Iolan family opens Bargain Factory

“It’s family taking care of family,” a motto Candee Callaway and her family live by.   
Candee, her daughter Callee, her sister-in law Carol Settlemyer and longtime family friend, Margaret Reinhart, have opened a franchise bargain store, The Bargain Factory, in honor of the late Jim Callaway, whose dream was to give the Iola community something more.
The store, in the old Sigg Auto parts, 214 S. Washington Ave., opened its doors for the first time on President’s Day.
Jim and Candee bought the building in 2011, always with the intention of opening a bargain store. The store was scheduled to open last August, but Jim passed away in July.
It took some time but Candee and her family finished up the project and opened the store in Jim’s memory.
Items the store carries are food, hardware, tennis shoes and home décor, all which can be bought for a steal of a price.
“We offer a little bit of everything,” Candee said. “We will have coolers and milk going here soon.”
The store has been open a week and so far the ladies have received great feedback from customers.
“We have gotten a lot of repeat customers and one lady has come everyday,” Candee said.
Merchandise comes from Grandview, Mo., where the store’s main locations are. Customers can even shop online at, www.thebargainfactory.net/index.htm, and their items will come with the next regular shipment.
The business opportunity came from Candee’s father Orbellee Cooper and David Merryman.
Candee said The Bargain Factory, a subsidiary of ELDO W.R.M.S., Inc., offers small towns affordable shopping.

THE BUILDING had to have renovations made, which Callee said was done by her father.
“He redid a lot. He painted, put in the ceiling fans, built the glass cases and had to break down a lot of walls,” said Callee, a senior at Crest High School.
“It was like a one-man show,” Candee said.
The ladies are hoping to see the business grow but most importantly, for the Iola community, for it to stay for a while.
“We want to keep it going for a long time. To give people somewhere they can go and not feel pressured. To give people who might be going through a hard time financially a way to provide for their families,” Callee said. “It’s about community and family, that’s what my dad was all about.”