Watch this video to find out the answer from several current franchisees from all across the country.
Blogger Finds Amazing Pieces at Clothes Mentor Springfield
Check out all of the great outfits a Philly blogger found at Clothes Mentor Springfield! Read about it below, and see more photos on her blog, And Her Little Dog Too.
The Clothes Mentor Experience
A little while ago I was invited to the Clothes Mentor store in Springfield, PA to visit and shop! If you aren’t familiar, Clothes Mentor is a women’s clothing store that buys and sells gently used name-brand and designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. What makes them unique is the fact that they offer cash on the spot for items, meaning that you can be paid immediately just for cleaning out your closet!
I was so excited to partner with Clothes Mentor – obviously I love to shop and share my style on the blog, but I also love to get a great deal! And if you shop here, you will get just that! So many items at incredible prices, so many never even worn! I also love to clean out my closet and this was the perfect excuse to do that – I’ve had 2 babies in the past 3 years and have so many different sizes of everything, felt so amazing to have an excuse to pass along things that just don’t work for me anymore. I brought with me a massive bag of clothes to sell and they treated me to a gift card to do some shopping as well!
When I first got there, I met with my amazing contact – Erin, she and her team had pulled an amazing selection of clothes for me to try on. { I had sent my sizes beforehand} and I was treated to a fun little style session! I can’t remember the last time I was in a store without the littles, just taking my time, trying on clothes, having a blast – it was so much fun! I got to have a little style session and a mini photo shoot of some of my favorite looks!
I love this top – Navy is one of my favorite, go-to colors. The cute little tie in the front is really sweet and it’s an easy piece to wear with a tank layered under or on its own. It’s also super soft – I see myself wearing this all the time now that the weather has cooled down and it finally feels like Fall!
I totally kept this, it was $10 and I know I will wear it all.the.time!
Clothes Mentor is a national franchise with local owners. Chris Barnett is the owner and operator of a few of the stores in the Philadelphia area. She is a full-time entrepreneur, a small business owner, a mom and wife. She has a strong commitment to every woman being able to feel stylish on a budget–as a lift to self-confidence–and she loves resale because of both the frugality and it’s environmental benefits. I’m so lucky I got to meet her in the store during my time there and I look forward to working with her and her team again soon!
If you are in the market to clean out your closet, spruce up your wardrobe and make a few bucks while you are at it, you totally need to check out Clothes Mentor – I had such an amazing experience there, and you can bet I will be back!
Clothes Mentor Beats Fast Fashion, Hands Down
In this article from huffingtonpost.com, see the many reasons why you should choose Clothes Mentor and resale over fast fashion:
You Quit Buying Fast Fashion, So Now What?
By Kara Hackett
When you decide to quit something, one of the first things you have to do is replace that habit with something else.
It’s basic quitters knowledge, and having attempted to quit many things in my life, I’ve learned my lesson well. Replacing old habits is important, otherwise you revert right back to them.
So when I decided to quit buying fast fashion, I’d like to tell you I replaced my old shopping habit with something inspiring, like helping children in orphanages, or going on spiritual retreats and taking yoga classes.
But let’s be honest. The only real substitute for shopping is shopping.
So as a recovering fast fashion addict, I set out to discover what it takes to be an ethical consumer, and so far, it’s way more complicated than boycotting H&M and Forever 21.
Defining the terms
First, there’s confusion about what the term “fast fashion” actually means.
It originated in the 1970s, and it loosely refers to any brand that takes trends from the runways to our closets as quickly as possible.
Doesn’t sound too bad, right? But the pressure to produce fashion fast has developed into a system of high inventory turnover, and that’s where the trouble comes in.
We used to have two to four fashion seasons every year. Now, stores like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara have made it so we have 50 to 100 micro seasons a year, increasing our need to buy new things constantly, and it’s changing the way the fashion industry works.
Instead of developing relationships with consistent manufacturers and monitoring ethics, brands are outsourcing production to megasuppliers who help them churn out the latest trends as quickly as possible—whatever it takes.
