Bias Software buys, remodels building



Bias Accounting Inc., which does business as Bias Software, has purchased a building at 327 E. Pacific that formerly housed a laboratory.

Bias Software bought the 5,200-square-foot building in August to accommodate its business growth, co-owner Mark Felchlin says. The company has doubled its staff in the past year and now employs 10 people, he says.

Bias Software plans to move from its current 1,700-square-foot leased location, at 302 E. Pacific, next month.

Vince DeAndre Inc., of Spokane, is in charge of the renovations, which will involve converting the building from a laboratory into office space, Felchlin says. He declines to disclose the cost of renovations.

Bias Software specializes in the creation of accounting software for government entities and has been in business for 15 years, Felchlin says.



Broadcasting veterans start video companies



Bruce Felt and his wife, KXLY-TV news anchor Nadine Woodward-Felt, have founded two video-communication companies, Video Marketing Solutions LLC and Spokane Video Legacy, out of their home on Spokane's North Side.

Video Marketing Solutions offers video tools and resources to companies to help them promote their products, services, and public image. Spokane Video Legacy offers video interviewing and production services for families who want to preserve family history through video storytelling, Bruce Felt says.

"The technology for video production via the Internet, websites, and mobile devices has advanced itself to the point that video marketing is not only convenient, but an accepted form of communication," Felt says.

The Felts do the majority of the work themselves, but plan to outsource work to freelancers occasionally, he says.

Felt is a former promotions manager for KREM-TV, in Spokane. Before starting Video Marketing Solutions, Felt met with local businesses and video production companies to assess a need for his services.

"In order to compete in today's business climate, these companies deserve cost-effective options to stay current and increase revenue," Felt says. "My commitment is to produce broadcast-quality, high-definition production with the marketing expertise that will drive its success."



Decor store combines two locations into one



Quinn Essentials Inc., a North Idaho home decor retailer, has closed its Coeur d'Alene store and remodeled its Post Falls building, at 518 E. Fifth, to serve as its sole store and headquarters.

Owner Angela Quinn, who also owns the 6,000-square-foot building that houses Quinn Essentials, says she was leasing a space for the Coeur d'Alene outlet at the Riverstone Shopping Center, at 2362 Old Mill Loop. Instead of renewing the lease, she decided to consolidate the stores into the Post Falls building. The Coeur d'Alene store was open for three years, Quinn says.

Before the consolidation, Quinn was utilizing only 3,500 square feet of space in the Post Falls building. Now, the store takes up the entire building, featuring expanded showrooms and more space to sell American-made and eco-friendly products, Quinn says. She and her family renovated the space, updating the paint, flooring, lighting, and business signs.

Quinn Essentials, which has been in Post Falls for five years, sells specialty home decor products, including lighting, furniture, art, and accessories. The store carries inventory from vendors and artists across the Inland Northwest, Quinn says. It also is an authorized dealer for Spring Air International Inc. mattresses and Kincaid Furniture Co.



Farmgirlfit opens east of downtown



Farmgirlfit, a fitness facility for women, has opened next to Something Else Deli, just east of downtown Spokane.

The business occupies a 4,000-square-foot leased space at 128 S. Sherman and specializes in personalized training in a group setting. Sessions last from 30 minutes to an hour and include yoga classes.

It was founded by Gonzaga University alumni Jennifer and Mark Niemann, Patrick Walsh, Jaunessa Walsh, and Ryan Leong. Jennifer Niemann is the manager and head trainer for Farmgirlfit, and five other personal trainers and a yoga instructor are also employed at the facility.

The space was renovated by Matt Collins, of Uptic Studios Inc., and Parsons Construction Inc., of Spokane and Spokane Valley, respectively.

Before co-founding Farmgirlfit, Jennifer Niemann taught a workout program at another gym here, and wanted to expand the appeal of metabolic training to women in Spokane. She also wrote a training blog, also called Farmgirlfit.



Sweet Frostings shop set to open downtown



Frosting Cupcakes LLC, which will do business as Sweet Frostings Blissful Bake Shop, is slated to open in the next few weeks in 2,500 square feet of leased space downtown.

The shop, which will be located at 15 S. Washington, is the brainchild of business partners Judy Rozier and Sally Winfrey. It will initially offer a variety of cookies, cupcakes, cake balls, and French macarons, as well as dessert catering services. Rozier says she is working on a gourmet line of homemade Twinkies to sell in the future.

Ninety-five percent of the shop's products are made from scratch, Rozier says.

"People are craving real flavor. They just want the real thing, and they're willing to pay for it," she says.

Shamrock Construction & Maintenance Co., of Spokane, is in charge of the space renovations, Rozier says. She estimates the cost of the remodel at $80,000 to $100,000.

The long-term plan for Sweet Frostings is to franchise and to have outlets in different parts of Spokane, Rozier says.