Buckle, a specialty retailer that offers on-trend apparel, accessories, and footwear will be opening July 8 at Dakota Square Mall in Minot.
The store will be hiring employees for various positions and a hiring team will be in Minot this week for interviewing and recruiting.
Buckle area manager Heighlos Riser said preparations for the store's opening are well under way. By the end of June he hopes to have the interviewing and hiring process complete, and the store's products will begin arriving that week.
"We'll get the store set up and merchandised, and we will bring another team out the week of July 5 to get the staff trained and ready for opening day. I'd love to think we will have a staff of 20 to 25 on opening weekend," Riser said.
Buckle has locations in Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck, Riser said, and the company has been collecting names of employees at those stores who would be interested in the Minot location. People can also apply online by visiting (www.buckle.jobs.)
Riser explained that the store opening in Minot has been discussed for some time.
"From what I understand, the Dakota Square Mall has been interested in a Buckle for quite some time. The negotiations and the conversations formerly took place around last year, and the deal was done from there," Riser said.
Buckle caters to style conscious men and women of all ages, and the store's focus is on helping guests find their favorite jeans. The store carries leading denim brands such as BKE, Big Star, Big Star Vintage, Rock Revival, Antique Rivet, MEK Denim, Miss Me, Buffalo, Reclaim, Silver Jeans, !iT, 7 for all Mankind, and Division E.
Buckle carries lifestyle brands as well and represents more than 100 fashion brands in stores and online.
"We service a lot of different guests, and there are very few things we don't carry product-wise or fit-wise, no matter your age or gender. We're always excited to get our denim on people out there," Riser said.
Riser said the products at each Buckle store location represent the brands and styles that are in demand in a particular area.
"You are always going to get a unique experience no matter what Buckle you go to. Any time you set foot in a different Buckle, you are going to see different product. The product is based on what the location sells," Riser said.
"We generally take the first three weeks of being open to see what the manager of the store is passionate about and what they will sell well. We'll make sure the store gets stocked with what is wanted, without a doubt," he added.