In an article from Inforum, manager Shantelle Peterson shares her thoughts on style! Source: inforum.com
FARGO—Shantelle Peterson doesn’t hesitate to name her style icon.
“My grandma,” she says. “She’s always looked stylish and so classy.” The 30-year-old manager of Clothes Mentor in Fargo flips through her phone, sharing photos of her 94-year-old grandmother’s timeless, polished style.
Peterson puts her own twist on classic looks by adding edgy elements like funky shoes. I spotted her downtown and liked her positive energy and all-black ensemble. Describe your style. A hodgepodge of everything. It changes depending on my mood. What’re you wearing today? Everything is from Clothes Mentor. I have on MIA shoes, an Express blazer, Lou & Grey pants and a Coach bag. Where do you shop? Clothes Mentor, T.J. Maxx, Gap, Loft—I’ll shop anywhere. Who’s your style icon? My grandma. She turns 95 this month. She’s never worn jeans and she always looks put together. Both of my grandparents were snappy dressers. What’s your favorite thing in your closet? I have a strong attachment to all of my shoes. I have well over 100 pairs, easily. My latest favorites are a pair of cobalt blue Steve Madden fringe heels my husband bought for me. What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever worn? I’m not sure, but I take every bad outfit as a learning experience. What are your signature pieces? I always wear my wedding ring and my Cobber ring, my watch and a necklace with my son’s initial and birthstone. If you had an unlimited amount of money, what would you buy for your wardrobe? I’m jaded, I don’t think I could spend a lot on one thing. But bags and shoes are always good investments.
Shoes are Shantelle Peterson’s finishing touch for any outfit. Anna G. Larson / The Forum
A second article about the new Woodbury, Minnesota New Uses store, owned by Will Berthiaume and Valeta Cornwell, tells why it is such a great fit for them. The ribbon cutting for the store takes place this week! Source: woodburybulletin.com
Will Berthiaume and Valeta Cornwell know a thing or two about downsizing their belongings. Come to think of it, they also know a thing or two about having to try to fill an empty house.
That’s why they’re so happy to open their new Woodbury business, New Uses. The business concept is simple – it’s like a consignment store for furniture and home goods, only they pay cash up front for the merchandise they take in and resell.
It’s a perfect fit for the couple, who have a little bit of experience on both sides of the furniture and home goods store cash register.
Bethiaume and Cornwell met when they worked together in San Francisco. When he moved in with her, he had to get rid of some of his belongings since she already had so much of her own. That worked well, until the couple moved to a larger home in Texas. There, Cornwell’s furnishings were not enough to fill their home, so they started hitting estate sales to find newer, cheaper-priced items to fill up the vacant space.
Oh, but then they decided to move to Minnesota to be nearer to his grandchildren. The problem was, their chosen home here was going to be much smaller. So they had an estate sale of their own.
With all of the downsizing and then later replacing of home furnishings, they kind of started to enjoy the estate sale circuit. The problem was, their home, again, was only so big.
“We got some really good deals,” Cornwell said, “but when we filled the house again, it was like, ‘Well, now what?’”
Settled in Minnesota, they knew they wanted to go into some kind of business where they could still enjoy the estate sale hobby. Only, they really didn’t want to start their own business, either.
Somewhere along the way, they heard about New Uses, a franchise that buys and sells gently used home goods and furniture. They researched the franchise, decided they liked what they saw, and signed on with NTY Franchise Co.
New Uses is not new to Minnesota. In fact, the franchise is headquartered out of Minnetonka, with stores in Minnetonka and Maple Grove, and now Woodbury. However, no two stores are exactly alike, as each one receives new merchandise daily – even by the hour – as people can bring in items they would like to sell, and receive cash on the spot.
Now their new business gives them new reason to hit the estate sales and garage sales, only they don’t have to actually go to the sales anymore because Woodbury folks have already brought in plenty of merchandise.
The store has been open to receive items for the past six weeks, but sales didn’t start until the official grand opening on June 25. Word apparently spread about the business, too, because there were 81 people lined up outside the door that morning – many of whom had already picked out items and wanted to get to those pieces before anyone else could – and another line had formed outside the door on the second day, as well.
“That’s been a great surprise for us,” Bethiaume said. “Valeta is almost on a first-name basis with a lot of them already.”
