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CLOTHES MENTOR: Exercising Your Franchise

In an article about franchising, The Hoons, who own four stores through NTY, three Clothes Mentor stores and one New Uses store, the concept of franchising and owning your own business is discussed. Source: tcbmag.com

Mark Hoon says he knows what it takes to be a successful franchisee. And the company in which Hoon invested knows what it takes to be a franchisor.

“I’m 57, and I haven’t been an employee since I was 16 years old.” Hoon says. “If I were an employee, I would probably be fired,” he jokes. In 2007, Hoon was a real estate agent specializing in new construction, while his wife, Barb, worked in the mortgage industry. Both of them, Hoon says “felt the slowdown coming” and thought that they needed to make a move.

“I wanted to own my own business,” Hoon says. “I learned a long time ago that I’m not a great inventor, but I’m a super copier. I didn’t want to risk my house on trying to see if something would work. I wanted to invest in something I knew would work.”

The Hoons now own four franchise businesses: Clothes Mentor stores in Maple Grove, St. Cloud and Woodbury, as well as a New Uses store in Maple Grove. Clothes Mentor is a women’s used-clothing chain, while New Uses resells used furniture and home décor. Hoon admits that “a guy going into women’s clothing was kind of unique.” But it has worked for him so far. His 27 years of experience running a large sales office for vacuum cleaner company Kirby prepared him to handle the sales and employee management side of the business.

Franchising has worked for many companies and business people. Minnetonka-based NTY, the company that started Clothes Mentor in 2006, is one of 115 franchisors headquartered in Minnesota. In addition to New Uses, its other resale retailers are NTY Kids, Device Pitstop and NTY Clothing Exchange.

Several Minnesota-based franchisors are nationally and internationally known. They cover a wide variety of industries, including food (Dairy Queen [see “Quest to Be King,” page 46], Buffalo Wild Wings), hotels (Radisson), fitness (Anytime Fitness, Snap) and financial services (Ameriprise). Potential franchisees can, of course, look at options based elsewhere.

Operating a franchise can be appealing, and the choices can be overwhelming. Meanwhile, some business owners might find becoming a franchisor themselves equally attractive. But whether you’re looking to invest or starting your own business, what should you consider before pulling the trigger?

Hoon chose to work with NTY after meeting Ron Olson, NTY’s cofounder, who’d started the franchisor now known as Winmark, a Plymouth-based company whose franchise brands include resale stores Once Upon a Child, Play It Again Sports and Music Go Round. Though Clothes Mentor was a new business, Hoon says, “I had confidence in [Olson’s] past abilities to pave a path for that same kind of concept.”

There are several advantages to being a franchisee. Most notably, you’re working with a known brand. “The second you open, you get the benefit of that name,” says Jeffery Haff, a partner with Minneapolis law firm Dady & Gardner, whose practice focuses on franchisees. What’s more, Haff says, “certain franchisors do a good job of training you and helping you in setting up your systems, and [determining] what to buy.” That’s a particular advantage if you’ve never run your own business before.

But there are aspects of franchising to consider before ponying up tens of thousands of dollars for a franchise. Here are some salient pieces of advice that franchising experts cite:

Know yourself, and how much you’re willing to work. “You need to be self-aware,” Haff advises. “Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Then match them up with the type of business that you want to run.”

For instance, “every restaurant franchisee that I have ever met is a workaholic—[working] between 10 and 18 hours a day, seven days a week,” Haff notes. “If you go out to dinner with them, they are receiving two to three phone calls an hour from their managers telling them what is going on, asking for help and input. If you are a strong, hard worker and are willing to work 70 to 120 hours a week, a restaurant franchise might be right for you.”

Many of those considering franchises have come from the corporate world and are looking for a change. “A lot of people look at [operating a franchise] as buying themselves a job, basically,” Haff adds. “Well, if you are risking $400,000 [in a franchise fee] for the chance to make $80,000 [a year], maybe that is not such a cost benefit for you.”

Don’t think of it as your own business—at least not completely. Joseph Fittante Jr., a shareholder with Bloomington-based law firm Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, describes a good franchisee as “someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who is able to color [inside] the lines.” The franchisor sets up the system; the franchisee follows it.

“As a franchisee, you not only have to operate your own business, but [you have to do so] within the confines of the franchise system, so it is a compromise,” notes Fittante, who represents franchisors in his practice. “As an entrepreneur opening your own business, you don’t have any of those constraints and those issues.”

