Whitewater store helps university students, community relations
(Published Monday, March 26, 2007 11:54:30 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann Gazette staff
WHITEWATER-In many ways, a UW-Whitewater organization is bringing school spirit to the heart of the city.
In a small one-room shop at 171 W. Main St., the university's Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization is showing the community that students can be a vital link in the revitalization of the city's downtown.
Since June, the CEO has been helping attract shoppers downtown from Thursday through Sunday at its Spirit of Whitewater Shop.
The store, which sells UW-Whitewater apparel, also is helping bridge the gap between the community and university. It's located in the same building as the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Whitewater, which operates the Main Street Community program, and Tourism Council in the historic former Commercial Bank.
Emily Kartheiser, a member of UW-Whitewater's Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization, opens the Spirit of Whitewater Shop in downtown Whitewater. The store, which sells school apparel, gives students valuable experience in running a business and helps bridge the gap between the community and university.
Al Hoch/Gazette Staff
Catering to tourists, alumni, parents and community residents, students have become goodwill ambassadors in the ongoing effort to meld the community and university.
Because the store is open during hours the chamber and council are closed, CEO students staffing the store are answering the tourism telephone calls, offering directions and serving as greeters.
"If we can make a small impact, then we're doing our part," said Derek Henze, CEO president and a junior at UW-Whitewater.
He likes seeing visitors browsing stores downtown on weekends. Pedestrians bring a sense of accomplishment to the city's downtown revitalization project, Henze said.
Scott Gittrich, a member of the Downtown Whitewater Board and president of Toppers Pizza, also is pleased with the CEO's presence downtown.
Derek Henze
The pizza franchise, which now has 13 stores, is headquartered in Whitewater.
The shop is one of the main reasons why students are coming downtown, Gittrich said.
The store also has become a popular spot for visiting university alumni to stop and shop for memorabilia from their days on campus, Gittrich said.
"It's one thing to drive over to the university bookstore," Gittrich said. "It's another to buy downtown. It connects the city to the university even more. The university is a big population in our community and a vital part of our revitalizing the business district. We want to facilitate the reduction of whatever barriers may exist between the university and city."
While the shop has been proving itself a responsible member of the community, it also has been reaching other goals and objectives.
It provides student entrepreneurs with valuable experience in management, marketing, accounting, human resources and sales.
Henze, 24, has put much time, sweat and concern into the shop.
"I've spent a lot of nights being here until 2 a.m., stocking merchandise and designing displays," Henze said. "I'd like to see it expand and become its own entity."
Although the store already serves as a fund-raising outlet for the UW-Whitewater Student Foundation and Pi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, Henze's vision includes branching out further to offer other student organizations the same courtesy and learning experiences.
Since opening, the shop has seen a 2000 percent increase in sales and has become the financial backbone of the CEO, Henze said.
"It's almost growing faster than I can handle," Henze said.
The shop's clothing comes from the university bookstore. The two businesses have a contract that allows the CEO to sell shirts and sweatshirts labeled either UW-Whitewater or printed with the Warhawks athletic logo.
Because the two businesses are open at different hours, they are not competitors.
Although CEO only is one and one-half years old, it is competing to be the largest organization on campus, Henze said.
For Tiffany Dawson, vice president of CEO's community involvement, the Spirit Shop has offered her a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes skills needed to operate a business.
"Working at the Spirit Shop has given me the opportunity to go through every aspect of a business," Dawson said. "I can see myself starting a business from the experience."
Jimmy Peltier, the CEO advisor and professor of the UW-Whitewater Irvin L. Young Entrepreneurship, couldn't be happier with the shop's success and students' commitment to the business.
"The spirit shop was one of the first things we started as an organization," Peltier said. "It's part of who we are. I'm extremely pleased with how students are running the shop."
None of the students are paid for their services. Proceeds go back into the organization, Peltier said.
He also is proud of the relationship students have built with Downtown Whitewater, Peltier said.
Much of that success can be attributed to Henze's spirit, he said.
"His leadership for the organization came at a perfect time. In many ways, his maturity, leadership and energy is why the CEO has become a success," Peltier said.
For Henze, the venture has laid the foundation for future opportunities.
"The CEO and spirit shop have taught me to think big," Henze said. "I can accomplish great things because of my experiences."
