If wildlife or Western-themed décor appeals to your senses, a stop at the Foxes' Den in Dickinson's Prairie Hills Mall might be worth your while.
Open since November, Deb Lervik launched the business after encouragement from her family. It also helps she has a love for shopping and experience in both the clerk and management roles of retail.
"Just being in retail, I like interacting with customers, trying to fill their needs and meet those needs," Lervik said. "I felt that we needed something like this."
The timing was right as the Foxes' Den opened shortly before Christmas, Lervik said.
Lervik tries to carry a little bit of everything, she said. Her stock runs the gamut from framed artwork and metal signs to mugs, pocket knives, belt buckles, greeting cards, books, pillows and accent lamps.
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"I've kind of grown to like them," Lervik said of the items that fill the store's display tables. "I like the outdoors. My husband has the basement, so this is what he decorates (it) in."
Lervik is open to suggestions or advice on what items she should consider for the business and is constantly looking for additional stock through various vendors and markets.
She tries to cater to the general public and draws people of both genders into her store.
"We get a whole variety - guys for their wish list and women are usually the buyers," Lervik said.
Business has been going little by little and Lervik is working to get the store's name out through advertising.
"Always when you're a new store, it's a little tougher," she said. "It's a new experience, trying to meet those needs and plant new ideas."
People from every corner of the state come to the store looking for the perfect gift or home-decorating article.
"The surrounding communities have been awesome," Lervik said.
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The customer service and Lervik's staff make the store unique, she said.
"You really have to treat people with the heart as well as with the head," Lervik added. "You have to be compassionate, understanding. I think customer service really brings people back. We want to go beyond just selling the item."
Lervik has a year-long contract for the space and said "we're just thinking positive." She strives to add new products every month to give the store a new, fresh look.
The Foxes' Den is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Lervik can be reached at 483-3657.