All the work is done by middlemen, dividing production among multiple factories and suppliers. So the problems with fast fashion are woven into the entire fashion value chain. Most brands don’t even know who makes their clothes, and determining the ethics of individual stores feels impractical at best, and impossible at worst.
Is it “safe” to shop at the Loft or J.Crew? What about department stores like Macy’s that carry multiple brands?
If you want to avoid fast fashion, where do you even begin?
Addressing the obvious
Of course, the most obvious way to be an ethical consumer is to start buying fewer, nicer things from companies that specifically support ethical practices.
There are some amazing brands out there that are doing everything they can to change to the way the fashion industry works and produce beautiful clothes with fair practices.
But as the average fast fashion shopper, the world of sustainable clothing is still a foreign place to me.
I want to learn more about it. But it’s going to take time to fully commit to only buying ethical brands.
Clothing made the right way costs a lot more than fast fashion does, and while I can afford to splurge sometimes, telling a fast fashion shopper to buy only one or two expensive items a season is like telling an alcoholic to quit cold turkey and lead the first AA meeting.
Sure, it would be really cool and inspiring if that happened and just worked. But chances are, it’s going to take smaller, more incremental steps to get there.
So in the spirit of sustainable solutions, one of the first, small changes I’m making is buying vintage and resale clothing first. Then slowly integrating ethical brands into my wardrobe when I want to buy investment pieces.
Let me start out by saying this route isn’t for everyone. People like my mom would never want to slum it at places like Goodwill or Salvation Army when they want to buy new things.
But for me, resale shopping is the most natural replacement for fast fashion because I already love doing it, and the process reminds me of shopping at Forever 21.
You still get the hunt, the good deals, the thrill of sorting through racks hanger-by-hanger, and seeing what you’re buying in person instead of ordering online.
If you think about it, the prices at thrift stores are about as cheap as fast fashion, too, and the quality is usually higher, so technically, it’s a better deal.
But the biggest reason I’m interested in buying more second-hand clothes is because it takes the conversation about fast fashion a step further—beyond the realm of where we shop and into the realm of what we’re doing with what has already been purchased.
Rethinking resale
If you’re like me, you’ve probably assumed that most people who buy a lot of clothes also donate their old clothes to charity, and that makes it excusable.
It’s like, the more we buy, the more we can give away, so we’re helping people who can’t afford to buy things full priced.
But that narrative is flawed in a lot of ways—starting with the fact that most of our clothes don’t even make it to charity in the first place.
Actually, only about 15 percent of all used clothes in America end up in resale stores. The other 85 percent are thrown away by consumers and go directly into landfills.
Today, we throw away up to 21 billion pounds of textile waste per year in the US alone.
So most of our used clothes aren’t being worn by the homeless guy down the street or the children in Africa; they’re rotting in dumps. And even the meager 15 percent that do make it into charities are way more than our resale stores can handle.
Remember how I said in my last blog that, as a society, we’re buying 400 percent more clothes than we bought even 20 years ago?
Well, all of our used clothes are cycling back into the resale system faster than other people are buying them.
Shops like Goodwill only sell about 20 percent of their clothing inventory in store. The rest is bought out by textile recycling companies that either ship it to people overseas or shred it into insulation and rags because there’s just too many clothes in the world, period.
So for the time being, I’m replacing my fast fashion shopping habit with buying used clothes, and who knows? Maybe I’ll even start a resale shop of my own to make the process more approachable for people like my mom who don’t want to do the dirty work of thrift shopping themselves.
Whatever happens, one of my first revelations about life after fast fashion is that when you quit buying the cheapest, most convenient stuff, you start to get creative, and that gives me hope that there’s something to this ethical consumer idea, after all.
We might not be able to shop ourselves into a better fashion industry. But we can shop ourselves into less waste and different ways of thinking about what we buy. And that’s a start.
Blogger Shops Smart at Clothes Mentor West Chester—Check Out Her Haul!
