(gentle music) - [Announcer] Envista is pleased to support Working Capital.

Switch to empowered, switch to Envista.

Learn more at envistacu.com.

- [Announcer] GO Topeka's entrepreneurial and minority business development is proud to support Working Capital.

We share the vision to assist local entrepreneurs with growing their business.

- [Announcer] Additional funding is provided by The Friends of KTWU.

- Welcome to another episode of Working Capital.

Revitalization is shaping Topeka for the better from downtown Kansas avenue to NOTO these efforts to repurpose shops, apartments and warehouses are key to the city's future.

All it takes is a vision, capital and maybe a good dose of elbow grease.

Stay with us as we learn a little about marketing the market.

It's all about business on Working Capital.

(upbeat music) Hello and welcome to Working Capital.

Todd and Nicole Conkle have transformed the old Topeka Transfer and Storage Co. warehouse into a bright new opportunity, not just for them, but for local entrepreneurs and shoppers alike.

In just over a year, the Topeka Vendors Market has grown from 25 vendors to over 120 with no end in sight.

Todd and Nicole, welcome to Working Capital.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- So, this is just such a cool new place to go shopping here in Topeka especially staying local.

Where did you come up with this idea?

How did this come to be?

- Well, really the idea of the market came after we purchased the buildings.

We have been involved in various real estate endeavors throughout the country.

We wanted to do something local and something that would kinda add to the local life.

And so we bought this historical, sort of group of buildings there on Adams Street and running through ideas, you know, we're kinda inspired by the West Bottoms and we liked that concept.

And so we thought that would work well in the old Topeka transfer and storage building.

So we started with the market.

- So with that first set of buildings, I think there's a few that are kinda connected to Topeka transferring title co, 100,000 square feet?

- Yeah, 96,000 to be exact, and they're all interconnected, so you can access the whole city block essentially through the inside.

- That is fantastic.

And I know you're looking at other properties down there too, where are you gonna expand from?

- Well, we're about to start our next phase of construction with events space, indoor food truck, some office space, fitness space.

In that same Adam Street block, we've also purchased the Topeka Capital Journal building, which is across the road.

So, we're looking at various plans for that.

We'd love to find some other entrepreneurs who are interested to partake of the vision and jump in there.

So yeah, that's where we're at right now.

- It's pretty cool Topeka, 'cause a lot of places are revitalized.

We have downtown on Kansas Avenue, we have NOTO, I mean there's room for everything.

So, this place, (Todd clears throat) I see it as a new bright spot.

'Cause when I go to NOTO, when I go downtown, all their vendor spots, I mean they're pretty full.

So I mean, there's definitely a need for this.

- I think that was kind of our hope is that we would help the vendors market if, whether we call it the market district or whatever, the block that we're working on would really expand downtown and add reasons for people to come downtown and give shoppers unique opportunities that maybe they don't find elsewhere in NOTO.

- And it's not just a shopping, I mean, I made it down for your October Fest.

I mean, you're really pulling more thing down there to really make it kind of a neighborhood feel for that.

And I know coming up, we also are gonna have a winter wonderland market, or tell me a little about what's coming up.

- Well, every month at Topeka Vendors Market, we tried to do some event.

And October first celebrating our one year anniversary was the biggest event that we've had, and that event we had so much help from the vendors.

It wouldn't have been possible without, especially Peri Cabin, LLC really came in and helped us organize that event.

But we do have, every third Saturday of the month, we usually try to do whether it's bingo or a scavenger hunt or just some family activity we're having, we've had hot cocoa bars in December, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be there.

We just wanted to create a family friendly atmosphere for the whole block.

- And like you say, you've had some help with it.

I mean, that's a lot of space and you've already, you know, you're buying more space already.

What kind of team do you have behind you helping with these?

- We are really fortunate to have an amazing management team for the market.

Marianne Posy and Maria Hards do a great job for us.

Like I said, we are just an empty warehouse without our vendors and they do an amazing job.

We have special hours every week where they come in and do... they make the market where kind of, they're an amazing group.

And we have a special core group that really see what we're trying to do downtown and have been... Their generosity towards moving the market forward each month.

It's, you can't even...

I'm externally grateful.

- A major blessing.

- Yes, thank you.

- It's time for a short break.

Please stay with us as we talk more about the future of Topeka Vendors Market, we'll be right back.

You're watching Working Capital.

(upbeat music) - Welcome back to the show.

We're just talking with the Topeka Vendors Market about the team they take behind them.

But you know, it's more than just a team.