Fittante says the biggest headache for franchisors is the franchisee who buys into the system and then wants to change the way that it operates. A franchisor “has been there, done that,” Fittante says. “So when franchisees get into the system and want to change things, change the recipe for success, that is very frustrating.” Though some franchisors give their franchisees some leeway in how they advertise to their local market, most don’t want a franchisee altering the brand, whether that’s using the logo improperly or altering food recipes. If you’re a person who loves creativity and innovation, it might be best to start your own business.

Know how much risk you want to take. “If the corporate world is lower-risk and stepping out on your own as an entrepreneur is high-risk, I’d put franchising somewhere in the middle,” says Gaylen Knack, a principal with Minneapolis law firm Gray Plant Mooty who specializes in franchising law. “You are using your own money to fund it; the success of your business depends upon how you operate it. At the same time, you’re taking a framework that others have tried.”

Franchisees with a taste for higher risk and potentially greater reward might want to consider buying into a franchisor that’s newer, particularly one that is operating in a fast-growing market. That’s the advice of Lori Kiser-Block, managing director and partner at the Decide Group, an Eden Prairie consultancy, and a 20-year franchising veteran. (Most recently, she was owner and president of Edina-based Rapid Refill, which franchised stores selling and replenishing ink and toner cartridges.) Kiser-Block cites franchises catering to baby boomers, such as those offering in-home health care for seniors, as an example of a potentially high-growth franchise field.

Learn how much a franchise can cost. Do you have enough cash to buy the franchise—and then operate it? “One of the primary reasons people fail in franchising is they don’t start out with enough money or access to money to get through the tough times, and the opening and the first few months as people try to find them,” Haff says.

Do your due diligence. Franchisors are required to supply a franchise disclosure document, which contains information on the backgrounds of the executives involved in the franchise company and other information. Potential franchisees should review this to see if the franchisor’s leadership has a strong track record. The document also contains the names and contact information for those franchisees who have departed during the past year. Potential franchisees “should reach out to those people both in the system and those who have left the system and get their experiences,” Fittante says.

Attorney Knack is often approached by companies considering expanding their operations by becoming franchisors. “Oftentimes, someone will come up to them and ask ‘Hey, are you thinking about franchising this business?’ ” Knack says. Currently, he’s working with a couple of companies exploring that option: a manufacturer of electric bikes seeking to franchise sales and service operations, and a company supplying fire-protection services to commercial buildings.

In helping a client determine whether a franchise model makes sense, Knack asks potential franchisors three questions. First, can the business be duplicated? Fast-food restaurants are famous for systems that lend themselves to easy replication. On the other hand, there are businesses that are tied to the founder’s personality or a particular skill that he or she has. Chef-driven fine dining establishments, for instance, aren’t good candidates for franchising.

Knack’s second question: What aspects of the business, such as proprietary software or other trade secrets, can be protected in order to block copycats? A would-be franchisor should be able to articulate what makes the business distinctive. As Knack puts it, “What can I do to make my burger chain special?” A franchisor also should have a strong and legally protected trademark.

Then there’s Knack’s third question: Have you been in business long enough to prove that it’s successful so that two different parties—you and a franchisee—can earn a living?

These questions are important, Knack says, because “it costs money to franchise. It’s a regulated industry. It’s costly if you can’t sell franchises, or if the franchisees can’t be successful.” A potential franchisor should also understand that the relationship between franchisor and franchisee is different from that of employer and employee. A franchisor can’t simply “terminate” a franchisee in the same way many businesses let people go because they are employees “at will.”

Franchising expert Kiser-Block raises another key consideration: “Can you clone it?” That triggers an analysis of whether your business can work anywhere, and whether a franchisor can train others to run the business. A potential franchisor should be able to provide a franchisee with an adequate return for their investment. Though many franchisees might be workaholics, Kiser-Block is skeptical that many people want to live that way: “Who wants to work 80 hours a week?”

A potential franchisor should be aware of the many legal and financial ramifications. Chad Olson, NTY Franchise Co.’s cofounder and chief operating officer, notes that legal filings are “quite extensive.” A franchisor needs to hire attorneys to help draw up a franchise disclosure document and a franchise agreement, both required by the Federal Trade Commission. These documents cover multiple topics, including site selection, assistance in putting together a business plan, training on how to run the business and many other franchisor responsibilities. The FTC also will want to ascertain that a franchisor is well-capitalized and not a fly-by-night operation that might leave franchisees who’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars in the lurch.

