negative sales trend, and the most pronounced trends closely resemble the categories listed above.  This indicates that casual clothing is more prevalent for women shoppers in the Emporia area than the national average.

We have full market information for each market category in the Emporia Main Street office, and shopping-cart-woman2.jpg we strongly encourage individuals looking at opening up a retail storefront to consult Emporia Main Street and the Small Business Development Center at Emporia State University.  More extensive data points can showcase opportunities that savvy entrepreneurs can take advantage of.

I realize that numbers are considered "nerdy", and that's fine.  We as a community must communicate reasonable market opportunities to the local entrepreneurial base.  When we fail to look at market supply and demand and simply communicate "what my friends and I want" or communicate the mantra "they (stores) wouldn't come here if they didn't think they could make it", we create unrealistic market expectations, building vacancies and a disengaged consumer market.
 
If your business wants to capitalize on market opportunities, if you need assistance in starting up or expanding your business or if you simply want to brain-storm some business development scenarios, contact Emporia Main Street.  We are here to offer real help you can use.

Im a Main Streeter 

 Did you know???

Last week we endured "snowmageddon" with the rest of you, but we also met with a couple of small businesses looking to start up, we identified potential financing for a
Amy Becker SYOB Speaker
Amy Becker was one of our Start Your Own Business speakers last week.
couple of local businesses, we met with some property owners, we (and our partners) hosted the first Start Your Own Business Class of this year, we held a board meeting, we had a conference call with the National Main Street organization, we communicated on some cooperative activities with other Kansas Main Street programs and we worked on some spring design activities all while fighting off a nasty case of cabin fever that seems to be floating around...  All the weather and an upcoming holiday created a perfect excuse for additional communication, and that meant some good questions from all of you
!
 
1.  "Was last week's e-mail a political stance on Net Neutrality?"- From a member business.  I viewed last week's e-mail as an educational piece.  We often run into structural changes that are legislative or technological that a majority of our community haven't heard of.  People are busy, and with all the information that swirls around different media sources it is easy to get overwhelmed.  When we spot a trend or a change that could impact our members, we feel we have an obligation to give people some background information that allows them to decide how to react.  Within the article, we provided links that went into greater detail of what Net Neutrality is, and its potential impacts, from a variety of different perspectives.  For those of you policy wonks that follow state and federal legislation closely, you probably see several other topics that can potentially impact local businesses.  If you have subjects that you think the local business community should be made aware of, please contact Emporia Main Street and we may include the topic in future newsletters.
  
2. "Can we hold an event at (insert location)?" From a few locals.  We often are asked about event venues in the Emporia area (especially downtown), and it is exciting to see so many groups starting to fully utilize the many different event facilities available to the public in the community core.  We love to refer people to potential event locations in Emporia, but we obviously can't commit those locations to an event.  Our general policy is to pass information along to a facility or organization and do what we can to facilitate placement.  If people can work together, that's great.  If there are schedule conflicts, we assist people in finding another event venue that may fit their needs.
 
3. "Is a "mixed use" designation a way of saying that a building can be used for anything?"  From a call to the office.  No.  A mixed use concept generally refers to a building that may have a different use on the first floor versus additional floors.  For example, it is common in a downtown area to have a building with a commercial application on the first floor with residential units in upper stories.  The downtown area is generally zoned C4, which is a commercial designation.  Each building also has a "use".  Uses describe the most recent function of a building (mercantile, assembly, restaurant, etc.).  When a building use changes, it can sometimes (not always) cause some code or fire related issues.  If you are going into a building (or thinking about it) and you are changing the buildings use, renovating or making any other significant changes, it is a good idea to include a local architect, engineer or call Emporia Main Street for a code team visit.  Everything may be perfectly okay with your project, but it is typically a better idea to identify potential issues before beginning a project rather than after you have made a significant investment..

 

China Buffet  
 

4.  "Can you give us your database?" From three different groups in the past two weeks.  It really depends on the database and the purpose.  We have people share certain databases with us that contain information for a specific event.  In those instances, without the consent of the group that provided us the information, we cannot release a database.  If someone wants data points that we collect as a partner agency, we can usually accommodate.  We pass this information on free of charge, because outside of the ethical dilemma described above, we want to be as helpful as possible.

