Open for Business

Christian County Animal Shelter opened a thrift store Nov. 24 at 205 N. Main St. in Nixa. Kathleen Copeland is general manager for the store, which is raising funds to build a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in Christian County. CCAS and board president Don Alday hope to open the shelter by 2009. Copeland, who also serves as recording secretary for the CCAS board, has donated an acre of land at an undisclosed address in Nixa for the shelter. She said construction and other startup costs, such as purchasing equipment, should run about $650,000. So far, CCAS has raised about $200,000, Copeland said. Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday. Phone: (417) 725-6583.

Expense Reduction Analysts

Phil Martiszus is franchisee for Expense Reduction Analysts, which opened Sept. 7. The home-based consulting business examines businesses in search of areas that they can save money. Martiszus reviews 30 areas, such as merchant card fees and insurance, and compares expenses in each of those areas to peer businesses. If there’s a cheaper way to accomplish the same thing, Martiszus recommends a change. Expense Reduction Analysts is based in the United Kingdom and has consultants in 28 countries, including about 160 consultants in the United States, Martiszus said. Martiszus has the right to serve companies in Missouri and Kansas. There are already Expense Reduction Analysts franchisees in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia. Martiszus targets clients with at least $5 million in annual revenue. Expense Reduction Analysts, which operates on a contingency basis, typically saves clients 20 percent in operating expenses, said Martiszus, who previously spent 18 years in sales management with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment. Phone: (417) 890-5506.

All About Nutrition

Fayma and Lance Williams opened All About Nutrition on Aug. 13 at 1925 S. Glenstone Ave. They serve nutritional shakes in 31 flavors and herbal tea. They also sell packaged protein powder and vitamin supplements. The 16-ounce nutritional shakes, which sell for $4.50 each and are meant to replace a meal, are made with milk, juice and fruits and usually have about 180 calories. All About Nutrition also offers fitness assessment, such as calculating body fat, and has a small exercise room available for a fee. Hours: 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 889-8881.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new businesses each week. He may be reached by e-mail at csmith@sbj.net, by fax at (417) 799-0603 or by phone at (417) 616-5854.