A successful franchisor also “needs to understand that franchisees are not direct employees,” Olson says. “They are individual entrepreneurs and need to be treated as such.” True, they also have to follow the franchisor’s clearly laid-out standards and practices. But, he adds, “it is imperative you have the credibility so they take your advice and follow your plan so they can be successful.”

Mark Hoon, who operates two of Olson’s company concepts, has found NTY to be supportive. “There’s a genuine feeling of care that comes from corporate,” Hoon says. “They want you to do well.” So far, so good, for both franchisor and franchisee.

NEW USES: Exercising Your Franchise

In an article about franchising, The Hoons, who own four stores through NTY, three Clothes Mentor stores and one New Uses store, the concept of franchising and owning your own business is discussed. Source: tcbmag.com

Mark Hoon says he knows what it takes to be a successful franchisee. And the company in which Hoon invested knows what it takes to be a franchisor.

“I’m 57, and I haven’t been an employee since I was 16 years old.” Hoon says. “If I were an employee, I would probably be fired,” he jokes. In 2007, Hoon was a real estate agent specializing in new construction, while his wife, Barb, worked in the mortgage industry. Both of them, Hoon says “felt the slowdown coming” and thought that they needed to make a move.

“I wanted to own my own business,” Hoon says. “I learned a long time ago that I’m not a great inventor, but I’m a super copier. I didn’t want to risk my house on trying to see if something would work. I wanted to invest in something I knew would work.”

The Hoons now own four franchise businesses: Clothes Mentor stores in Maple Grove, St. Cloud and Woodbury, as well as a New Uses store in Maple Grove. Clothes Mentor is a women’s used-clothing chain, while New Uses resells used furniture and home décor. Hoon admits that “a guy going into women’s clothing was kind of unique.” But it has worked for him so far. His 27 years of experience running a large sales office for vacuum cleaner company Kirby prepared him to handle the sales and employee management side of the business.

Franchising has worked for many companies and business people. Minnetonka-based NTY, the company that started Clothes Mentor in 2006, is one of 115 franchisors headquartered in Minnesota. In addition to New Uses, its other resale retailers are NTY Kids, Device Pitstop and NTY Clothing Exchange.

Several Minnesota-based franchisors are nationally and internationally known. They cover a wide variety of industries, including food (Dairy Queen [see “Quest to Be King,” page 46], Buffalo Wild Wings), hotels (Radisson), fitness (Anytime Fitness, Snap) and financial services (Ameriprise). Potential franchisees can, of course, look at options based elsewhere.

Operating a franchise can be appealing, and the choices can be overwhelming. Meanwhile, some business owners might find becoming a franchisor themselves equally attractive. But whether you’re looking to invest or starting your own business, what should you consider before pulling the trigger?

Hoon chose to work with NTY after meeting Ron Olson, NTY’s cofounder, who’d started the franchisor now known as Winmark, a Plymouth-based company whose franchise brands include resale stores Once Upon a Child, Play It Again Sports and Music Go Round. Though Clothes Mentor was a new business, Hoon says, “I had confidence in [Olson’s] past abilities to pave a path for that same kind of concept.”

There are several advantages to being a franchisee. Most notably, you’re working with a known brand. “The second you open, you get the benefit of that name,” says Jeffery Haff, a partner with Minneapolis law firm Dady & Gardner, whose practice focuses on franchisees. What’s more, Haff says, “certain franchisors do a good job of training you and helping you in setting up your systems, and [determining] what to buy.” That’s a particular advantage if you’ve never run your own business before.

But there are aspects of franchising to consider before ponying up tens of thousands of dollars for a franchise. Here are some salient pieces of advice that franchising experts cite:

Know yourself, and how much you’re willing to work. “You need to be self-aware,” Haff advises. “Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Then match them up with the type of business that you want to run.”

For instance, “every restaurant franchisee that I have ever met is a workaholic—[working] between 10 and 18 hours a day, seven days a week,” Haff notes. “If you go out to dinner with them, they are receiving two to three phone calls an hour from their managers telling them what is going on, asking for help and input. If you are a strong, hard worker and are willing to work 70 to 120 hours a week, a restaurant franchise might be right for you.”

