franchise: Clothes Mentor

It’s October and at Clothes Mentor, we have you covered. Whatever you need for the season – whether it’s like-new scarves, coats, jackets, boots, or sweaters, we have a large variety of different styles for you to choose from. We carry high quality, designer pieces that are on-trend, modern, and gently-used.

Freshen up your fall wardrobe with some like-new pieces from  your local Clothes Mentor. Whether you’re walking through the pumpkin patch or walking through the office – you’ll look fabulous, trendy…and you’ll get some great pieces at fantastic prices!

Scarves are one of those things that never go out of style. They bring a certain sense of chic femininity to your look and can add color and brightness to a neutral look. They are nice to wear for warmth, of course, too since it’s now fall. They’re a staple accessory that always works.

This season scarves are being shown on the runways as much slimmer with silky fabrics. The skinny scarf is a chic way to pull your look together and wrap – or double wrap – your neck in soft silk.

Add a bright color or pattern to pull your look together. It’s a fun way to keep yourself warm – and it’s modern and fashion-forward at the same time!

Congratulations to the Lee’s Summit Clothes Mentor store for reopening today after going through a tornado in July. We’re so glad you’re all okay and that things are getting back to normal. Stop by the Lee’s Summit Clothes Mentor and support them in the community as they make a new start! Source: kshb.com

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO – Clothes Mentor is reopening its doors for the first time since an EF-1 tornado tore holes in the roof and forced the store to throw away its entire inventory of clothes.

“This entire store would have had to be replaced if it wasn’t metal. The counters were ruined. The walls had to be replaced, the fixtures,” said Clothes Mentor store owner Lee Gardner.

The road to recovery was a $100,000 one, covered by insurance.  No one was hurt in the store during the tornado despite two employees being inside at the time.

They choose one of the two bathrooms inside the building to hide in. It turns out that was the only room not damaged.

Gardner says there have been blessings through the rebuilding process.

“The outreach from the community and the customers that we’ve had and how concerned they were about us and wanted us to re-open, well they wanted to help us clean,” said Gardner.

The store will open Thursday, October 1,  2015- three months to the day of the tornado.

Expecting a big turnout, the store won’t start buying clothes brought in until 1 p.m., choosing to focus solely on sales for the first few hours.

Store hours will be 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Take a look at this fun interview with Christine Ilvedson, owner of the Clothes Mentor in Fargo, North Dakota.  Source: business-opportunities.biz

Clothes Mentor, the nation’s top women’s clothing franchise, buys and sells high quality, gently-used designer clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories that are like new — but for a lot less.

We recently spoke with Christine Ilvedson, owner of Clothes Mentor in Fargo, N.D., to find out more about her experiences in opening up a franchise. We learned what challenges she faced, how much she spent before opening the doors and what she would do differently if she had the chance.

How long have you owned a franchise?

Five and a half years.

What were you doing before becoming a franchise owner?

I was in retail management.

Why did you choose your franchise?

I chose Clothes Mentor because I saw a need for an upscale women’s resale store in our community. There were places in Fargo that paid cash on the spot for children’s’ clothing, another that paid cash for teen clothing but none that paid cash for women’s fashions.

What were some of the challenges you faced when starting your franchise?

Finding a great bank to work with who shared our vision was probably our biggest challenge. For a lot of franchises finding the ideal retail space to lease is challenging, but luckily we had no problem with that.

Where did you research or get advice about starting a franchise?

I spoke with other Clothes Mentor franchisees and with other entrepreneurs that had a lot of experience with franchising.

How much did you spend before your doors were officially opened?

About $120k, including $45k we paid to locals selling us their gently used clothing and apparel for inventory before we opened to sell.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Most days I’m on the sales floor greeting customers and sorting through clothing items they are looking to sell. Some days I work from home answering emails, working on marketing or doing payroll/bookkeeping, and some days I’m running errands or at meetings.

What is your secret to success?

Treat your customers really well, treat your employees even better and lead by example.

What would you do differently if you had to do it all over?

Looking back now there are a few things with our grand opening I would have done differently (time of year we opened and some advertising ideas). I also would have trusted my instincts a little more!

Where do you see your business in five years?

Hopefully growing and changing! We have expanded once but would love to expand again if the opportunity presented itself. Now that we are well established in the community we are looking to do more charity work and partnerships.

What is one trend that really excites you?

Clothes Mentor has a new loyalty rewards program that is so awesome! It is a great program that has a wealth of information for us as owners and our customers are loving it!

What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?

I love our online banking and online payroll resources.

We LOVE social media… especially Instagram and Facebook.

We have a great website for our franchise owners… all the resources and networking at our fingertips!

Do you (or did you ever) have a mentor?

I did not have an official mentor but sought advice from as many business owners as I could.

