Thanks to connections she made
through the International Franchise
Association (IFA), Stockeland had the
opportunity to testify in front of the
U.S. Senate on two new, separate
federal regulations that she says she
believes will hurt small businesses
across the country.
"You go in front of the Senate, and
it's pretty nerve-racking," she says
of the experience. "But just like
everything in small business, you
have to fight for what you believe in.
And if you don't, who will fight for
you? I have to speak up if I have the
opportunity."
actually at Nordstrom. And some consumers
don't care, but I think a lot of them do."
TOUGH BUT FAIR
While Stockeland is the first to tell you she
has her imperfections—she's working on
slowing down and being able to sit still
for more than 10 minutes at a time—her
success isn't hard to understand. She's a
good blend of old- and new-school, perhaps
evidenced best by her unique take on
workplace culture.
"When we talk about culture," she says,
"It isn't so much about having snacks
always accessible or having TV time in the
afternoon—those pieces that are spoken
about a lot right now. To us, culture is making
sure our employees are taken care of. We've
always done that. I didn't start collecting a
regular paycheck until about a year and a
half ago, but my employees have always
received their paycheck on time. That's a
culture piece to us.
"Making sure that whenever we can possibly
give any type of raise, we do it. Even if that
means I still don't get a paycheck. That's a
culture piece. Also, not just selling someone
a store and saying, 'See ya.' I want them to
be leaders in their community and what that
looks like could be that they're really involved
in nonprofits, it could be that they're building
their own team so they can open a second
store or it could be that they become a better
mom. But I'm still a little old-school when it
c omes to, 'You're at work to work.'"
Stockeland's also a third-generation
entrepreneur and a native Fargoan and, as
such, says she feels a unique responsibility
to the area and her team of 12.
"In a community where you're born
and raised, there's so much given to
you, and it creates the person you are,"
says Stockeland, who, despite logistical
inefficiencies, has kept MODE's corporate
headquarters and shipping operations in
Fargo. "And so to be able to give back and
be able to give jobs to women from this area
is pretty fantastic."
MODE
shopmodestore.com
4302 13th Ave. S #13, Fargo
701-478-9969