Many of those considering franchises have come from the corporate world and are looking for a change. “A lot of people look at [operating a franchise] as buying themselves a job, basically,” Haff adds. “Well, if you are risking $400,000 [in a franchise fee] for the chance to make $80,000 [a year], maybe that is not such a cost benefit for you.”

Don’t think of it as your own business—at least not completely. Joseph Fittante Jr., a shareholder with Bloomington-based law firm Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren, describes a good franchisee as “someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who is able to color [inside] the lines.” The franchisor sets up the system; the franchisee follows it.

“As a franchisee, you not only have to operate your own business, but [you have to do so] within the confines of the franchise system, so it is a compromise,” notes Fittante, who represents franchisors in his practice. “As an entrepreneur opening your own business, you don’t have any of those constraints and those issues.”

Fittante says the biggest headache for franchisors is the franchisee who buys into the system and then wants to change the way that it operates. A franchisor “has been there, done that,” Fittante says. “So when franchisees get into the system and want to change things, change the recipe for success, that is very frustrating.” Though some franchisors give their franchisees some leeway in how they advertise to their local market, most don’t want a franchisee altering the brand, whether that’s using the logo improperly or altering food recipes. If you’re a person who loves creativity and innovation, it might be best to start your own business.

Know how much risk you want to take. “If the corporate world is lower-risk and stepping out on your own as an entrepreneur is high-risk, I’d put franchising somewhere in the middle,” says Gaylen Knack, a principal with Minneapolis law firm Gray Plant Mooty who specializes in franchising law. “You are using your own money to fund it; the success of your business depends upon how you operate it. At the same time, you’re taking a framework that others have tried.”

Franchisees with a taste for higher risk and potentially greater reward might want to consider buying into a franchisor that’s newer, particularly one that is operating in a fast-growing market. That’s the advice of Lori Kiser-Block, managing director and partner at the Decide Group, an Eden Prairie consultancy, and a 20-year franchising veteran. (Most recently, she was owner and president of Edina-based Rapid Refill, which franchised stores selling and replenishing ink and toner cartridges.) Kiser-Block cites franchises catering to baby boomers, such as those offering in-home health care for seniors, as an example of a potentially high-growth franchise field.

Learn how much a franchise can cost. Do you have enough cash to buy the franchise—and then operate it? “One of the primary reasons people fail in franchising is they don’t start out with enough money or access to money to get through the tough times, and the opening and the first few months as people try to find them,” Haff says.

Do your due diligence. Franchisors are required to supply a franchise disclosure document, which contains information on the backgrounds of the executives involved in the franchise company and other information. Potential franchisees should review this to see if the franchisor’s leadership has a strong track record. The document also contains the names and contact information for those franchisees who have departed during the past year. Potential franchisees “should reach out to those people both in the system and those who have left the system and get their experiences,” Fittante says.

Attorney Knack is often approached by companies considering expanding their operations by becoming franchisors. “Oftentimes, someone will come up to them and ask ‘Hey, are you thinking about franchising this business?’ ” Knack says. Currently, he’s working with a couple of companies exploring that option: a manufacturer of electric bikes seeking to franchise sales and service operations, and a company supplying fire-protection services to commercial buildings.

In helping a client determine whether a franchise model makes sense, Knack asks potential franchisors three questions. First, can the business be duplicated? Fast-food restaurants are famous for systems that lend themselves to easy replication. On the other hand, there are businesses that are tied to the founder’s personality or a particular skill that he or she has. Chef-driven fine dining establishments, for instance, aren’t good candidates for franchising.

Knack’s second question: What aspects of the business, such as proprietary software or other trade secrets, can be protected in order to block copycats? A would-be franchisor should be able to articulate what makes the business distinctive. As Knack puts it, “What can I do to make my burger chain special?” A franchisor also should have a strong and legally protected trademark.

Then there’s Knack’s third question: Have you been in business long enough to prove that it’s successful so that two different parties—you and a franchisee—can earn a living?

These questions are important, Knack says, because “it costs money to franchise. It’s a regulated industry. It’s costly if you can’t sell franchises, or if the franchisees can’t be successful.” A potential franchisor should also understand that the relationship between franchisor and franchisee is different from that of employer and employee. A franchisor can’t simply “terminate” a franchisee in the same way many businesses let people go because they are employees “at will.”

