Open for Business: Sprint Store Express

Sprint Store Express has opened four 2,500-square-foot locations in the Springfield area since the start of the year, said owner Richard Peoples. The most recent addition is an outlet at 2937 E. Battlefield, with other stores at 330 W. Plainview, Ste. A; 3322 S. National; and 1332 E. Republic. The stores sell Sprint phone service, camera and video phones, cases, chargers and other accessories, according to Heather Wilson (pictured), area manager over the Springfield stores. Each store is staffed with three employees. The stores are part of the Sprint Alamosa system, said Peoples, who has been in the business for about six months. He also owns Sprint Store Express locations in Joplin and Pittsburg, Kan. The business is not a franchise, Peoples said, they're called "branded stores" and closely resemble Sprint's corporate outlets. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Concept Marketing Inc. and Branson Getaways moved into their new 9,000-square-foot offices at 207 Blue Sky Lane in Hollister in mid-January. Concept Marketing is a 17-year-old "fullservice marketing and advertising agency" owned by John Wallen and Gayle Kirchner, according to Ann Reinke, account executive. Concept Marketing employs two in promoting Branson shows, hotels and restaurants through brochures, rack cards, billboard, television and radio. Concept Marketing handles the marketing for Branson Getaways, which is owned by Wallen and his wife, Michele, and was started in 1996. It offers theater tickets, lodging and vacation packages to Branson amenities. The local office has five employees and is managed by Tonya Hemsley. There are additional offices in Mountain Home and Harrison, Ark. The firm employs 90. Office hours for both businesses are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SuperPro Vending, formerly EIM Enterprises Inc., continues to operate out of its 5,000-square-foot location at 1008 Bittersweet Court in Nixa under the direction of new owner Steve Petersen. He took over the business Jan. 24. The company is a wholesaler and retailer of bulk candy vending machines nationwide with 2003 revenues of $750,000. It employs five people. EIM was owned by Jeff and George Simpkins and for about 13 years prior to the sale to Petersen Enterprises Inc., Petersen said. The machines SuperPro sells are built in Taiwan where production costs are roughly half what they would be if they were made stateside, he said. Petersen's forecast for 2004 sales is at $1.2 million. company hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.