Staff being hired for mid-August launch

Opening a new store is a lot more involved than stocking shelves, opening cash registers and preparing for sales.

It takes a crew of the best and brightest in southwest Florida and Bed Bath & Beyond is hoping to hire as many as possible.

The store, which is slated to open at The Forum in mid-August, recently hosted a job fair in south Fort Myers.

More than 400 people turned out to apply for sales, stock and cashier positions.

"We have had a very good turnout ... a little higher than expected, though," said Dan Peet, the store manager who organized the fair. "A lot of it has to do with the economy but we are excited about the prospects."

The applicant pool, Peet said, had a wide range of age and experience, but mostly, it was people who just need a job.

"Most applicants have come from other jobs where companies downsized or they've been fired," Peet said.

Heather Daniels, 29, is just one of the hopeful applicants. She needs a job after having relocated from LaBelle.

"I just quit a job when I relocated here and so far the interview went well," said Daniels, who used to work in Port Charlotte. "It's closer than my other job for sure."

The convenience of the store's location, just east of I-75 in Fort Myers has also drawn more applicants, Peet said

"People need jobs in this economy and we've been lucky to get a nice mix of ages and backgrounds," said Peet about the applicants who were also interviewed after filling out an application. "We will continue to take applications after the job fair."

Peet will spend the next weeks hiring a store set-up crew that will get things ready for customers.

It's one of the few big box stores at The Forum that has yet to open.

Target, Best Buy, Staples and PETCO have already opened.

Sasha Shim, 20, hopes she is part of the crew who will first greet customers on opening day.

"I need this to replace a waitress job ... my friend came yesterday and told me to come," said Shim, of Fort Myers, who attended the fair that on July 28 and 29 at La Quinta Inn & Suites.

Shim has previous retail experience.

"I got to do a small interview so hopefully I'll get it," she said.