Franchising expert Kiser-Block raises another key consideration: “Can you clone it?” That triggers an analysis of whether your business can work anywhere, and whether a franchisor can train others to run the business. A potential franchisor should be able to provide a franchisee with an adequate return for their investment. Though many franchisees might be workaholics, Kiser-Block is skeptical that many people want to live that way: “Who wants to work 80 hours a week?”

A potential franchisor should be aware of the many legal and financial ramifications. Chad Olson, NTY Franchise Co.’s cofounder and chief operating officer, notes that legal filings are “quite extensive.” A franchisor needs to hire attorneys to help draw up a franchise disclosure document and a franchise agreement, both required by the Federal Trade Commission. These documents cover multiple topics, including site selection, assistance in putting together a business plan, training on how to run the business and many other franchisor responsibilities. The FTC also will want to ascertain that a franchisor is well-capitalized and not a fly-by-night operation that might leave franchisees who’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars in the lurch.

A successful franchisor also “needs to understand that franchisees are not direct employees,” Olson says. “They are individual entrepreneurs and need to be treated as such.” True, they also have to follow the franchisor’s clearly laid-out standards and practices. But, he adds, “it is imperative you have the credibility so they take your advice and follow your plan so they can be successful.”

Mark Hoon, who operates two of Olson’s company concepts, has found NTY to be supportive. “There’s a genuine feeling of care that comes from corporate,” Hoon says. “They want you to do well.” So far, so good, for both franchisor and franchisee.

DEVICE PITSTOP: Devices for Graduates

With graduations coming up, perhaps your new graduate is looking for a new  laptop, smartphone, or desktop for a graduation gift!

Since technology is always evolving, having a newer iPhone, smartphone, laptop, MacBook, iMac, or desktop for your graduate will only help to ensure their success. As they either head into the working world or move forward to the next level in college, they will be equipped with a newer device to get them moving in the right direction.

At Device Pitstop your new graduate can find a gently-used or refurbished machine that is guaranteed, in like-new condition, and costs a lot less. With technology changing so fast, it’s nice to find something at a lower cost so you can update again when you’re ready.

So get your graduate a practical present they can use in either business, school – or both. Because starting out in a new career or moving on to college is better with a like-new computer, smartphone, or laptop to help pave the road to success!Device Pitstop laptop with graduation hat and stack of two books

NTY CLOTHING EXCHANGE: Flats Trend

As much as we all love our heels, flats can be fun too – and they’re on-trend for spring!

Loafers and other fun flats in different patterns are a hot trend this season. Try them in metallic or a fun print, wear them with a cute floral or black and white dress, or keep it simple with a great pair of skinny jeans or one of this season’s biggest trends, boyfriend jeans.  Just be sure and roll the jeans up to show a little leg…and show off that great pair of shoes! It will help keep your style for spring hip and cool.

Flats can add a playful, fresh feel to an outfit,  as well as adding some color in a great print or pattern to a solid-colored look.

We all love to kick up our heels – but sometimes that is even more fun to do in a great looking pair of flats…and a cute pair of flats with the right outfit is always a great look for your legs too!

NTY Clothing Exchange six flats lined up, yellow, animal print, striped, checkered, metallic and snake skin patterns

CLOTHES MENTOR: The Little Black Dress

The little black dress is so famous, it’s known by its initials: LBD. Coco Chanel introduced the little black dress in the 1920’s, and it has remained popular ever since.

The LBD comes in many styles, lengths, fabrics, and textures – but it always works for any occasion and any season. In fact, why not try a great LBD for spring? It can be paired with elegant jewelry and silk wraps for events, dressed with a conservative blazer or light cardigan for business, and adorned with bangles and fun necklaces for a night out on the town.

Whether it’s short and body conscious or long and flowing, it works for any age or any shape. And if the black is too conservative in its style, add a great statement necklace, a patterned scarf around the waist, bright-colored pumps or sandals, or some tall high-heeled boots.  One of the best things about the little black dress is that it can be like a blank canvas that can be accessorized and made more chic and modern by what you add to it.

For spring, dress the LBD up with your favorite sandals and a colorful belt. At Clothes Mentor we have a great inventory of little black dresses – and accessories – and they are like-new and up to 70% off of retail prices. Come in and find that perfect little black dress for spring weddings and graduations, or just a fun cotton dress for warmer days and evenings. That’s the beauty of the little black dress – anything works!

