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DEVICE PITSTOP: Device Pitstop Opens in Burnsville, Minnesota

Device Pitstop®, a national chain that buys, sells, trades, services and upgrades laptops and mobile devices at low cost, just opened in Burnsville. It’s a one-stop solution to laptop and mobile-device needs. Sourced from: Burnsville Patch Device Pitstop carries a wealth of laptops, tablets, smartphones and accessories including Windows, Apple, and Android devices and parts. They sell products well below original prices, backed by a 90-day warranty. They buy for cash or trade in. They have expert on-site repairs (including smartphone screens) and upgrades. There’s a knowledgeable, friendly, value environment. Continue reading

Learn About Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year

It’s always fun to follow fashion trends and add them to your style. It can help make your look a little more hip and cool. One of the hottest trends for 2015 is the color Marsala, which is the Pantone color of the year. On their website, the Pantone Color Institute, the authority on color, describe the shade as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red.” With its rich tones, Marsala is a shade that could work on a lot of girls and guys.

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CLOTHES MENTOR: Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year

It’s fun to follow fashion trends and incorporate them into your wardrobe where you see fit. It can help make your style a little more chic and modern. One of the trends for 2015 is the color Marsala, which is the Pantone color of the year. On their website, the Pantone Color Institute, the authority on color, describe the shade as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red.”  With its rich tones, Marsala is a shade that could work on a lot of women.

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DEVICE PITSTOP: Used Tech Retailer Device Pitstop Expanding in Twin Cities

In an article about the expansion of Device Pitstop in the Twin Cities, Ron and Chad Olson discuss what a great concept Device Pitstop is. Sourced from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, twincities.com:
 
Looking to unload that old phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer? Three newly opened Twin Cities stores pay for such unwanted hardware but will be choosy about what gear they accept. These outlets, all Device Pitstop franchises, are part of a Minnesota-based chain with 11 stores around the nation. Six more, including two in the Twin Cities, are set to open in the near future. Continue reading

DEVICE PITSTOP: Resale Gurus Open Buy-Sell-Trade-Repair Concept Device Pitstop for Computers, Phones, and Tablets

Ron Olson and his son, Chad, were recently featured in an article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal that takes a look at the innovative and growing success of Device Pitstop. The full article can be seen below. Sourced from: Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal:
 
Minnetonka-based NTY Franchise Co. acquired a small Las Vegas laptop exchange company and is growing the rebranded concept under the Device Pitstop name. Father-son duo Ron and Chad Olson opened the first Device Pitstop store in Ridgedale Square, a shopping center across the street from the Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka. Ridgedale Square is where the Olsons have tested or refined their other brands, such as New Uses, NTY Clothing Exchange and NTY Kids. Continue reading

NTY FRANCHISE COMPANY: NTY Named to MN’s Fast 50 2014

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal released their list of the Fast 50, a list of Minnesota’s top entrepreneurs for the year. The list takes an in-depth look some of the fastest-growing companies in the state, and Ron and Chad Olson were featured as part of this list.

The article looks at the humble beginnings of the company, as well as how Ron and Chad were able to take the Clothes Mentor store and turn it into an empire. The full article can be accessed from the Fast 50 List on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Magazine Website.

NEW USES: The New “New Uses” News Blog

Welcome to the News section of the New Uses site. We will be sharing articles written by and for the New Uses Franchise. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements, and to learn more about the New Uses Stores and Franchises!

CLOTHES MENTOR: Edmond, OK Clothes Mentor Mentioned in Outlook Magazine

In the December issue of Outlook Magazine, a feature was written about the Clothes Mentor in Edmond, OK owned by Melanie & Mike Harris. The article looks at how M&M took the opportunity to build a Clothes Mentor franchise after their kids had grown up and moved out of the house. Clothes Mentor clip from news article with photo of Clothes Mentor franchisees Melanie and Mike Harris in their store The full article features stories from Melanie & Mike, chronicling their journey before they started their Clothes Mentor franchise, what lead to it, and why they love it. It also discusses the unique shopping experience that is Clothes Mentor. You can read the full article on P. 17 at Issuu.com We are happy to have Melanie & Mike be a part of our Clothes Mentor franchise family! Joining our family of Franchise owners is easier than you might think! Head over to our Own a Clothes Mentor Franchise section to learn how you can become a Clothes Mentor store owner as well!

CLOTHES MENTOR: CM Fargo Store Owner named “Mompreneur”

Clothes Mentor store owner Christine Ilvedson was featured in the December-January issue of On the Minds of Moms. Crowned as their “Mompreneur”, Christine talks about her background, the Clothes Mentor store, and how she maintains balance between her family and her franchise. Clothes Mentor clip from article about mompreneur franchisee Christine Ilvedson We are excited for Christine, and proud of her work as a Clothes Mentor franchise owner. Her work has led to a very successful career and business, and we are proud to have this Mom as a part of our Franchise ownership team. You can read the full article on P.30-33 at Issuu.com To learn more about how you can become a franchise owner, just head over to the Own a Clothes Mentor franchise portion of our site. You can also view Christine’s video testimonial for the franchise over on the Clothes Mentor Video Testimonials page (she is the Fargo store owner). See how you could become the next Mompreneur!

CLOTHES MENTOR: Clothes Mentor Awarded Entrepreneur Franchise 500 5 Years Straight

Clothes Mentor graphic of Franchise 500 ranking #210 logo, Entrepreneur MagazineSince opening the first store in 2001, Clothes Mentor has been offering an upscale retail store experience, buying and selling used women’s clothing, shoes, purses and other accessories. The store began franchising in 2007, and has seen tremendous growth since, expanding the one-store idea into a nationally-recognized franchise. In 2011, the Clothes Mentor brand was honored to be ranked #38 for top new franchise, and was the first year the brand was awarded the Entrepreneur Franchise 500, ranked at #409. Since then, Clothes Mentor has continued to grow and earn awards, including Fastest-Growing Franchise earlier this year at #90. Now with 123 stores across 27 states with 50 new stores on their way, Clothes Mentor has been awarded #210 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for 2015. To see more information, view the Clothes Mentor profile on the Entrepreneur website. You can also learn more about our franchise right here on our website by visiting the Own a Clothes Mentor section.   

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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