Read an excerpt from LivingLesh.com featuring Clothes Mentor West Chester below, or click here to read the full blog post and more on LivingLesh.com.
How to Get $1,000 Worth of Clothes for $150
By Iesha Thompson
I constantly get asked the question, “How do you keep buying all these clothes and still have money to afford anything else?” And every time that someone asks, I simply laugh and continue on, never actually answering the question.
But I’m here today to finally share my shopping secrets. I’m here to let everyone know how to get the closet that they want without breaking the bank.
Let’s start from the beginning:
Before I ever started shopping the way that I do now, I used to rack up a huge bill. I wanted the brand name clothes from my favorite stores such as Nordstrom, J. Crew, Loft, and more, but every time that I went shopping, I left the store with three pieces of clothing and a bill over $100. That just wasn’t something that I could afford.
Then it all changed. I started shopping smarter and wiser.
One of my trade secrets is shopping at stores such as Clothes Mentor.
Clothes Mentor is a women’s clothing store that buys and sells gently used brand-name and designer clothing, shoes, and accessories. When shopping, you can find mostly any brand and designer that you are looking for.
Recently, I shopped the Clothes Mentor in West Chester, PA and was stunned by the service and the amazing selection of clothes that were provided to me. Yep, I said it. Provided to me. Other than selling great clothing, Clothes Mentor also offers the opportunity for you to work with a personal shopper to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
But let’s not get too much into that. You’re trying to figure out what I bought and how I saved so much money.
Shopping at Clothes Mentor is an experience within itself. On every rack there are pieces that are must-haves and they look practically brand new. Even the shoes looks barely worn. And if I bought shoes from there, then they were pretty much brand new because I hate other people’s feet.
After picking up so many pieces, trying them on, and loving every single one – I had to stop myself because I realized that I had over eight pieces in my collection. My mind immediately went to the thought that I had racked up at least $300. But I didn’t. That’s how great the prices are at Clothes Mentor.
At the end of my shopping experience, I walked out of the store with three bags filled to the brim. And I only spent $150. And you may be thinking that I had gotten a crazy amount of discounts and special treatment, but that’s not it at all.
Here’s my breakdown:
- J. Crew Grey Sweater – $22 // originally $89
- Anne Klein Long Sleeved Top – $12 // originally $69
- Dress Barn LS Animal Top – $6 // originally $36
- INC Top – $12 // originally $60
- J. Crew Blue Blouse – $18 // originally $78
- Anne Taylor Loft Top – $10 // originally $60
- BCBG Dress – $22 // originally $115
- Zara Basic Dress – $16 // originally $70
- Banana Republic Sweater – $18 // originally $69
- The Limited Sweater – $15 // originally $60
- New York & Co Petite Pants – $11 // originally $60
- Aldo Floral Print Heels – $20 // originally $150
It’s quite a bill that I racked up, and considering the original price, I save a whole lot of money.
And if you’re like me and enjoy recycling your closet every once and awhile, you can sell your gently worn clothes to Clothes Mentor and use the cash on the spot that you receive to make your purchases. Nothing better than using the money to make off of your clothes to buy more clothes. That’s recycling at it’s best.
Recycling clothes this way is one of the ways that I save money, because a create budget for myself for buying clothes and use the money that I make when selling clothes to buy new clothes. Therefore, I’m always staying within my budget and my closet only gets bigger.
So there you have it. Those are my tips for saving money and going on a shopping spree for $1,000 worth of clothes but only spending $150.
Clothes Mentor has now become my new go-to place to get the clothes that I want in the brands that I absolutely need. It’s a match made in heaven for a budget shopper like me.
Clothes Mentor Lee’s Summit Featured in Local Magazine
Check out this great article from Herlife Magazine, which features Clothes Mentor Lee’s Summit as well as the Tiffany Springs and Overland Park stores:
Effortlessly Update Your Wardrobe at Clothes Mentor
By Cindy McDermott
It shouldn’t cost a fortune to have great designer clothing hanging in your closet. If you shop at your locally owned Clothes Mentor shops in Overland Park, Tiffany Springs and Lee’s Summit, it doesn’t have to!
