Catapult gets unexpected response in calling for product vendors

When Catapult Creative House issued a call for product recently, it didn't expect the response it received.

More than 35 people signed up to bring samples of their products to one of three sessions Friday, said Ashley Lokey, student intern and store manager of The Shoppe at Catapult.

"I have been really surprised at [the response]," Lokey said. "Originally we weren't expecting it to be that big of an event because people are still finding out that we are here. We opened over the summer, but there weren't any college students here and it was more of a down time, so nobody really came into our store or our building at that point. But now people are starting to realize we're here, we're getting more business, we're getting more traffic through. ..."

Lokey said at the beginning of last week, she only had 14 people signed up. But by the end of the week, that number had more than doubled.

"Our building has plenty of capacity to hold all of these people, it's just we weren't expecting it," she said.

Ashley Lokey, right, manager of The Shoppe at Catapult: Creative House, takes a closer looke at Katie Hendrickson's hemp jewelry on Friday in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Catapult is open to selling many types of products.

"We really are looking for all kinds. Our vision for the store is that our products will be made in Missouri," Lokey said. She said they want to keep the focus local and avoid products coming from wholesalers, unless that wholesaler is based in Missouri.

Lokey said the focus for this call for product was on bringing in seasonal items for fall and winter so Catapult can be sure to have enough storage space.

Potential vendors attending Friday's call for product brought samples of their work. The Catapult staff then decides which products they are interested in selling and places an order with the vendor. Lokey said each vendor gets a Catapult information packet including a welcome letter, information on getting paid and a sample of the business contract.

Lokey said all orders will be placed by the end of this week.

AT&T to hire 60 at call center

AT&T announced Friday morning it is hiring 60 employees at its call center on Silver Springs Road. The positions are for U-verse Solutions sales representatives, according to a news release from the company. The positions are full time. Benefits include health care and 401(k) contribution matching, plus raises every six months, the release said. Those hired will go through a 12-week paid training period. Candidates must be at least 18, have six months experience operating a Windows-based computer and be available to work a flexible schedule. AT&T representatives will be on hand at two upcoming career fairs. The first will be Southeast Missouri State University's Career and Internship Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Student Recreation Center-North. The second will be at the Cape Area Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Osage Centre. Applications are being accepted online now at attlinks.com/ccrcapegirardeau, the release stated. AT&T hired nearly 450 people in Missouri during the first eight months of the year, according to the release.

Last Jasper's store closes

Jasper's at 1631 E. Malone Ave. in Sikeston, Missouri, closed effective Sept. 30. The store was the last of the Jasper's brand, according to an email from Jeff Maurer of Mayson Capital Partners, controlling partner of Pajco Inc., which operates Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores. The decision to close the Sikeston store was based partly on the land parcel being small and limiting "the business we could do there," Maurer wrote. The company operates a Rhodes 101 Stop on North Main Street in Sikeston and is looking for additional building sites in the city. The company also is working on a project to redevelop the site of the Jasper's store in Perryville, Missouri, which Maurer wrote was a "much older building that no longer met our current standards," such as fresh-food service. Two Rhodes 101 Stops remain in Perryville, one of which has just undergone renovations, Maurer said. The company also is breaking ground on a Rhodes 101 Stop in Farmington, Missouri, this month, with plans to open early next year, Maurer wrote.

SEMO plans Career Week activities

Southeast Missouri State University has several events planned starting today for Career Week, leading up to a career and internship fair Thursday, according to a news release from the university. Today there will be a career fair fashion show at noon in the lobby of the University Center and a career fair boot camp at 4 p.m. in the University Center Program Lounge. Tuesday, coffee and resume critiques will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Academic Hall, Room 057. A second career fair boot camp will be at noon Wednesday in the University Center lobby. The career and internship fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Student Recreation Center North. The event is open to current students as well as alumni. Semiprivate interview areas will be available for on-the-spot interviews. For more information, visit semo.edu/careers/career-fair-students.html.

Ribbon cuttings

• Skyview Animal Clinic, 2139 Megan Drive in Cape Girardeau, will hold a ribbon cutting at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
• Kellerman Foundation and Museum, 102 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, will hold a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 14.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646