Laura Carpenter | Have You Heard?

May 13, 20106:02 a.m.

WICHITA — Amy Gilliland is bringing a business to NewMarket Square that she hopes will be the envy of the area.

She’s opening Massage Envy Spa, a national franchise, in the same building near 21st and Maize where Doc Green’s is.

The 2,680-square-foot store will open in late July.

“I like NewMarket Square because . . . it’s a power center,” Gilliland says.

She says there’s not a lot of competition in the area either.

Gilliland already has a Massage Envy in Lawrence, which she opened a couple of years ago.

“We’ve done really well in Lawrence,” she says.

She’ll hire a staff to run the Wichita spa.

“I could not have done that two years ago when I opened the current one, just because it was a new concept for me,” Gilliland says.

April 5, 201011:06 a.m.

WICHITA — The White Dress isn’t the only new shop for women opening at NewMarket Square.

Heidi Pullman and her sister Laura Carpenter will open Alter Ego Fashions by June.

“It’s just kind of a women’s shopping area,” Pullman says.

Carpenter recently moved from South Dakota, where she’s worked in a boutique the last three years.

“She kind of learned the ropes there,” Pullman says.

The two have since been doing in-home fashion shows with various product lines.

“People really like the product,” Pullman says.

Alter Ego will sell women’s apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

“Really, just to get more exposure, we thought a location would be better,” Pullman says.

She says NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize was easily her choice.

“It’s just kind of the place to shop on the west side.”

April Reed of Slawson Cos. handled the deal for the almost 2,000-square-foot space.

Pullman’s husband, Dustin, owns two Beds For Less and has been offering retail advice.

“He’s just kind of guiding us on how to start a business,” Heidi Pullman says.

She’s already thinking of future stores.

“We’d like to expand,” Pullman says. “So we’re going to start here . . . and then grow.”

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