It's also the opportunities and, you know, in any business there's some successes, there's some failures.

What have you guys experienced getting this started?

- Well, I'd say the biggest challenge would be that, you know, really in August we decided, hey, we're gonna open this thing and we're gonna open it October 15th and we hadn't done any build-out, we hadn't looked at any software, we didn't have a single vendor.

And so, you know, we really compress that whole startup stage of the business into a very short three months.

And there's just a lot to run through.

You know, we had never done actually retail before.

So yeah, that was a bit of an obstacle.

You know, in any business you have sort of the startup phase and then the operation.

- Getting systems in place and getting the management team.

And there's just so much to, and that's kind of how Todd works.

He's one of those that he sees the problem and he goes in and he fixes it, and just forges forward.

Where I'm, because I'm an accountant, I kinda like dealing with real, like historic facts that have already happened.

- The tangible things you've already worked with it and you kind of know the flow, good or bad.

- Yeah so...

I think that makes us a good team and that we do look at things in different perspectives.

- I make us jump in and push us off the cliff.

And then she like catches us up.

- I worry about the little details to get us to the ground.

(all laughing) - Great team though.

I mean, you guys compliment each other quite well then in that area, especially trying to start something that quick.

And so that quick a turnaround, how do you start finding vendors?

- So actually I, at first, I started going to auctions in order to make sure we didn't open up and have nothing there because I had no idea, you know, we had one or two vendors.

- We reached out to-- - But we reached out to, oh yeah.

- We reached out to people we knew, that were in the business.

And just, do you think this is something that the GO Topeka market could bear.

We got positive feedback from the beginning, so it really pushed us forward.

So we started with 10,000 square feet, the first main floor, we moved quickly, moved to our lower level within 3 months and doubled in size.

Now we're just kind of seeing what, again, Topeka can bear.

We have other ideas for the other 3 floors of the building.

I don't know if Todd, if you wanna talk about.

- Yeah, lots of options.

We could expand the market.

We could potentially do a sort of boutique storefronts on the upper floors.

Restaurant space, lots of options.

If there's people out there interested in talking about those options, there there's a lot of them, so we'll see.

- The main push is the Topeka fenders market at this point, but where do you see these spaces headed in the future?

What's your goal to help provide Topeka with something new.

- So we're just starting construction on 7,500 square foot event space, and next to that there's a 5,000 square foot building, which will be a catering kitchen along with a sort of flex floor that we'll use for other events and fitness and that kind of thing.

We've got another 7,500 square foot building, which will be a sort of indoor food truck court.

And then we have a kind of lounge area with some office space as well.

So lots of plans.

- What kind of capital did it take to get started?

- If we're just talking about the market, I guess that would be distinct from the whole building and the whole block.

- Did you find anyone to invest in this or is this kind of...

Your guys dream, your guys being pushed?

- Yeah, so we had done part of a partnership where we've done some opportunity zone investments actually in the Virgin Islands.

And so when we are looking to do a project here, we're looking in opportunities zones, which these properties are in.

And so this is just us at this point.

We've thought about taking in possible investors if we expand the opportunity fund, but right now it's us.

- That's awesome.

Well, I've been in there, I know if anyone goes in there, you're gonna find a gift for somebody on your list, if not everybody on your list.

Antiques, there's brand new stuff, lots of craftsmen around Topeka making, beautiful art that local artisans are making.

Thank you Todd, Nicole.

Topeka Vendors Market is definitely a new bright spot in Topeka, and we appreciate you having here and helping to bring Topeka a little more.

- Thank you, appreciate it.

- Thank you.

- It's time for another short break.

When we return, we meet a couple of vendors who saw an opportunity at the market.

Stick around.

You're watching, Working Capital.

(upbeat music) - Welcome back.

Whether it's the holidays, birthdays, or just because, it's always great to shop local.

And that Topeka Vendors Market has something for everyone.

Jill Beam and Nancy Jones run Bedsprings and Burlap, one of the 120 vendors located in the market.

Jill and Nancy, welcome to Working Capital.

- Thank you.

- Thank you For having us.

- So what was your first experience with the vendors market, were you in there as a original vendor, or we just kind of stop in the space and think, hey, this is someplace for me.

- Honestly, I had a business that was similar to what I do now in Topeka, and it's just been kind of a rough year, you know?

And so I was thinking about doing different things and I'd heard about this awesome place.

And I don't even know if I went down and looked when I asked about it, but you had looked, you had gone down to see.

- It happened quick.

