Andersons sell 5 Star Metal business to Wauneta couple

    Chad and Jennifer DeWester of Wauneta are the new owners of 5 Star Metal, purchasing the business from Jason and Heidi Anderson of Enders.
    The sale was effective last week, Heidi said, and the new owners are hoping to begin taking orders the first of November.
    The Andersons started the metal decor, custom sign and engraving business four years ago, after Jason acquired a CNC table from his step-dad.
    They actually came up with the idea for the business as they traveled to and from one of their son Kade’s junior high football games that year, she said.
    Discussions between Jason and his uncle found there would be interest in the metal signs at the Big R Stores his uncle owns in Colorado. Heidi said they took their first signs there for sale Thanksgiving weekend four years ago.
    The Andersons have added software and a powder coating system to upgrade their offerings. A local website, social media and other advertising got the word out.
    “We just ran with it,” she said.
    They sold their creations locally “and everywhere,” she said. They operated out of the shop near their home in Enders.
    Custom orders likely comprise about 90% of their business recently, and Heidi said they don’t have the time to give to it anymore.
    They continue with farming and also own Anderson Fencing and Seamless Gutters. They sold their tree business last year.
    Chad DeWester said he enjoys metal work and his wife likes the crafty side of the business, reasons they were interested in the 5 Star Metal business.
    They are renting a building in Wauneta at 231 No. Tecumseh for the business, and hope to begin taking orders early next month. They don’t plan to have a walk-in retail outlet, but customers will be able to pick up orders there, he said.
    The business will be an evening/weekend enterprise for them, Chad said, as they both plan to continue their current jobs in education.
    He is an IT consultant for network operations with Educational Service Unit #16, and Jennifer is a fourth grade teacher at Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools.