Unique. One of a kind. Small town North Dakota success.
The story of MODE is not your typical retail narrative. In 2006, seeing a growing need for maternity apparel, both comfortable and fashion forward, Ciara and Jim Stockeland set out to open their first retail store, Mama Mia. With no retail experience, but an attitude of tenacity, Mama Mia was off to a fast start.
By the end of 2006, the Stockelands were approached by a company storing a large quantity of designer overstock product that needed to be liquidated. On February 1, 2007 Jim and Ciara opened a second retail store next door to Mama Mia and called it MODE. This store was intended to be a short term retail setup, but very soon proved to be a booming business. MODE opened in a bare bones location, utilizing cardboard boxes as dump bins and folding tables for display, it began to draw crowds of people all clamoring for the next “MODE” deal! Word quickly spread that MODE carried designer product for $4.99 and $9.99 and the staff of 2 at Mama Mia soon grew to 6 between the 2 stores.
Seeking the counsel of several local businessmen as well as that of SCORE, a national non-profit which provides free business counsel to start up entrepreneurs, Jim and Ciara made the decision in the spring of 2008 to merge Mama Mia, which carried exclusive high end maternity, and MODE, which carried exclusive high end product at discounted prices. MODE was moved into the gorgeous Mama Mia space and thus was born the “MODE Concept” – a designer outlet store in a boutique environment.
By October 2009, a second MODE was opened in Maple Grove, MN. The first franchise was sold and opened in May 2011.
For more information on small business start up, visit www.score.org