- Yeah, we just were like, "I think we're going to do this."

And Nancy had her art in my store, so we had been kind of partnering up already.

- So what makes this such a great space for entrepreneurs to start in?

- Well, I think you can be as small as you want and branch out as big as you want.

We have two boosts now.

We never thought we'd do that, did we?

We're just kind of getting bigger and bigger, but I think it gives everyone a chance to start where they're comfortable.

- So tell me a little bit about what you offer in your shop.

What kind of goods do you guys have?

- I have artwork.

So I take up the wall space and a little bit of table space and round her beautiful furniture that she has, and we just compliment each other real good.

So it's been easy to work with her and it's been fun.

So adding my art in, it's a blessing for me so.

- Yeah.

- Well, and as you guys are selling through and selling out of this, what's the routine of, how do you restock this?

I mean, what, how does the vendor side work of this?

Are you in there while people are shopping?

- No, we really try not to be, I, you know, the portal system that they have has been a huge help and then that it's kind of in real time and you can see what is selling and what you need to restock.

So that has been a big helper for both of us, I think.

- That would be fantastic because before, you know, even if you're set up to where multiple people in the same shop with the little tags, yeah, you wouldn't know until you went in and looked at the books and you still may not quite know, but an email or message or how do you check this out?

- It's through a portal, and you know, I try not to check it as often.

It's like, okay, what's sold and I sell furniture paint.

So that helps a lot.

I know what color is sold and I can go in and restock, or if somebody is looking for something - So really you guys can even kind of see trends and forecast trends, even in your vendor space.

That is a big plus for any size business.

- We can print off our own, our SKU numbers and it just put it on our art, article or whatever it is and check it.

And it is, it's probably one of the best things that I've come across in at workings with galleries and stuff.

So it's been awesome.

- What has your shoppers or the community response been that you've seen firsthand?

- Well, I had my fellow loyal customers that would come in.

This is, well, I just thought about this; next week I'll start my ninth year in business.

And, you know, it was, it was a hard decision for me because I've become friends and close to people I would never have known before.

And I think that, you know, the fact that they have some place to go to still find the products that they were wanting has been a big plus.

Plus it's a huge assortment of items that they can find.

We're all just, you know, we work as a community and offer all kinds of different creative outlets.

- And like I say, you can start as small or as big as you want there, but really what the space and the way, Todd, Nicole are gonna keep building it out, you can kind of grow with the space or it can grow with you.

- Yes.

- Do you see, see any opportunity later on possibly, but you know, if a boutique happens there, you know, boutique pop-up shop or kinda got some kicking around maybe?

- Time only tells.

- I'd kinda like for them to kind of lean a little bit towards a little bit of the arty side and then maybe a small gallery or something, but we'll have to talk.

- Well, maybe it might just have the space for it though.

You never know.

- Sounds like they might, so.

- So what makes this space so special for Topeka now?

- I think when you walk in, it has a great environment.

It's light and clean and everyone's friendly and all the events that they're offering.

I think it's just a family atmosphere, you know, so, and I think it's just going to become more and more.

- Thank you, Jill and Nancy, for your insight into the vendor side of things, at GO Topeka Vendors Market.

It's time for another short break.

We'll be right back.

(upbeat music) - Zach Stanek saw an opportunity at the Topeka Vendors Market and brought one of their more unique offerings; the Oleander cafe.

Welcome to the show, Zach.

- Hey, thanks for having me, Jay.

- So a cafe and a vendors market.

- Yeah.

- Where did this idea come from?

- Well, you know honestly, my girlfriend makes themselves The Northwood Gnomes up there, and so I had helped her bring stuff in, and I had seen a space, kinda over, off to the side by the entryway.

And I was like, man, that would be a great space for a cafe.

And I had no business starting one whatsoever, but I kept seeing it.

And I said, you know what?

You gotta, you gotta try it, It's perfect.

I mean, why not try it?

So I went for it.

- So the Oleander though, it's not just your normal burgers and fries or a grilled cheese.

Tell me what kind of food you're bringing.

- So our specialty is a beef on weck sandwich.

I'm from Western New York and that's kind of a regional dish.

So it's our specialty.

It's a slow roasted beef sandwich served on a kaiser roll, that's buttered, and then top with caraway seeds and sea salt that we actually get locally from Mobert.

So yeah, just kind of our way of sharing, kind of traditional cuisine that we enjoy.

- And then encompassing other local businesses to help bring those flavors out.

- Sure trying to, yep.

- So what kind of reception have, have you had there?

Do you have local?