Clothes Mentor model wearing short-sleeve black dress with long necklace

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Spring Clothes for Kids

Spring is the time of year when you’re putting away your children’s coats for the season, packing away winter sweaters, and pulling out spring clothes for your kids. The only problem is that your kids have probably long outgrown anything they may have had from last year.

What’s the solution to kids who outgrow their clothes so fast? Stop in to your local Children’s Orchard and see what you can find! Our apparel, shoes, toys, and equipment are all gently-used, clean, and in great shape. You can get your kids into some like-new pieces without breaking the bank.

Since Children’s Orchard is up to 70% off of retail, you’re getting great quality, like-new items for a lot less money. You’ll be able to clothe your kids in some great styles and fun spring looks that they will love to wear, and they will be gently-used at a great price. So no matter what your kids have outgrown – whether it’s clothing, shoes, toys, or equipment – you’ll know that Children’s Orchard is the place to find some great quality, like-new pieces for your kids!

Children's Orchard five little kids climbing a tree wearing red pants, orange shirt, jeans, pink shirt, colorful combinations

CLOTHES MENTOR: Clean $weep: Pittsburgh-Area Resale, Consignment Shops Make Closet De-cluttering Pay

We all think of cleaning out our closets in the spring to make room for spring and summer pieces, but it’s also a time to take out clothing you don’t wear and purchase some newer items for spring. One of our franchisees,  Andrea Zabinski, is interviewed in this article about her store in Wexford, Pennsylvania.  Remember, with all of our Clothes Mentor stores you get high quality, “gently-used” designer pieces to spice up your wardrobe for the spring season.  Source: post-gazette.com Spring cleaning is a seasonal rite that often includes clearing out closets to get rid of clothes that are never, or seldom, worn. About 72 percent of households do the so-called “spring cleaning” every year, according to a 2013 American Cleaning Institute survey, which adds that 71 percent of those pay special attention to culling their closets. Several sources suggest that the origins of spring cleaning go back to the ancient Persians whose new year fell on the first day of spring, a time when they “shook the house” to clean it. Others trace it back to the ancient Jewish practice of cleansing the home in anticipation of Passover. Today, some are making this spring cleaning pay. In what they’re calling a “Resale Revolution,” the public relations gurus at Clothes Mentor, a women’s resale clothing store, are urging spring cleaners to “turn closet clutter into cash.” Clothes Mentor, which specializes in upscale fashions for women, has franchised resale stores all over the country, including Chartiers Valley Shopping Center (Route 50) in Collier and Perry Highway (Route 19) in Pine. Their press material tells women to “trade in unwanted designer clothes and accessories for quick cash or a different wardrobe.” Just Between Friends is using a similar spring cleaning pitch. It’s a national company with two local franchises that don’t have bricks-and-mortar stores but offer four big sales events each year at large venues. Just Between Friends specializes in items for infants and children, selling deeply discounted clothes, toys and kiddie gear, including high chairs and strollers. It accepts clothes and other items on consignment. People receive cash when their items are resold. At resale stores, including Clothes Mentor, sellers are paid on the spot when the store accepts the castoffs. Resale is a $12 billion a year industry, reports the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops. And, the number of resale stores has increased approximately 7 percent each of the past two years. There are more than 25,000 resale, consignment and not-for-profit resale shops in the United States, says the NARTS website. Goodwill Industries, with more than 2,900 resale stores, generated $3.79 billion in 2013. Deborah Monaco of South Fayette has been buying and selling at the Collier Clothes Mentor store since it opened in October 2012. “I come in probably once or twice a month and I usually get about $40 each trip,” said Ms. Monaco, a retired Mt. Lebanon elementary school teacher. Then she often spends the money while she is at Clothes Mentor. She said that almost everything she wore or carried that day, including her duck-decorated Dooney and Bourke purse, was purchased there. Lauren Darbouze of Carnegie was shopping after work in the black-and-white Cachet dress she had worn to work at her Downtown office. An attorney with her own family law practice, she said, “I look for all of my professional wear here. I am amazed by what I find. Mostly I buy here, but when my closet gets too full, I sell.” On that day, the front of Clothes Mentor