Clothes Mentor is a women’s resale store focused on clothing in sizes 0-26, petites, plus sizes and maternity. The shops buy and resell better brand name and gently used items that are in style and in good condition. Business and casual, smart and stylish apparel, shoes, purses and accessories are stocked in easy-to-access, clearly organized segments to make your shopping experience superb.
Many Designers, Many Choices
“You’ll find all of your favorite brands in one place at Clothes Mentor,” shared Lee Gardner, owner at Tiffany Springs and Lee’s Summit. “Our customers don’t have to go to the mall and shop countless stores. We have many designers and, incredibly, our offerings are always changing. And we sell items 50 to 70 percent off from the original retail price.”
“At Clothes Mentor, we understand your life is always changing and those changes bring new needs for your wardrobe,” stated Phyllis Lord, owner of the Overland Park Clothes Mentor. “We help you meet your everyday lifestyle changes by growing and adapting your wardrobe in the most cost-effective way possible at Clothes Mentor.”
Each of the Clothes Mentor shops welcomes customers with brightly lit interiors and clothes and accessories arranged for easy view. You’ll look forward to stepping through the doors at Clothes Mentor, not only for the experience, but for the great-looking stock offered at great prices.
“Every customer is warmly greeted and welcomed when they visit Clothes Mentor,” advised Lee. “If this is your first visit, we’ll explain the process to you and set up an account. If you’re selling clothes, we’ll give you a time frame that we’ll need to review the clothes. We’ll either pay you cash on the spot or give you customer credit, which can include a bonus. Details can vary, but we’ll explain what’s being offered that day at that location.”
“Every day we pay you cash on the spot to purchase your better brand-name gently used women’s fashions and accessories,” promised Phyllis. “Unlike a consignment shop where you may wait weeks to receive payment, we pay you immediately for items that we buy.”
Social Media Alerts
Because the stock can change at a moment’s notice, the Clothes Mentor locations rely on social media tools to immediately alert customers to new items or specials. “We have a strong use of social media, and we’re constantly posting on Facebook or Instagram about new items that are coming in. If we get a nice designer item, we’ll post it. But you better move quickly because they will be taken fast,” shared Phyllis. “Texting is also important, and we offer VIP texting. We use texting to market specific sales in the store or give gentle reminders about special offers.”
“Our social marketing is dynamic. Every store has a Facebook page to post new products or share news of special events,” commented Lee. “It’s a great way for customers to see what we have in the store.”
Clothes Mentor also offers personal shoppers, a service that’s very popular with the customers who use them. “Customers love our personal shoppers. They fill out a questionnaire online to tell us about their body type and the type of clothes they want: business, casual or special occasion. Or maybe they’ve lost weight and don’t know what to wear,” remarked Phyllis. “Our personal shoppers will help them find the clothes that fit their needs. Sometimes they’ll bring in an article and ask us to match it up for a special occasion. This service is absolutely free for our customers.”
“People are surprised by how enjoyable the personal shopper experience can be. The shoppers are focused on them, working one on one,” said Lee. “They can have outfits pulled together for them when the customers arrive.”
Quality for Customers
Clothes Mentor also offers a loyalty program, featuring points for purchases. Savings off of the entire purchase or highlighted items may be featured. Check with the location to learn all of the details when you sign up.
“Clothes Mentor offers fantastic value because of our great prices and quality. We have stringent buying requirements for the items we purchase to resell to you. Our goal is to always provide excellent customer service,” said Lee. “In addition, we’re an environmentally friendly business because we’re keeping clothes out of the landfill.”
“You’re going to find great bargains on the great brands we carry at Clothes Mentor,” shared Phyllis. “We’re always willing to help a customer find something they need.” No matter if you’re searching for a new outfit or making some money on clothes you no longer wear, the staff at your friendly Clothes Mentor locations are there for you and your closet.
