Open for Business: Encore Bank

Encore Bank
Little Rock, Arkansas-based Encore Bank opened its first Springfield branch on Sept. 13. The 4,500-square-foot office is at 3820 S. Weller Ave., Ste. 108, in a mixed-use building near East Independence Street. Spokesperson Lauren Goins said the bank’s market entry was in November 2020, when it opened a temporary office in Ozark. She declined to disclose lease terms or startup costs of the Springfield branch, which also is the bank’s first in Missouri. Goins said Doug Parker, executive vice president and regional president of southwest Missouri, leads the branch’s 10-employee team, which includes office manager J.C. Loveland. Officials describe Encore as a digital company that focuses on online and mobile banking options, noting the bank doesn’t operate its own ATMs, instead reimbursing customers for transaction fees incurred elsewhere. As of Oct. 31, Encore Bank had $1.4 billion in systemwide assets and operations in 16 markets across seven states, according to officials.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 417-708-7486
Web: BankEncore.com/Springfield

Fitness ER LLC
Fitness ER LLC, which repairs, installs and sells used and refurbished commercial fitness equipment, relocated Aug. 1 to Strafford from Springfield. Noah Alldredge, who co-owns the venture with Logan Wendt, said the need for more space was the primary reason for the move to 4348 N. Farm Road 249. The eight-employee company, which launched in 2015, previously operated at 201 S. Ingram Mill Road, Ste. A. Alldredge declined to disclose the price of the 9,000-square-foot Strafford building, purchased from Troy and Micki McShane, or relocation costs. Fitness ER is a certified service provider for commercial and residential brands of exercise equipment, including Nautilus, Spirit Fitness and StairMaster, according to its website. Alldredge said he also owns Hydration Health Products, which sells dietary supplements, and sold another fitness-related venture, BigTime Results LLC, for an undisclosed price in September to Austin Ruesink, Craig McCoy and Cameron Jones.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 417-520-7182
Web: FitEquipmentRepair.com

iSense
Mattress manufacturer iSense relocated its Springfield headquarters Aug. 2 to 70,000 square feet at 424 N. Cedarbrook Ave., near the Chestnut Expressway interchange at U.S. Highway 65. The company had operated downtown in 4,800 square feet at 333 S. Jefferson Ave. since its launch in 2017. Paul Longman, founder and CEO, said demand has grown enough the last year that iSense quickly needed to find a facility that could handle more manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Through parent company Advanced Sleep Technologies LLC, iSense manufactures adjustable mattresses that operate through a smartphone application. Longman said in mid-November the 12-employee manufacturer had generated $7 million in sales so far this year and sold 2,000 units. Longman said Advanced Sleep Technologies, which carries other brands, also moved to North Cedarbrook Avenue, though the majority of the new space is for iSense. Financial terms of the lease agreement were undisclosed.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 866-910-8605
Web: MyiSense.com