Author: Carrie Rengers, Published: June 26, 2014 By: The Wichita Eagle
MOXI Junction uses Kickstarter for final financial push before opening in Maize
The new Maize coffeehouse MOXI Junction has a building now, but its kitchen is empty, so Joanna Kilgore has begun a Kickstarter campaign to finance it.
“We were doing really well, and then my funding collapsed,” she says. “I had a verbal, ‘Yes,’ that turned into a, ‘No.’”
In October, Have You Heard? reported that Kilgore and some Maize-area friends, including two other mothers of special-needs children, are opening the business as a place for their kids to work. The coffeehouse also will have a bakery and art gallery.
MOXI, which stands for Mothers of Exceptional Individuals, will be at the northwest corner of Park and Central in Maize.
“I’m paying for 99 percent myself,” Kilgore says.
She says a farm bank has been helping her.
“They would much rather give to farms than speciality coffee. It makes more sense to them.”
Kilgore says she was close to opening when she learned she wouldn’t have all the money she needs to finish outfitting the business.
“I’m wanting to open, so I was in a panic.”
Kilgore says she’s never used Kickstarter before. She says she has to make 100 percent of the $60,000 she needs or she won’t get any of the money.
“I set it very low, and I prayed very high,” Kilgore says. “In two days, I’ve gotten up to $1,050.”
She also put in $20,000 of her own money.
The last day to give in the 27-day campaign is July 20.
So what happens if she can’t raise the money?
“This is my creative basket, and my eggs are in it, and I am just assuming it’s going to work,” Kilgore says. “As we get closer, I’ll come up with Plan B.”
Kilgore clearly is a saleswoman. Instead of promising an update on the donations, she says, “If you give me $5, it updates you automatically.”
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