Check Out the New Clothes Mentor Owner Testimonials Videos
Wonder what it would be like to own a Clothes Mentor store? How about several Clothes Mentor stores? Peruse our new owner testimonials videos to get answers to you frequently asked questions and more!
Below is a snippet to get you started. Then click here to see the full collection.
Clothes Mentor Fargo Reveals What’s Hot Now
Check out this fashion-forward article along with several amazing photos from inforum.com, which showcases some of the latest trends in women’s apparel and features tips and outfits from Clothes Mentor Fargo.
These fashion staples will transition from summer to fall
By Alexandra Floersch
Keeping up with ever-evolving fashion trends can be hard, especially as the seasons change. Just when you feel you’ve finally mastered the spring look, summer gives way to 80-degree temperatures and a whole new world of creativity. But collecting a closet full of fashionable pieces isn’t always easy.
“Trends are scary,” says Shantelle Peterson, store manager at Clothes Mentor in Fargo. How does the average Midwesterner know what works in our conservative neck of the woods? How can one manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank, considering how quickly summer gives way to fall?
The key is to spend most of your clothing dollars on pieces you’ll use often — staple items.
“Never invest (too much) in trendy pieces. If you’re going to invest in things, make sure they are staple pieces and buy your trendy pieces on the cheap,” Peterson says.
Summer lends versatility, according to Samantha Hayes, store manager of Kittsona in downtown Fargo. “You can wear skirts, tank tops, T-shirts, long sleeves, kimonos and rompers, rather than just the big, chunky sweaters and jeans,” she says. “There’s just a lot more to play with in the summertime.”
This summer, like many before, florals have been especially popular. The bright pops of color in a tank, dress or skirt can liven up an outfit. Hayes says feminine, intricate details such as lace and embroidery are also trendy. When it comes to jewelry, turquoise is the color to have.
When it’s all said and done, fashionistas must start somewhere. If you’re looking to buy just a few pieces, start with some of these staple items:
Denim dresses
“Denim will never go out of style — any variation of it: colored denim, denim vest, denim jacket, denim shorts,” Peterson says.
This season, denim dresses and skirts are a must-have. Hayes says one way to wear a denim dress is with ankle booties, a watch, layered necklace and sunnies.
For a quick transition to fall, pair it with knee high socks and booties or with tights and a long jacket or sweater.
Off-the-shoulder tops
According to Hayes, off-the-shoulder tops in beautiful, vibrant florals are both trendy and versatile. Paired with white jeans, a statement necklace and wedges, the top adds a feminine flair.
For fall, simply swap the white jeans for darker denim and add an army green cargo jacket over the top.
High-waisted skirts
For a more business-formal look, Peterson and Sam Muzzy, assistant manager at Clothes Mentor, say to add a high-waisted skirt to your collection. The versatile bottom can be paired with a crop top, tassel necklace and bright colored clutch.
For fall, slip on patterned tights, a moto jacket or blazer, gladiator shoes and bold accessories.
Blocked heel ankle booties
Summer fashion allows for much more versatility in shoes. “You can wear flats, you can wear a wedge heel, you can wear a square heel — it’s very wide open,” Peterson says.
In addition to a simple sandal, Hayes says blocked heel ankle booties are making a splash and the conversion from summer to fall to winter is an easy one. They can be worn with a dress, skirt or even shorts in summer and, in fall — to add warmth to otherwise bare legs — slip on knee-high socks or tights.
Bodysuits
Though bodysuits are one of the trendiest items, many consumers are confused over when, why or how to wear them.
Hayes says not only do they appeal to every body type, “they’re more form fitting. You don’t have to constantly tuck them in or pull them down. It stays in place.”
A bodysuit can be worn under many garments, including high-waisted denim or as an extra layer under a dress. Hayes suggests pairing it with a tapered cotton pant, blocked heel and choker necklace — a ’90s fad that made its way back in 2016.
For fall, throw on pants and an oversized denim jacket or long sweater to complete the look.
