Gifting Season: LinkedIn Article Features NTY Franchisees

Check out excerpts from a linkedin.com article below, which features several franchisees from various NTY Franchise Company brands.

Why these franchisees see franchising as a gift

By Jim Judy

The holidays are here, so what better way for me to celebrate than to hear why actual franchise owners see franchising as a wonderful gift. As a franchise consultant, I’m always happy to hear how they are thriving in their franchise business, but even I was surprised by the response I received for this story.

I’ve heard from dozens of franchisees from numerous franchise systems excited to share their thoughts on what they love about franchising.

Enjoy what they have to say, and have a wonderful holiday!

[…]

“This year we feel even more thankful than previous years. By opening our Clothes Mentor franchise we fulfilled our dream of having a family business and have the opportunity to spend more time together. Being a franchise owner has given us the opportunity to save for our retirement, and provide long term job security for our son. Our #Dream2016 has come through.” – Pieter de Smidt, Clothes Mentor of Sugarland, TX

“I’m thankful for franchising!  Combining my entrepreneurship passion with best practices, systems and tools from a proven franchiser is a winning combination.  2016 was a great year!” – Bradley R. Swenson, Device Pitstop of Maple Grove

“We are thankful for a franchise with a proven track record to give us the confidence to open multiple, very successful businesses. By following the “resale-retail recipe” provided, we are not forced to build a business model from the ground up, but to utilize the wealth of knowledge our franchisor has handed to us to create our own businesses in our market and have the freedom to be creative and find ways to improve even more on operating our own individual stores.” – Shawn & Alyssa Cox, Clothes Mentor Charlotte – Midtown, NC, Charlotte – Arboretum, NC & Rock Hill, SC

“Being part of a franchise provides a broader opportunity for success, and gives an established brand to build on.  I’m thankful for the partnership, resources, technology, and ongoing support from the franchise I am partnered with.” – Shasta Webber, Children’s Orchard Huntersville, NC

“Franchising give me the flexibility to make more family time.  There are no clocks to punch and no supervisor to decline vacation requests.” – Brad Peterson, Device Pitstop Burnsville, MN

“After just spending 90 minutes with my franchise operations manager, I feel like I have a focused business strategy to wrap up 2016…and he planted seeds for me to start developing my 2017 business goals.  I am thankful for having a built-in, business-savvy coach who wants us to succeed as much as we do.” – Chris Barnett, Clothes Mentor Springfield, PA

Click here to see the full article on linkedin.com.

Why Franchisees are Thankful for NTY Franchise Company

#thankful

From opening their stores to growing their businesses, find out what franchisees appreciate most about working with NTY Franchise Company:

“I’m thankful for franchising! Combining my entrepreneurship passion with best practices, systems and tools from a proven franchisor is a winning combination. 2016 was a great year! Our great DP Pit Crew worked incredibly hard with our wonderful customers, helping them to economize and optimize their digital life (computers, tablets and cell phones).” – Bradley R. Swenson, Device Pitstop Maple Grove

“Being a franchisee with NTY’s Clothes Mentor fulfills my dream of being my own boss while giving me the safety net of industry experts who are just as invested in my success as I am. I couldn’t imagine opening a business any other way.” – Jennifer Walters, Clothes Mentor Torrance

“This year we feel even more thankful than previous years. By opening our Clothes Mentor franchise, we fulfilled our dream of having a family business, and have the opportunity to spend more time together as well. Being a franchise owner has given us the opportunity to save for our retirement and provide long-term job security for our son. Our #Dream2016 has come through.” – Pieter de Smidt, Clothes Mentor Sugarland

“Being part of a franchise provides a broader opportunity for success, and gives an established brand to build on. I’m thankful for the partnership, resources, technology and ongoing support from the franchise I am partnered with.” – Shasta Webber, Children’s Orchard Huntersville

“There are so many things we love about franchising. One aspect is that we have a blueprint of how to run our business. We have other people in a like businesses to learn from and share ideas. We feel like we have an extended family in our relationships with our franchise companies and our employees. We could not do everything alone.” – Randi Zied, Clothes Mentor North Olmsted, Strongsville and Mayfield Heights

“We are thankful to show our children (ages 9-16) how to own a business. We’re thankful they’ll see how much hard work is required, how important good character is and what a blessing it is to work together as a family!” – Kathy and Lane Bosley, Clothes Mentor Tyler

“Franchising gives me the flexibility to make more family time. There are no clocks to punch, no supervisor to decline vacation requests.” – Brad Peterson, Device Pitstop Burnsville

“We are thankful for a franchise with a proven track record to give us the confidence to open multiple, very successful businesses. By following the ‘resale-retail recipe’ provided, we are not forced to build a business model from the ground up, but to utilize the wealth of knowledge our franchisor has handed to us to create our own businesses in our market and have the freedom to be creative and find ways to improve even more on operating our own individual stores.” – Shawn and Alyssa Cox, Clothes Mentor Charlotte Arboretum, Charlotte Midtown and Rock Hill

