Iowa State is on the rise with the addition of Barefoot Campus Outfitters.

This new college merchandise store is located at 2306 Lincoln Way, kitty-corner from the Memorial Union. 

Iowa State is the northernmost of 14 locations across the nation. The Ames location opened for business Aug. 14 but will have its official grand opening Oct. 1. Food, entertainment and new merchandise will be available at the grand opening. 

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Barefoot Campus Outfitters employs its own designers to provide customers a unique product that is both intricate and aesthetically pleasing. 

The designers always come up with new ideas and are able to produce about 6,000 garments a day to satisfy the popular demand.

The store’s merchandise can be seen by the masses on campus in a variety of fun colors and styles.  

The store also offers a free brand T-shirt that people can claim by texting Barefoot10 to 70000. In addition to the free T-shirts, customers have the chance to win free merchandise by retweeting a picture on Win-it-Wednesdays. 

Erin Weddle, Barefoot Outfitter’s store manager, originally worked at the Barefoot location in Denton, Texas, and said it’s all about location in retail. 

“All of our stores are located very close to college campuses across the nation,” Weddle said. “The owner saw potential in Ames, and when the location opened up, we went for it.”

The store uses an eye-catching visual merchandising strategy in the window of its store to draw passerby into the store. It also provides a rustic, casual atmosphere that includes wooden elements, rustic signs and a life-size black bear named Carver. 

Barefoot Campus Outfitters offers a wide range of products, including T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats, shorts, sweatpants and more for men and women. It also offers many different accessories and fashion-oriented pieces.

The store tailors its custom designs to match the interests of college students.

“With the new location, it’s been interesting seeing how the customers here are so different than in other locations,” Weddle said. “In Texas, we were selling a lot of short-sleeved shirts as well as larges and extra larges. Here, it’s the complete opposite. One of the highest selling designs in the store includes the state’s shape printed on them.”

Customers can stay up to date on sales by checking the Barefoot Campus Outfitters website and following it on Instagram and Twitter.