Kimono
Kimonos are perfect for summer in that they’re lightweight as opposed to a chunky sweater. When paired with denim shorts, cold-shoulder top, a long necklace and fringe booties, they embody a flowy, boho look.
While vibrant summer colors may not transition as smoothly into fall, a darker colored kimono paired with a chambray button up and high-waisted jeans will do the trick, Peterson and Muzzy say.
Layered necklace
Jewelry can dress up even the most seemingly casual outfits; it can even play up a tee. Hayes says a layered necklace, specifically, is a great piece to have. This year, turquoise and tassel details are in.
While tassel necklaces can add flair to the most simplistic pieces, you must be careful not to overdo it. Choose an outfit where the “other two pieces are subdued so you can go bold with the necklace,” Peterson says.
Makeup
Peterson says another fun thing about summer is that women can experiment with makeup. “You can wear a lot more bright colors as opposed to in the winter time,” she says.
Lipstick is especially popular. Hayes says deep purples — like black cherry and berry — are trending as well as browns and nudes, which go with almost any outfit.
Come fall, those same colors in darker tones such as dark plum, chocolate and shades of red will be trending. Metallics like gold will also make a breakthrough when the trees change color.
Celebrity Style at Clothes Mentor South Carolina
Dressing like your favorite celeb is easier than you think. Is Andie MacDowell your style icon? How about Kelly Pickler? Achieve these celebrity looks and more with tips from Clothes Mentor store owner Sadie Cherney. You can find the latest styles and trendy pieces at Clothes Mentor South Carolina every day! Watch this video to see even more amazing celebrity looks:
NTY’s Online Resale Plans and More Featured in Franchising USA
Online sales, loyalty programs and other high-tech offerings from NTY Franchise Company’s resale brands were recently featured in the July issue of Franchising USA. Read about it now:
Resale Retail Company Wants to Use Technology to Rule Industry
Although it’s in the business of selling gently used products, one Minneapolis based franchise is hoping to bring something new to the resale retail industry in the form of technology.
NTY, which stands for ‘New To You’, is a company that owns the franchising rights to five brands in the resale retail industry:
- Clothes Mentor, which buys and sells used women’s fashion;
- Children’s Orchard, which buys and sells children’s items;
- Device Pit Stop, for purchasing and reselling electronics;
- New Uses, which specializes in buying and reselling items for the home; and
- NTY Clothing Exchange, the company’s teen and young adult resale retail brand.
With its largest brand, Clothes Mentor, the company wants to introduce an online store so people can shop for used items online the same way they would shop for new items on the internet, NTY’s chief operating officer Chad Olson said during a recent interview from the company’s headquarters in Minneapolis.
A lot of new websites have popped up online over the last several years that offer the service of reselling used items to customers, Olson noted, which has changed the online resale retail landscape. With this change in the landscape comes opportunity for Clothes Mentor, which will start rolling out its online store in baby steps.
First off, customers will have the ability to ‘click and pick,’ meaning they can make a purchase at their local Clothes Mentor store and then pick it up at the physical store. From there, the online store will expand until it is an integral part of the business.
Clothes Mentor also has an app that will allow the brand to push messages out to customers, allow customers to check their loyalty program points and give them electronic receipts so they don’t have to hang onto the paper ones in case they want to return something. Eventually, Clothes Mentor’s online store will also be available through the app, but that is a ways off as the brand is just getting started with its online store.
“This is a pretty big shift in our business model, so we’re going to make sure we do it right,” Olson explained.
Clothes Mentor isn’t just using technology to give customers a better experience, though. It’s also using technology to give its franchisees a boost, too. Specifically, it’s collecting more data on customers so franchisees can give them more personalized marketing. Recent generations like Millennials appreciate this more personalized marketing, Olson observed.
Across all five of the company’s brands, it has 193 stores open with another 56 in development. Clothes Mentor, NTY’s flagship franchise, claims the majority of those locations.