New Uses is located at 8150 Coller Way in Woodbury. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 651-797-3136 or visit http://www.newuses.com/store/woodbury/
In an article from Entrepreneur, Device Pitstop owner Josh Powell talks about his success at his store in Lexington, Kentucky, and gives some insight into the process. Source: entrepreneur.com Device Pitstop is a franchise built on concepts Josh Powell knows well. The franchise is a resale chain that buys, sells, trades, repairs and upgrades computers and mobile electronics – tools that Powell was well versed in due to his work producing videos for his local PBS station. For Powell, becoming a Device Pitstop franchisee meant using knowledge he already accumulated to make some money. Here’s what he has learned. Name: Josh Powell Franchise owned: Lexington, Ky. How long have you owned a franchise? Five years. Related: No Gender Bias Figured Into What These Franchisees Chose to DoWhy franchising? The initial and ongoing support is essential key to the success of the business. Most businesses last less than three years, so it is important to have a team of people who can help you take the journey during the difficult times and the times of celebration. What were you doing before you became a franchise owner? Before owning Device Pitstop, I was a director/producer at a local PBS affiliate. Why did you choose this particular franchise? I love technology and I love the concept of resale. It was easy to grasp because I was already using both concepts in my personal life. So, why not have some fun and make some money? How much would you estimate you spent before you were officially open for business? $160,000: Total $32,000 (approximately): Working capital $30,000: Fixtures $15,000: Initial advertising (TV and radio) $12,000: Signage $10,000: Franchise fee $60,000: Inventory Where did you get most of your advice/do most of your research? Most of my advice and research came from my mentor and friends who helped me open the store. They had heard of the concept before and were interested in it. Also, my knowledge of technology helped to influence my decision. Related: It All Adds Up to the Fact That This Franchisee Made the Right ChoiceWhat were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise? The biggest surprise was how successful my franchise was immediately. I wanted to make sure that my processes were scalable. Managing customer growth as well as internal growth issues like personnel were certainly a challenge. What advice do you have for individuals who want to own their own franchise? Find a business model that you love, not just something that makes money. When you believe in a franchise and you love what you are doing, then the success will follow. What’s next for you and your business? Growth. I am always looking for new avenues of revenue or new processes to streamline our current systems. This year I’ve put a lot of focus into developing our processes, and the result has been an improved bottom line. As for the next 12 months, I am always looking for new locations.
Josh Powell/Photo Credit Josh Powell
Linda Berg
Franchise Business Consultant
Linda Berg is the Franchise Business Consultant for Clothes Mentor’s Southeast region and the Franchise Operations Manager for Clothes Mentor, Children’s Orchard, and NTY Clothing Exchange. Linda joined the company in 2016 as the Store Manager and the Area Manager of the three corporate stores. Linda worked for Gap Inc. for 12 years at both Old Navy and Gap in various management roles. Her retail experience also includes 12 years at Mervyn’s in several management and training roles.
Amy Donnelly
Director of Inventory Management | Franchise Business Consultant
Amy Donnelly is the Director of Inventory Management for Clothes Mentor. In addition, Amy holds the position as Franchise Business Consultant for Clothes Mentor’s Southeast Region. Prior to joining Clothes Mentor in 2013, she spent 8 years in retail management with Limited Brands. Amy holds a BA degree.
Ashley Huebner
Director of Marketing
Ashley Huebner oversees Clothes Mentor’s marketing and advertising efforts to drive sales and build brand awareness. She also leads creative initiatives, driving the brand’s vision in aesthetics, tone, and trends to elevate our position as a leader in the resale category.
Ashley joined the Clothes Mentor team in March 2015. She has 10+ years of Graphic Design experience, a strong background in design and user experience, and a passion for creativity. She holds a BA degree in Advertising and Art.
Michelle Vaudrin
Senior Director of Operations
Michelle Vaudrin is the Senior Director of Operations for Clothes Mentor and Children’s Orchard. Prior to joining NTY Franchise Company in March 2016, she worked in leadership roles for Burlington, American Eagle, and Macy’s. Michelle attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in Retail Merchandising and Business Administration. She brings extensive background in training of strategies, merchandising, customer service and multi-unit store operations to the team.