  

5. "What does game theory have to do with business marketing?"  From a Start Your Own Business.  Identifying a potential target market is difficult.  The natural thing for a business is to look at the largest group of customers in an area and find a business type that speaks directly to them.  Unfortunately, that large market group is generally one of the most competitive.  Sometimes you need to look for smaller under served markets that can support an entrepreneurial niche business.  This type of approach to the market is identified in a portion of game theory known as the Nash Equilibrium.  For those of you that were fans of the movie "A Beautiful Mind", the Nash Equilibrium was the theory that won the main character the Nobel Prize.  Businesses can't be all things to all people.  When you attempt to serve a market that is two large or broad in demographic terms, you generally damage your brand and alienate your true target market.  Game Theory is a fancy phrase that describes how people interact with others in a certain arena, like a market.  So, although the reference is a little high level, theories that predict success via certain interactive strategies are important in successful market positioning.

 

 

Public Schools Fundraiser  



In This Issue #235 02/11/14
Taste Tickets
Main Street Merchandise
Start Your Own Business Class
Big Brothers Big Sisters Match of the Month
ETown Mobile Application
Flint Hills Technical College Classes
Mall Sale
Properties Available
Business Investment Guide
New Spins on Traditional Promotions
Did You Know?
Calendar of Events
Quick Links

 

Emporia Main Street

City of Emporia

Granada Theatre

Emporia Zoo

Emporia Public Library

Kansas Main Street

National Main Street Center

Lyon County

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Emporia Main Street Button 

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook

 

 

View our videos on YouTube

President's Circle

 

ERG

Emporia Realty Group

www.emporiarealtygroup.com

608 Commercial

620-412-9850

 

IM Design Group  
 
IM Design Group

www.imdesigngroup.com

17 W. 5th

620-343-3909

KISS logo

541 Sherman

www.kiss103.1.net

620-343-6144

Benefactors 

 

Bobby D's

 

Cable One

 

ESB Financial 

 

KISS 103.1 and The Dawg

 

KVOE AM 1400KVOE FM 101.7MIX 104.9

 

Longbine Auto Plaza

 

Moon Title & Escrow

 

Price Family Enterprises 

 

Roberts Blue Barnett Funeral Home

 

Town Royal

Emporia Main Street Calendar of Events

  

 

February 12

Emporia Main Street Promotions Team meeting.

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

 

Design Team Meeting

noon in the Emporia Main Street office.

 

February 15

Sunflower Winter Invitational Gymnastics Meet

at the Civic Auditorium

 

February 19

Emporia Main Street Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

 

February 26

Business Enhancement Team Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

 

Home Based Business Meeting

12:30 p.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.

 

March 13

Quarter Mania.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Granada Theatre.

 

March 15

St. Patrick's Day Parade

1:00 p.m. in downtown Emporia.

 

March 22

Monkey Island Disc Golf Classic by Dynamic Discs

Peter Pan Park

 

April 12th

The Taste

Dinner at 5:00 p.m., and the General Taste runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium

 

May 2-4

The Glass Blown Open.  This Dynamic Discs tournament will take place throughout the Emporia area.

 

May 10th

The Flatland Cruisers Car Show

 

May 18-20

National Main Street Conference in Detroit Michigan.

 

May 31

The Dirty Kanza

riders leave at 6:00 a.m. from the 800 Block of Commercial Street.

 

June 21

Business Stroll

 

August 23

Trilogy Disc Golf Open

 

September 13

The Great American Market

 

 

Do you have an upcoming event for your business or organization?

 

 

 

Let Emporia Main Street know and we may include it on our upcoming calendars! 

 

 

General Level Members

 

AKA Marketing

 

Amish Woodworks

 

Applebees

  

Ash LLC

 

Atherton & Huth

 

Bank of America

 

Bath Expressions

 

Ben Moore Studio

 

Bennett Dental Group

 

BG Consultants

 

BLI Rentals

 

Bluestem Farm and Ranch

 

Brown's Shoe Fit

 

Bruff's Bar and Grill

 

C & J Woodworks


Candlewood Suites

 

Capitol Federal

 

Cassell Insurance

 

Chester Press

  

Clark Carpet and Tile, Inc.

  

Coffelt Sign Co.