“I have owned several startup businesses (none of which were franchises) and it is a lot of work, more than people may think. I have now just started a Device Pitstop franchise and I am very thankful because they have taken every process and made it flawless. While I own my own business, I have a team of experts to lean on at all times. Priceless!” – Matt Paperi, Device Pitstop Overland Park

“After just spending 90 minutes with my franchise operations manager, I feel like I have a focused business strategy to wrap up 2016. And he planted seeds for me to start developing my 2017 business goals. I am thankful for having a built-in, business-savvy coach who wants us to succeed as much as we do.” – Chris Barnett, Clothes Mentor Springfield and West Chester

“People are always searching for that thing in life that provides them the opportunity to succeed. Franchising allows you to obtain independence through the fruits of your own efforts.” – Mike Thorn, Clothes Mentor Cordova

“I am thankful for the continued support from NTY with system updates and resources. Support like this is critical for the franchisees to keep up with and stay ahead of new technology. It also allows us time to focus on our store and marketing.” – Joe Ferrazzo, Device Pitstop Maplewood

“I’m thankful for deciding to open a franchise, because name recognition and corporate support from experienced franchisors, are two important factors to a successful business.” – Karla Fitzpatrick, Clothes Mentor Burnsville

“We are thankful to have found the opportunity to own a franchise CM store. Because of this, we moved back to our home state of Oklahoma to be near family, which encouraged more family to move here, too. We doubt this would have happened in the three years we’ve been here, without this major life change.” – Mike and Melanie Harris, Clothes Mentor Edmond

“We are thankful to have an opportunity to buy quality, stylish clothing from customers and then sell them at affordable prices.” – Jennifer Small, Clothes Mentor Portage

“They make the hard stuff easy!” – Scott Stansbury, Device Pitstop Anchorage

“I’m thankful that our franchise is here in our community for all women and all sizes. Our Clothes Mentor has helped women create new styles and a new sense of confidence when it comes to their fashion needs. We are thankful to be a part of that new confidence.” – Michael and Wyndy Reese, Clothes Mentor Jonesboro

“I am thankful that our Black Friday Sale is completed, on the Saturday before official Black Friday. It was very successful thanks to creative thinking of our corporate staff. “ – Don Leventhal, Clothes Mentor Bloomington

“We operate in a crowded market and I am not sure how I would break through if I didn’t have marketing support from the franchise. I wouldn’t be able to rise above the noise. From professionally designed materials to creative sales strategies, I am thankful that I have the franchise marketing support and I am not spending hours—no, days—trying to do it all myself.” – Chris Barnett, Clothes Mentor West Chester and Springfield

Device Pitstop is Making a Splash in Minnesota and Beyond

Check out an excerpt from a startribune.com article below, which explains the growing used-electronics retail market and features Device Pitstop as an up-and-coming franchise serving this market in the Twin Cities and beyond.

device pitstop staff helping customer
Photo from Device Pitstop.

Used electronics retail market boots up in the Twin Cities

By John Ewoldt

Amanda LaGrange dumped the title “Tech Dump.”

When the CEO of the nonprofit Tech Dump, a St. Paul-based collector and recycler of used, obsolete and damaged electronics, decided to open a new retail store to sell them, she figured “Tech Discounts” would be more enticing.

“We’d been selling refurbs for years in a corner of our Golden Valley warehouse, but when we decided to get serious about it, we rebranded,” she said.

Getting serious means that the new Tech Discounts store in Bloomington operates strictly as a store. The two locations in Golden Valley and St. Paul will continue to use the Tech Dump name for collection, recycling, repairing and refurbishing. The Bloomington location and the store within the Golden Valley facility are called Tech Discounts.

By recycling and reselling used electronics for 50 to 75 percent less than new, the company has kept more than 75 million pounds of electronics out of the waste stream. Fifteen percent of that amount is refurbished.

Tech Dump is one of more than 270 electronics recyclers in Minnesota, but it is in rare company selling used electronics.

Device Pitstop, a for-profit franchised business owned by the same company that franchises Clothes Mentor, debuted last year in the Twin Cities. It now has locations in Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Maplewood and Minnetonka with plans to expand in Woodbury and Edina next year.

“Our store revenue is up 20 percent over 2015,” said Michael D. Smith, vice president of operations. “There’s always been resistance buying used electronics so people need assurance the product will work.”

Device Pitstop offers a 30-day warranty and just instituted an optional recurring warranty for $3.99 to $9.99 a month. Tech Discounts will repair or replace any item that fails within six months. Customers can get a refund for any reason within 30 days.