Jenny Mann
Vice President of Operations | Executive Director of IT
Jenny Mann is the Vice President of Operations for Clothes Mentor and Children’s Orchard. In January of 2020, Jenny also took on the role of Executive Director of IT, overseeing BST, our Point of Sale system, and the e-commerce platforms for both brands. Prior to this, Jenny was the Director of Marketing for NTY Franchise Company since January 2013. Jenny started with the NTY Franchise Company in 2008 with Clothes Mentor and has held many roles, including; Store Manager, New Store Opener, and Regional Operations Manager. Before joining NTY Franchise Company, Jenny worked for Old Navy (Gap, Inc.) and Target in management roles.
Jarvis Herndon
Franchise Business Consultant
Jarvis Herndon is a Franchise Business Consultant for both Clothes Mentor and Device Pitstop. Jarvis has a strong background in retail management, leadership, and a history of operational success within a franchising system. He is passionate about assisting small business owners in developing their path to success while maximizing their businesses’ potential. Jarvis brings a great mix of skills and experience to the NTY Franchise Company.
Sarah Primmer
VP of Finance & Human Resources
Sarah Primmer is the Vice President of Finance and Human Resources for NTY Franchise Company. She joined the company in January 2014. Prior to joining NTY, Sarah spent over 25 years as the controller and business manager of a local sales and marketing firm calling on Target stores.
Chad Olson
Chief Operations Officer
Chad Olson has been Chief Operations Officer of NTY Franchise Company since January 2007. From May 1994 to December 2006, he held various positions for Winmark Corporation (f/k/a Grow Biz International, Inc.), including Field Operations Manager for the Once Upon a Child concept from 1999 to 2002, and Regional Operations Manager for the Plato’s Closet concept from 2002 to 2006.
Dan Goetz
Franchise Business Consultant
Dan Goetz is the Franchise Business Consultant for Clothes Mentor in the West Region. Previous to joining the Clothes Mentor Corporate staff in February of 2014, he worked in leadership positions with Aèropostale, Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Target stores. He attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State University. He brings a strong background in Operations, Merchandising, and Human Resources to the Clothes Mentor team.
Sean Marrs
IT/Tech Administrator
IT/Tech Administrator
Ashlyn Aarness
Social Media Specialist
Social Media Specialist
Marissa Stacy
Jr. Graphic Designer
Jr. Graphic Designer
Gina Geary
Franchise Business Consultant
Franchise Business Consultant
Alice Heidenreich
Franchise Business Consultant
Franchise Business Consultant
Jessica Fix
Franchise Contract and Office Administrator
Jessica Fix is the Franchise Contracts and Office Administrator for NTY Franchise Company. She started with the company in January of 2018. Jessica works alongside the Franchise Development Team and provides office support to the headquarter office. She has 20 years in the franchise industry, previously working for Carlson Leisure Group/Travel Leaders Franchise Group in a variety of roles, such as Database Coordinator, Legal Contract Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the Franchise Sales Team.
Ronald G. Olson
President
Ron Olson has been President and a Director of NTY Franchise Company since October 2006. Ron’s background included starting his career at Dayton’s Department Store, where he held many management positions. In 1977 he opened his own furniture store in Minnesota, which was a Drexel Heritage prototype store. In 1988 he co-founded Grow Biz International, now called Winmark. The first franchise rights that Olson purchased and started marketing was Play It Again Sports. Olson continued buying the Franchise rights for Once Upon A Child, Plato’s Closet, and Music Go Round. Today there over 1,000 Franchise locations.
Under NTY Franchise Company, the franchise rights were bought for Clothes Mentor and New Uses. In 2013 Olson bought Laptop Exchange and changed the name to Device Pitstop. In 2014 the company opened NTY Clothing Exchange and NTY Kids, now Children’s Orchard. There are currently 204 stores sold and 133 stores opened under the NTY Franchise umbrella.
Michael D. Smith
Vice President of Strategic Planning
Michael D. Smith is the Vice President of Strategic Planning. From December 2000 to July 2010, Michael held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the franchise company Laptop Xchange. From June 1994 to December 2000, Michael held numerous roles within the Grow Biz International brands of Play It Again Sports and Computer Renaissance. These roles included Corporate Store Management, Field Operation Specialist, and Franchisee.