displayed top designer labels, including Michael Kors, Ann Taylor Loft, White House, Black Market, Chicos and Banana Republic. An Ann Taylor suit jacket had a $20 price tag. A pink-flowered Michael Kors dress — never worn and sporting a Macy’s tag — was selling for $25. A long rack held 57 Vera Bradley purses and bags. All sizes and all colors were selling for between $9 and $20. More than half of the purses and bags in the store are Coach, said store owner Jamie Martin of South Park, including a medium-sized black leather bag for $54. Everything’s selling for 50 to 70 percent off full-priced retail, Mr. Martin said. “We’re fairly strict. We will not buy anything that is more than 2 years old. We want you to know you are buying current styles.” Clothes and accessories are rejected if there are any stains, rips or other damage. The store includes sections for maternity and athletic clothes. How much money can women make selling the clothes clogging their closets? “The first woman in the door yesterday, I paid her $500,” Mr. Martin said. One of his regulars said she makes “several thousand dollars” a year selling to Clothes Mentor and other shops. Mr. Martin has worked in retail since he graduated from Duquesne University. In the same shopping center, he owns a Plato’s Closet resale store, which targets teens and 20-something “guys and gals,” according to the website. It’s not as upscale as Clothes Mentor, Mr. Martin said. As to why he doesn’t have a resale shop for men, he quipped, “Guys wear things until they fall apart” and many men don’t like to shop. “I got married 25 years ago, and I haven’t shopped since,’’ he said. Andrea Zabinski opened a Clothes Mentor on March 26 at Pine Center, 11279 Perry Highway, and “the community really embraced us,” she said. “We have many affluent neighborhoods around here, and residents are buyers as well as sellers,” Ms. Zabinski said. “Some women wear things for six weeks and then bring them here for resale.” Designer items brought in for resale include Jimmy Choo shoes. “Some of these women are making $300 to $400 per trip,” Ms. Zabinski said. “I paid one woman more than $3,000. I think the average is about $50 per trip. Then they often buy something.” With two babies, Karlie Young and her sister, Jamie Allen, cheerfully made the 90-minute drive from Youngstown for the Just Between Friends of Pittsburgh East sales event April 24 in the Monroeville Convention Center. Discounted dresses for their daughters, Avery, 7 months, and Bianca, 1, hung from their stroller handles. The two Ohio women eyed long tables of toys and games and baby and toddler gear, including a $20 Graco stroller and a two-seater Maclaren stroller for $40. In the opening minutes of their first JBT shopping spree, they declared it well worth the drive. Kelly Robie of Pine has owned and operated the JBF East franchise for one year and the North franchise for three years. Each franchise has a spring sale and a fall sale. JBF sales offer a variety of previously owned children’s items at discounted prices. Mrs. Robie has a good idea about what kids like and what moms and dads need because she has four children: Ella, 6½; Luke, 4½; Evan, 23 months; and Adam, 10 weeks old. Sales items “were flying off the floor” April 24-26 in Monroeville, she said, with 240 consignors selling items and 2,200 people shopping and buying. Her businesses continue to grow, she noted, up from 200 consignors and 2,000 buyers at the fall sale in Monroeville. The fall sale at Neville Island had 650 consignors and 4,000 shoppers. Eight long tables in Monroeville held a wide array of toys such as hula hoops, inline skates, scooters, puzzles, plastic doll houses, pull toys and costumes. There were 11 rocking horses, ranging in price from $15 for a plastic horse to $50 for a big, lifelike plush pony. “My own children love coming here to play with the toys,” Mrs. Robie said. Everything is inspected, and items that are stained or damaged are rejected. Mrs. Robie’s franchise is piloting the new JBF On Demand program that enables buying and selling year-round. People can set up an at-home appointment with Mrs. Robie to evaluate items. She can offer cash on the spot. Items bought On Demand are stored in the franchise’s warehouse until the sales. Go to pittsburghnorth.jbfsale.com or pittsburgheast.jbfsale.com for further information. Send email to [email protected] to set up an On Demand appointment. The JBF of Pittsburgh North sale is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the RMU Island Sports Center, 7600 Grand Ave., Neville Island. Admission is $3 today. Admission is free Saturday and Sunday. The next JBF sales are Aug. 21-23 in Monroeville and Sept. 18-20 at Neville Island. Enter your ZIP code on the www.narts.org website to get a list of resale and thrift stores near you.  

Clothes Mentor store owner Andrea Zabinski standing in her clean, organized store
Andrea Zabinski is shown at her Clothes Mentor shop in Wexford.