Giving consumers confidence to buy used, LaGrange hopes Tech Discounts can expand its Twin Cities presence to five locations. Another reason that used electronics retail stores are popping up is the collapse in commodity prices for metals, plastics and aluminum.

Besides selling used electronics at the Bloomington and Golden Valley locations, Tech Discounts will also do repairs and accept electronics donations.

It is a Microsoft registered repair shop that uses R2 certification for data destruction and compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Defense.

General Manager Brian Bernhardt expects laptops and any Apple product to be best sellers. In a sampling of used products this week, the store had a 55-inch Samsung plasma TV for $599, a 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8GB memory, retina display and last year’s operating system for $999, a Dell desktop tower with Windows 7 Pro for $219 and an iPhone 6 Plus for $349.

Tech Dump and Tech Discounts operate under the umbrella of the Jobs Foundation, a nonprofit started in 2010 to employ adults with barriers to employment. Last year the foundation, which is 98 percent self-funded, employed 68 adults who had been incarcerated or treated for chemical dependency. […]

Click here to see the full article on startribune.com.

NTY Franchise Company’s 200th Store Featured on Franchising.com

Check out the article below from franchising.com highlighting NTY Franchise Company’s 200th store: Device Pitstop Newport News!

device pitstop store front
Photo from NTY Franchise Company

NTY Franchise Company Opens Their 200th Store

National Leader of Upscale Resale Brands Will Celebrate 200th Store Opening in November

NTY Franchise Company, a national upscale resale franchise headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, today announced the opening of the company’s 200th store on Thursday, November 10 in Newport News, Virginia. Device Pitstop, NTY Franchise Company’s mobile and electronic device resale franchise, had the honor of achieving the company milestone when they opened their doors on Thursday morning.

“We’re very excited to open our 200th store in Newport News, Virginia this November,” NTY Franchise Company COO Chad Olson said.

“The opening signifies our continued growth and commitment to meeting the modern consumer’s need for high-quality clothing, devices and other items at an affordable price.”

NTY Franchise Company was founded in 2006 by President Ron Olson. Their first brand launched with the purchase of franchising rights for Clothes Mentor, a women’s resale store that today features more than 140 outlets. In 2011, NTY expanded its offerings by purchasing the franchise rights for New Uses, a resale store for home goods such as furniture, artwork and more. Expansion continued in 2013 when the company purchased Laptop Exchange and renamed it Device Pitstop, a franchise that buys, sells and repairs personal electronics.

In 2014, the company developed two new brands from scratch — NTY Kids, for newborns through preteens, and NTY Clothing Exchange for teens and young adults. A year later, NTY Franchise Company purchased an existing kids’ resale store, Children’s Orchard, and merged it with NTY Kids. The name Children’s Orchard stuck, and the new total of 30 stores were revamped to fit the modern design and concept developed by the NTY team.

About NTY Franchise Company

Founded in 2006 by Ron Olson, NTY Franchise Company is the gold standard in resale franchising companies. NTY franchises five brands, all with a different focus: Clothes Mentor, Children’s Orchard, Device Pitstop, New Uses, and NTY Clothing Exchange. The brands are all resale-based and cover women’s designer fashions, children’s apparel and accessories, furniture and household goods, electronic sales and repair, and clothing for teens and young adults. All are great business opportunities with cutting-edge technology, unmatched support, and lucrative resale franchises. NTY Franchise Company has helped individuals to establish resale stores throughout the United States in many communities, and it has territories available to develop nationwide.

Click here to see more from franchising.com.

Device Pitstop Newport News is the First in Virginia—Now Open!

Read about the first Device Pitstop store to open in Virginia in this article from dailypress.com. Congratulations, Device Pitstop Newport News!

Device Pitstop franchisee Paul Washington in his store
Device Pitstop Newport News franchisee Paul Washington.

York County franchisee opens first Virginia Device Pitstop in Newport News Tech Center

Paul Washington of York County is opening a Device Pitstop today in Newport News Tech Center. The franchise repairs computers and cell phones on-site and buys and sells gently used computers and mobile devices.

“I think it’s a service that will fit the area well,” Washington said.

Customers can get laptops, desktop computers, tablets and smartphones below original prices because they are used and refurbished, according to a news release. The store certifies and tests the products, which are backed by 30-day and extended warranties.

The store also sells new accessories, he said.

Washington said he opened his store at 12080 Jefferson Ave. in Tech Center because he liked the new shopping center, which brought new brands to the market. Tech Center is highly visible and the AT&T store next door could bring more walk-in clientele to Device Pitstop, he said.

Device Pitstop started in Las Vegas in 2003 and currently has 10 stores nationwide, but plans to continue growing, according to its website. Washington had been working in a corporate job and wanted to run his own business, particularly one that appealed to his computer geek side.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the store at 757-234-7565 or visit www.devicepitstop.com/newportnews/.

