Winter can be dreary and cold – and we don’t see the sun sometimes for days. How about brightening up your home with a great piece from New Uses? We have “gently-used” furniture, artwork, small appliances, kitchen items, and other household goods. New Uses makes redecorating your home easier and less expensive, and since we only buy top quality items, you’re adding a new piece of furniture or artwork that’s like new at prices up to 70% off of retail. Maybe you need a new couch or a new picture that fits just so in the front hallway – or maybe some major redecorating needs to be done. No matter what needs you have, New Uses can freshen up your home with something different and fun to add to your interior design.
We buy your items at New Uses as well, so you will not only find some fresh pieces you can purchase, you can sell some of your “gently-used” pieces to us to use toward different décor for your home…and we pay CASH On-the-Spot! Stop into New Uses today and let us look into buying your “gently-used” pieces that you’re not using anymore – and find something new to you that will brighten and rejuvenate your home. It might just make your winter seem a little less dreary.
NTY Franchise Company, a pioneering force in the rapidly growing $13 billion resale/retail industry, continues its aggressive growth plan with the acquisition of Children’s Orchard, a chain of top quality, gently used children’s merchandise. NTY, “New To You,” based in Minnetonka, Minn., purchased Children’s Orchard to expand its footprint nationwide as a leader in the resale-retail sector. Source: PRWeb
NTY is the umbrella company overseeing five resale/retail brands including Clothes Mentor, New Uses, Device Pit Stop, NTY Clothing Exchange and NTY Kids. To enhance its NTY Kids brand, the company bought the chain of 32 Children’s Orchard stores, boutiques of top quality, gently used children’s clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, books and accessories. The company will combine the two brands, under the Children’s Orchard name, to enhance the customer experience at the store level with a robust point of sale and management system, centralized analytics and an attractive customer loyalty program.
Congratulations to Bill Carson for winning the 2015 AVA Digital Gold Award. This award was given for his creative work on the NTY Kids’ Whiteboard Animation on the website.
As AVA stated: “AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design and production of digital communication. Work ranges from digital engagement campaigns – to audio and video production – to website development – to social media interaction – to mobile marketing.”
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.
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.
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.
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!
Since 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.
Ron Olson and his son Chad were recently featured by Franchise Times in a “Where Are They Now?” article. The article takes a quick look at the past, present, and future of franchise owner Ron Olson, speaking about his role as an “entrepreneur’s entrepreneur”, and the new franchise concepts for NTY. The full article can be seen below. Sourced from: Franchise Times
Where are they now: Recycling kings at it again
BY NANCY WEINGARTNER
A serial entrepreneur is playing it again—but not in used sports equipment this time. Today it’s clothing for women, teens and even men. The secret is to be upscale and not segregate the plus sizes.
Ron Olson so believes in the power of recycled goods that he’s recycling his career. The Minnesota-based businessman made it big with his original multi-concept company, Grow Biz, which is now Winmark.
Ron Olson, right, and his son Chad have teamed up again at NTY Franchise Company with plans to develop three brands in the popular sell-it-again genre.
After selling the company in 2000—which included Play it Again Sports, Once Upon a Child and Plato’s Closet—Olson retired. Five years later he discovered something AARP never tells seniors: “Retirement is very boring.”
“I was looking for other opportunities as every entrepreneur does,” he says. He found it in Columbus, Ohio, where he was having dinner with Dennis and Lynn Blum, who wanted to show him their new concept, Clothes Mentor. The resale store for women had good bones, but needed fleshing out. His specialty.
Olson is an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. His forte is investing in others’ concepts and helping grow their business. Almost anything can be recycled into a business, he says, except perhaps tools. “No one wanted to sell their (used) tools,” he says about the one concept he couldn’t hammer out—Re-Tool.
The beauty of a concept like Clothes Mentor is the customers never age out. “Women change sizes, they change professions and they don’t wear clothes that long,” he says. Most of the clothes he teaches franchisees to buy are two years old and hardly worn.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into pricing,” he says. “Our secret sauce is the pricing” and which brands to buy.
The beauty of a second time around is you’ve already made the mistakes. His son Chad, who joined him at his original company right out of college, is COO of the new company, NTY Franchise Co. Clothing Mentor has more than 100 stores, with 67 in the pipeline, Olson says.
Coming online are two other concepts: NTY Clothing for teens and 20-somethings and New Uses for household items. “It’s a totally recession-proof business,” Chad Olson says.
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 at 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.
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.
