Trader James aiming for May 6 opening

By Jacob Sturm
news@mustangpaper.com

A convenient option for Mustang residents looking for bulk products is opening in town likely in the next few weeks.

Trader James, located at 327 W. State Highway 152 Suite 103-B, is in the process of setting up for customers following submitting an application for a business license according to a recent City Manager’s Report.

Kevin Aniebok, who is responsible for the business, lives in the Mustang and Yukon area and
said he originally planned to find a location in town and never wavered from that goal. He said the attracting part about the location Trader James will be settling in at came down to the frequency of people passing by the area.

“I think it’s the frequency of the people passing by here,” Aniebok said. “I wouldn’t put (this in) the strip mall because in the strip mall you won’t be able to get in and get out whenever you want to. It’s like (for) delivery types. But here… (It’s) easily (made for a) drive through.”

As for a goal Aniebok has for Trader James, he said it is to have everything needed to become a wholesale store. Currently, he said he has a partnership with Costco Wholesale to bring their product closer to Mustang.

Aniebok said he used to work for a different retail store, and that people would travel from long distances due to seeing the items listed as available at the location, only to learn that the
product wasn’t there in the store. At the time, Aniebok was one of the employees tasked with
addressing those customers. He said those issues won’t be a problem at Trader James.

“Here will be different than that,” Aniebok said. “…Most importantly, this place will be centered on human connection. You won’t have someone lining up and trying to check out. There will be, though it will be small, but you’ll have a cashier and a cashier assistant helping you get in and get out. And you’ll have someone… helping you find something you need.”

A potential plan down the road would be for the company to incorporate a membership
through traderjameswholesale.com, the website for the store. There is no plans for there to be
a membership fee for those customers. That could help the store know what people are
wanting in stock.

“They should come out and check it out,” Aniebok said of the community. “Tell me what they
think… Instead of driving 35 minutes away, you can pick up the same item (here). The prices are not going to be that different. It could be a few cents different, or it could even be less because I buy them (Costco products) in bulk. So, come out and check it out.”

Trader James will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, on Saturday
from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. once the location officially opens.