“Our number one goal is to offer the customer what we refer to as ‘Ultra high value retail’,” Olson said. “The stuff that we’re selling at the store level is at a much deeper discount than anywhere else they can find it because it is gently used.”
Aside from giving people the opportunity to save money, NYT also offers people the chance to recycle their items and receive cash in return, Olson mentioned.
In the Beginning
Clothes Mentor was founded in Columbus, OH by a local couple in 2001. Aside from the Columbus store, Clothes Mentor had a licensed store in Canton, OH. Olson and his father, Ron Olson, decided to go into business together, both having retail franchising experience with another company.
When they began looking at what opportunities were out there for their own business, they found out about Clothes Mentor and noted the two stores were doing quite well. From there, the father and son negotiated the franchising rights to that brand in 2007 and have been adding to the NTY family ever since.
Energy
NTY’s franchisees come from all walks of life, from kindergarten teachers to former professional bull riders. Regardless of their background, though, NTY wants franchisees to have a strong work ethic and enthusiasm.
“We would like them to have general business acumen, but more importantly, is that they have the energy, the drive, the motivation to be entrepreneurial,” Olson said. “We’re looking for people that want to be their own boss, but who have experience in one facet or another. We want them to bring their own skill set to the company.”
Training and Support
Training involves flying new franchisees out to Minneapolis for the company’s comprehensive three week business training program. NTY trains them in finding and leasing a location, plus business plan training.
“We basically prepare them in that training to go to a bank to obtain financing,” Olson said. “So we create a three-year profit and loss and cash flow statement. So, they leave here after that first bit of training prepared to find and obtain a location and obtain financing for the business.”
Once they have a location and financing, franchisees come back to Minneapolis for two weeks of operations training, where they are taught all aspects of how to operate the business. At least one of those weeks is spent in a real store environment.
Once the new franchisee is set up, they can expect NTY to visit their location a minimum of three times throughout their first year. Once will be prior to their grand opening and will include additional training. Subsequent visits will be during the grand opening and then again 90 days after the grand opening. Each visit is to ensure new franchisees get off to the best start possible.
Franchisees will continue to get visits from the company at least once per year for business consultations, Olson added. In between visits, the company offers monthly support calls.
“The ongoing support is fairly extensive because obviously in the franchise business, if our franchisees aren’t successful, then us as a franchisor will not be successful making money,” the COO said.
Expansion
All of NTY’s brands are open to expanding anywhere in the United States. Currently, the company has a presence in 30 states and is relatively well spread out, although a tad thin on the west coast, Olson noted.
“There’s lots of franchising opportunity available, especially on the west coast,” he explained.
For entrepreneurs who embrace technology, NTY, and Clothes Mentor in particular, offer a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something new and exciting in the resale retail industry.
Clothes Mentor is Catching On: Must Read for Entrepreneurs
Clothes Mentor was recently featured in an article from The News & Observer about lesser-known franchises that offer big opportunities to today’s entrepreneurs. Check out excerpt from the article below and prepare to be inspired. You can also read the full article on newsobserver.com.
Beyond fast food: New franchising ideas draw entrepreneurs
They’re not household names like McDonald’s or The UPS Store, but small franchises beyond the usual restaurant groups and retailers are attracting buyers who want something new or different and see greater challenges and opportunities with lesser-known businesses.
[…] Adam Scott looked at several relatively small companies before deciding on Clothes Mentor, which has nearly 140 shops in about two dozen states that sell women’s used clothing. Scott, who previously owned a franchise that shipped packages, was looking for a team atmosphere that he felt huge franchises with thousands of locations didn’t offer.
“I wanted a certain culture,” says Scott, who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. “I could tell they really have an interest in the success of their franchisees.”
Scott asked other franchise owners about their experience with Clothes Mentor, something that’s recommended anyone do before buying a franchise. What he heard persuaded him that even though Clothes Mentor isn’t on the tip of consumers’ tongues, it was a good fit for him.
“I have to feel that I’m going to like who I’m in business with,” he says.
