Ciara Stockeland spent most of Monday with the doors to her business locked and the windows covered.
Inside MODE, a designer fashion outlet store in Fargo, Stockeland and two employees arranged shoes and hung clothing.
As their 4 p.m. deadline approached, Stockeland adjusted a rack of shirts and Leah Hagen, store manager, straightened a sale sign before they opened the doors.
About a dozen people were waiting for MODE's truckload liquidation sale, including Tara Chizek of Fargo, who was excited to find name-brand items for less than $20, she said.
Within half an hour, more than 30 customers were plucking shirts out of bins and trying on pairs of shoes.
ADVERTISEMENT
MODE carries overstock designer fashions at 50 to 90 percent below retail prices for women, men, teens, children and babies.
In addition to clothing, the store carries shoes, jewelry, skin care products and accessories. MODE re-ceives new shipments every week or two.
The liquidation sale is going on all week, offering brands such as Sperry shoes for $20 and Lucky jeans for $40. MODE plans to offer such sales semi-annually.
"For people who have never been in (the store), this is the week to come check it out," Hagen said.
Stockeland opened MODE in February 2007.
She also owns maternity and baby store Mama Mia. In April, MODE took over the space Mama Mia once occupied at 612 Main Ave. and Mama Mia became an online business.
As the economy puts a pinch on many pocketbooks, MODE has seen a big increase in business, Stockeland said.
Shoppers still want designer products because of the quality, but they're spending more carefully, she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"That's why this type of business is working so well, because they can still get those (designers) but so much cheaper," she said.
"People are never going to lose their style," Hagen said. "They still want their luxuries. They still want their designer-brand jeans ... but they just can't afford to pay that price. After you've worn designer jeans, sometimes it's hard to lower your standards."
Business profile
MODE
• Locations: 612 Main Ave., Fargo
• Hours: 10 to 5:30 Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 to 7, Thursday. Closed Sunday. Hours will change in March.
• Ownership: Ciara Stockeland
• Contact: (701) 478-5858
ADVERTISEMENT
• Online: www.shopmodestore.com
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526