Click here to see more from dailypress.com.

NTY Opens 200th Store: Device Pitstop Newport News

Check out this exciting article from Franchising USA about NTY Franchise Company’s 200th store opening this month!

chad olson in device pitstop, 200th store

National upscale resale franchise NTY (New to You) Franchise Company, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, will open their 200th store on Thursday, November 10. Device Pitstop, NTY Franchise Company’s mobile and electronic device resale franchise, will have the honor of achieving the company milestone when they open the doors of their new franchise unit in Newport News, Virginia.

“We’re very excited to open our 200th store in Newport News, Virginia this November,” NTY Franchise Company COO Chad Olson (pictured above) said. “The opening signifies our continued growth and commitment to meeting the modern consumer’s need for high-quality clothing, devices and other items at an affordable price.”                                                                                                          

Founded in 2006 by Ron Olson, NTY Franchise Company features five resale brands, all with a different focus: Clothes Mentor, Children’s Orchard, Device Pitstop, New Uses, and NTY Clothing Exchange. Their brands cover everything from women’s designer fashions, children’s apparel and accessories, furniture and household goods, electronic sales and repair, and clothing for teens and young adults. All brands feature cutting-edge technology, support, and lucrative franchising opportunities to help candidates establish resale stores throughout the United States.

Click here to see more from Franchising USA.

NTY Franchise Makes the 2016 Fast 50 List

What makes NTY one of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities area? Find out in this excerpt from an article by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal:

2016 Fast 50 logo

We Asked Chief Operating Officer Chad Olson:

What’s one business decision you made in the past three years that’s been critical to your firm’s growth?

Putting as much information onto our franchise development website as possible. In the past this was taboo, it was normal to hold your cards close. In today’s world information is king. If you want to sell franchises you need to have your information front and center.

Ron and Chad for Fast 50 article
Photo by Nancy Kuehn and courtesy MSPBJ; Chad Olson (left) and Ron Olson (right).

Click here to see the impressive growth numbers for NTY Franchise Company.

Click here to see the full Fast 50 2016 list on bizjournals.com.

Learn more about the Fast 50 list in this excerpt from a note about the project by editor Kim Johnson:

Fast 50 2016 Editor’s Note

It isn’t the easiest task to get revenue figures from private companies. Our reporters are frequently told, “We’re a private company. We do not share revenue information.”

It’s even more of a stretch to ask them for actual financial statements.

However, each summer the Business Journal doggedly searches the Twin Cities 24-county metro area to find the region’s fastest-growing private companies. We look for independently owned, privately held, for-profit businesses that are headquartered here. We look for year-over-year revenue growth from the three most recent fiscal years. We look for companies with at least $1 million in revenue from the first of those three years.

And then we require them to send in three years of financial statements that have been audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

And those documents go to our own accounting partner for further verification and number crunching.

It’s a lot to ask of private companies used to keeping their revenue numbers close to the vest. But it’s imperative we ask this of each company submitting a nomination for our annual Fast 50 awards. Everyone is held to the same standards to ensure the integrity of this list, which showcases some of the state’s best-in-class enterprises.

These companies aren’t just growing their bottom lines. They are creating jobs at extraordinary rates. They are providing growth opportunities for the businesses that serve them. They are boosting Minnesota’s economy.

So thank you to all the companies that submit nominations for this project — not just for the above, but for being willing to jump through the hoops we ask you to in order to produce this awards publication.

Click here to see the full letter on bizjournals.com.

NTY Franchise Company Offers Incentives to Veterans

VetFran logo

 

NTY now offers financial incentives to veterans that choose to franchise any of its five resale brands. As part of VetFran, a strategic initiative of the International Franchise Association (IFA), NTY provides a $2,500 discount off of the franchise fee for all qualified veterans that purchase a Children’s Orchard, Clothes Mentor, Device Pitstop, NTY Clothing Exchange or New Uses franchise.

VetFran was created in 1991 as a way of saying “thanks” to veterans returning from the first Gulf War. Today, the network of franchise brands participating in the initiative has grown to more than 650, all voluntarily offering financial discounts and more to veteran franchisees. According to VetFran, more than 238,000 veterans and military spouses have found opportunities in the franchise industry as either franchisees or employees.

According to a study conducted for the IFA Educational Foundation based on U.S. Census data, one in seven franchise businesses are owned and operated by veterans of the U.S. military.

NTY Franchise Company’s resale brands offer a proven, profitable business model with many ongoing benefits—a great business option for veterans. Learn more about each of NTY’s five resale franchise options by clicking the links below.

 

Children's Orchard logo

Clothes Mentor logo

Device Pitstop logo

NTY Clothing Exchange logo

New Uses logo