 

NTY CLOTHING EXCHANGE: Denim for Spring

Denim is one of those things that just never goes out of style. The cuts and styles change, but denim always works. For this season, the on-trend style in jeans is boyfriend denim – and to look even hipper, roll up the legs a bit to show a little ankle with a great pair of sandals or pumps. And make the jeans a bit distressed to look even cooler…and loose and comfortable.

For other denim, a great denim shirt belted at the waist, or a jean jacket with just the right amount of wear looks great with everything from a pair of jeans to a long, flowing dress or a great miniskirt.

Come visit NTY Clothing Exchange and see our great selection of “gently-used” denim at much lower prices. Because when it comes to denim – we all just love our jeans. They’re the ultimate in comfort that can be dressed up or down.

NTY Clothing Exchange black strappy high heels, model wearing jeans and black toe nail polish

 

DEVICE PITSTOP: Find Great Products at Device Pitstop!

There are some great products coming out in the tech world right now – we now have an Apple watch, laptops and tablets are getting more powerful and lighter, and technology is more and more integrated into our daily lives.

How do you keep up?

Maybe the newest gadget is something you want right away, but usually you can get something that is like-new, “gently-used,” or refurbished that is not only just as good, but has been checked out thoroughly – and is guaranteed.

This is where Device Pitstop comes in. We sell “gently-used” and refurbished desktops, laptops, iMac’s, MacBook Plus, iPhones, and Android phones. Whether you’re looking for a newer iPhone or need a Samsung, HTC, LG, Nokia or other Android phone, we have you covered. The devices we sell are tested, tried, and true – and we stand behind everything.

It’s fun to get the latest gadgets…but even more fun is getting the next-to-the-latest device for a lot less money – making you not only kind to the environment, but kind to your wallet.

Device Pitstop group of three men, each using a tablet, laptop and smartphone, text that says it's all here

 

CLOTHES MENTOR: Clothes Mentor Opens, Just Buying for Time Being

A new store opening in Ohio may be just buying for the time being, but once they’re stocked – which won’t take too long – there will be some fantastic buys for women in designer apparel, shoes, and accessories in the area. Source: Thisweeknews

Ladies could make a few extra dollars by selling their gently used clothing and accessories to Clothes Mentor, an upscale resale store for women that opened April 18 at 5566 N. Hamilton Road in Gahanna’s New Albany Plaza, just south of state Route 161.

This marks the fourth Clothes Mentor location in central Ohio for the popular nationally franchised women’s-apparel chain. Other central Ohio locations are on South State Street in Westerville, on Frantz Road in Dublin and on Henderson Road in Upper Arlington.

“As with our first location on the east side of Columbus, we look forward to introducing Clothes Mentor’s fabulous style, value and customer service to the residents of Gahanna and New Albany,” said Susan Riley, Clothes Mentor vice president of operations.

Company marketing director Samantha Parrish said the Gahanna store is the farthest east the chain has gone.

“The Gahanna and New Albany area is growing, so it seemed like a good fit for us,” she said.

The Gahanna location is open to buy merchandise from customers to stock the new store, but it isn’t expected to sell items until late June or early July, depending on when the store has enough inventory.

“A lot of people make room for new stuff when the seasons change,” Parrish said. “If people are losing weight, have a new job or anything that would warrant a life change is where we get our new stuff.”

Clothes Mentor carries most sizes, from petite up to size 26, including maternity apparel.

“Everything on our racks is what people bring to us,” Parrish said. “We have the better brands. Sometimes we get brand-new items with tags.”

The Dublin-based Clothes Mentor is known more for its paying “cash-on-the spot” philosophy to customers who sell gently used, brand-name women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories to the store.

Some of the brands are Banana Republic, Dockers, Dooney & Bourke, Christian Dior, Cj Banks, Clarks, Coach, Croft & Barrow and Keds.

“Generally, all our prices are up to 70 percent below retail prices,” Parrish said.

Clothes Mentor is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

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.

Headshot of Ashley

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Headshot of Chad

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.

Headshot of Dan

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.

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Sean Marrs

IT/Tech Administrator

IT/Tech Administrator
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Ashlyn Aarness

Social Media Specialist

Social Media Specialist

Marissa Stacy

Jr. Graphic Designer

Jr. Graphic Designer

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Gina Geary

Franchise Business Consultant

Franchise Business Consultant

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Alice Heidenreich

Franchise Business Consultant

Franchise Business Consultant

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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.
Headshot of Ron

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.
Headshot of Michael

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.