I mean, do you have your regulars coming every week?

- Yeah.

I do have a few regulars.

And then another reason I kind of went with the idea of starting the cafe there is, there is a built-in foot traffic already there with the market.

Especially lately the crowd coming in and shopping is just overwhelming.

So it's great.

And it's a good way, like I said, to kind of get people over to try it.

So I do have some locals from downtown, some regulars that come in and that's kind of fun seeing them every week.

So the relationships I've built with people and the connections have been really unique and fun.

- Now did you have to scale up there even?

I mean, how'd, you start off, you start off every day there were open or...?

- So, yeah, I actually started off Saturdays only.

I was working a full-time job and I was just doing Saturdays.

And when I first started, I honestly was like, I hope that I can pay my rent, you know, I hope I can pay my booth fee here.

And within the first couple Saturdays, I was like, wow, like this could actually really be something.

So after a month of trying it out, up there just on Saturdays, I went all in with it and quit my job and did this full time.

So I'm actually open 10 to 2 currently, Thursday through Saturday when the markets open.

- So what else is on your menu besides your famous dish?

- So we have a lot of fun rotating stuff out, so like, we'll do pierogies.

We have a lot of different specialties that we try to pepper in and every week or two, I try to come up with a new sandwich or something unique to try to throw out the menu.

Our salads are well-received.

Our chicken salads a winner too.

So yeah, just kind of no frills, easy peasy stuff is what I look to do, and just stuff that makes people happy.

But definitely try to share family recipes and stuff from our hometown, with other people in Topeka.

- So other people are looking to start up a cafe or a restaurant.

I mean looking kind of micro, might be the best route for someone kind of trying to figure out their path into Peka.

- 100%.

I highly recommend it.

What I say about Todd and Nicole and the Topeka Vendors Market is I had a wild hair and they had the scissors and gave me a rogaine.

It was just kind of go do it, you know, it's just too good not to try it.

And it's a unique space and it definitely offers a safe space to try something.

So I highly encourage anyone that wants to try something, but maybe has been hesitant because of some of the overhead and risk that goes into starting it, try the market, and like they've said, they got the space, so the possibilities are really limitless there.

- Yeah.

You can go in there and try it.

You can try it as your second job, you know, your passion career until it grows big enough, then hopefully, you know, you can grow that out.

Yeah, definitely.

Do you have any plans in the future of growing this or food truck?

- I would love to.

So I've actually have a little hot dog cart that I've done on the side, which has been a fun way to network and get word about the market out in the community a little bit more, but yeah, you never know.

I obviously I'm really excited at the idea of the food truck park and the event space.

They have plans.

So yeah, we'll see, you've got to grow with the market.

So grow with the flow, right?

- Yeah.

That's a good little slogan.

Now, you see both sides of it too.

You say your girlfriend actually makes gnomes there.

And that I saw those.

It seemed like a really popular item.

Can you speak a little about it.

- She actually is very creative and very artistic, so very proud of her and what she's done to grow that.

She actually has transitioned to that being her full-time job as well.

So like I said, without her, probably wouldn't have been as involved in the market, but without the market, neither of us would be as successful as we have been.

So it's really exciting.

And like I said, it's a good place to get a baseline started and grow from there.

- So whether you're an artist, whether you're a vendor, truly the Topeka Vendors Market has a spot for you, or they will have a spot for you, it seems in the future.

Just a great place for Topeka.

- It's wonderful.

- Walk in the front door and I'm telling you your cafe it makes you not, unfortunately, it makes you not want to wander back in the back right away because you need to stop and have a bite, but you guys are doing great work there and so is Todd and Nicole.

So we appreciate you being on with us.

- I appreciate you guys.

Thank you so much.

- We've reached the end of tonight's show.

I'd like to thank Todd, Nicole Conkle from Topeka vendor's market, Jill Beam and Nancy Jones from Bedsprings and Burlap and Zach Stanek of the Oleander cafe for being with us this evening and sharing their stories.

As always, if you know of interesting business or management techniques, we want to hear from you.

So give us a call, drop us an email, or send us a letter.

We look forward to hearing from you.

See you next time.

And thanks for watching.

It's all about business.

And you've been watching, Working Capital.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Envista is pleased to support Working Capital.

Switch to empowered, switch to Envista.

learn more at envistacu.com.

- [Narrator] GO Topeka is entrepreneurial and minority business development is proud to support Working Capital.

We share the vision to assist local entrepreneurs with growing their business.

- [Narrator] Additional funding is provided