  

Complete Works

  

Country Mart/Price Chopper

 

Dan's Hands Massage

 

Davis Paints

 

Disciple Shoppe

 

Dorsey Eye Care

 

Douglas Chiropractic

 

Dr. Kerri Thompson, DDS

 

Dynamic Discs

 

Eastwood Lake Apartments

 

Ek Real Estate

 

Emporia Construction and Remodeling

 

Emporia Radio Stations: KVOE, 104.9 & 101.7

 

Emporia State Federal Credit Union

 

E-Town Solutions

 

ESU Memorial Union

 

Evergreen Design-Build

 

Flint Hills Eye Care

 

Flint Hills Mall

Association

 

Flint Hills Music

 

Floyd's Automotive

 

Forget Me Not Productions

 

Four Seasons Apartments

 

George Groh and Sons

 

Gerald Schumann Electric

 

Granada Coffee Company

 

Graves Drug Store

 

Haag Management

 

Hair Krafters

 

Heart Center Studio

 

Helbert & Allemang

 

High Gear

   

Java Cat Coffeehouse

 

Junque Drawer Emporium

 

Kansas Radio 96.1 The Wave

 

King Liquor

 

L & L Pets

 

Lyon County State Bank

 

Lyon County Title 

 

Mark II Lumber

 

McDonalds

 

McKinzie Pest Control

 

Midas Touch Tans

 

Mike Alpers Agency

 

Mr. Sisters Sweets

 

Modern Air Conditioning, Inc.

  

Mulready's Pub

 

Navrats Office Supply

 

Papa John's Pizza

 

Pizza Hut

 

Pizza Ranch

 

Plum Bazaar

 

Poehler Mercantile

 

Pool and Associates

 

Prairie Sage Apartments

 

Pro-Cuts

 

Rand Simmons Law Office

 

Redline Trucking

 

Reflxns Salon

 

Rhinestone Cowgirl Salon

 

Sauder Custom Fabrication

 

Schellers Lawn and Landscape

 

Scott's Lawn and Landscaping

 

Second Love Gifts

 

Stanley Jewelry

  

Studio 11

 

Subway

 

Sunflower Gymnastics

 

Sutherlands Lumber Co.

 

Sweet Granada

 

Textbook Corner

 

Thompson Auto Repair

 

Toso Appraisal

 

Total Technology

 

Town Crier Bookstore

 

Triad Leasing

 

Uncommon Threads

 

Value-Net LLC 

 

Waters True Value Hardware

 

Westar Energy

 

Williams Automotive

 

Wright CPA Group PA

 

Wright's Furniture

 

Xan-A-Do Salon

  

Non Profit Level Members 

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters

 

Cradle to Career Cneter

 

Emporia Eastside Community Group

 

EHS- FBLA

 

Emporia Arts Council

 

Emporia Chamber of Commerce

 

Emporia Farmers Market

 

Emporia Friends of the Zoo

 

Emporia Presbyterian Church

 

Emporia Friends of the Library

 

ESU- Alumni Association

 

ESU- Small Business Development Center

 

ESU- Memorial Union

 

ESU- Theatre Dept.

 

Flint Hills Community Health Center

 

Granada Theatre Alliance

 

National Teachers Hall of Fame

 

Saint Francis Community Services

 

Salvation Army

 

SOS

 

TFI Family Services


Home Based Business Members

 

Avon- Amanda Hopkins

  

Gold Canyon Candles- Stephanie Morgan

 

Green Door Recycling

 

Interdependent Web, LLC

 

Longaberger Independent Consultant -Judy Dieker

 

Mary Kay- Lori Engle

 

Nicole Bradshaw Designs

 

Origami Owl- Angela Dowell

 

Paula's Creations

 

Pampered Chef- Chelsea Gerleman

 

Purse Lady- Nancy Crawford

 

Scentsy/ Grace Adele- Kelly Long

 

Tastefully Simple- Vanessa Apodaca

 

Thirty One Gifts- Linsey Hopkins

 

Individual Supporters

 

Amy and Rick Becker 

 

Amy Evans

 

Brad Harzman

 

Dale & Carolyn Davis

 

Don Hill

 

Erin and Casey Woods

 

Joyce Zhou

 

Julie Johnson

 

Kayle Oney

 

Kelly Wade

 

Lynn Knechtel

 

Mark and Amy McAnarney

 

Michael and Karen Shonrock

 

Valerie and Matt Zimmerman

 

Roger Heineken

 

Smitty Smith

 

Sue Blechl

 

Tim & Mary Helmer

 

Tyler & Melanie Curtis

 

Yvonne Pool

  

                                                                                       Main Street Logo                             
                                   Casey Woods                                       
Emporia Main Street
12 E. 5th Avenue
Emporia, KS 66801
(P) 620-340-6430
(F) 620-340-6434
Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.
-Joel A. Barker