What advice do you have for others looking to own a franchise?

Go for it! Do your research and make sure there is a need in your community. Talk to as many other franchise owners as you can. Be positive and realistic.

Would you recommend others be franchisees? Why?

Absolutely! Clothes Mentor Corporate helped me SO much in our opening processes. I honestly would have been lost trying to do all that on my own. Everything from writing our business plan to ordering hangers was laid out for me in a step-by-step process. They are full of great resources and guidance.

Where can people get more information on Clothes Mentor franchise opportunities?

Visit the website here.

Where can people find your Clothes Mentor franchise on social media?

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

It goes without saying that coats are always on-trend in colder weather, but this season it’s all about statement coats. It’s important the coat keeps you cozy, of course, but why not do it in style? There are some great statement coats that will keep you warm and chic at the same time.

Keeping in mind that you wear a coat every day as we get into colder weather, your coats can be key pieces in your fall and winter wardrobes. You want them to be modern and on-trend – while also fitting your lifestyle and your look.

Stop in to your local Clothes Mentor today and see what we have for some stylish, like-new coats. You will most likely find a very chic, designer coat in either a newer trend or a classic look that will keep you warm and in style – at a price you will love!

Here’s a great blog post on Clothes Mentor from fan Melissa Auvil about the West Chester and Springfield, Pennsylvania stores. In her interview with owner Chris Barnett, some top tips are shared on the process – and the great deals you can get on high quality, gently-used designer apparel and accessories that are like new. As Auvil says, “I also love the fact that I can clean out my closet to ‘trade in’ what I don’t wear any longer. Clothes Mentor is a resale store so they are always searching for fresh merchandise to buy from customers—including me!” Source: chestercountymoms.com

Let me just say, I’m a huge fan of Clothes Mentor (located in West Chester &Springfield). There’s been a lot of chatter surrounding the name ever since the stores opened 3+ years ago. And, I’ve done my research to offer you an insider look at the brand… Here are the three reasons why you’ll see me shopping at CM: 1. I can shop for looks I love at unbelievable prices. 2. Because I can get paid when I clean out my closet and sell to them (am I dreaming?). 3. And, because resale shopping/selling means I am taking care of our Mother Earth. Yes, I admit that I love the fact that I can find stylish clothing for an affordable price. Like the great, early-fall, NEW-WITH-TAGS sweater from White House Black Market. The Clothes Mentor Springfield location just had a pair on Facebook with original tags–priced at $84 and a Clothes Mentor price of $18! Back to school shopping put a huge dent in my budget so Clothes Mentor has been my saving grace. And, I also love the fact that I can clean out my closet to “trade in” what I don’t wear any longer. Clothes Mentor is a resale store so they are always searching for fresh merchandise to buy from customers—including me! I interviewed Chris Barnett, the owner of the West Chester and Springfield, PA locations, to find out how we, as busy moms, can maximize our payout when it comes to resale, while staying stylish at the same time. Chris, who has owned and operated these franchise locations since 2012, exclaims “everyone has something in their closet that they no longer use but we would love to buy!” She continues, “whether it is jewelry or a pair of shoes that just doesn’t fit right. Whether it is a winter coat you no longer wear or a designer bag that just isn’t your style. Everyone has something in their closet they could bring to the store to sell. The beauty of the model is that there is something for every customer and something we would love to buy from every woman.” Sounds good to me! So let’s have Chris walk us through some of her top tips to successfully selling at her stores: Me: Okay, I hear you –every woman has something to sell to Clothes Mentor. But what do we need to do to get the best offer possible? Chris: Great question because we do want to maintain the very best inventory and we do want to make an offer to every customer that sells to us! Here are my top 3 tips to prep your items for selling to us— 1. Make sure the clothes are in current style. We focus on current fashions and the latest fashion trends—what’s in the malls right now. Often, customers bring in items that are many years old and, while they may be in great shape or a classic look, we are able to make offers only on fashions less than 2 years old. 2. Make sure the clothes are in very good to excellent condition. Think about if you were shopping in the store and whether you would buy the item right now, in its present condition. Often, customers will understand the phrase “too well loved” when we have to pass on an item because it may be super stylish but the pilling on the sweater or the pulls in the lace or the slight staining around the collar are reasons we wouldn’t be able to make a cash offer. 3. Make sure the clothes are freshly laundered. Items we buy go straight to the sales floor so we work hard to make sure that we only buy clothes that customers want to try on and want to take home. Cigarette smoke smells, musty smells and pet hair on items are all reasons we cannot make an offer. Two frequent things we find are that a person puts items in a car with a smoker—just know that clothes and handbags grab that smell–or a person leaves their items at home and a pet thinks it looks like a comfy bed. We worry about our customer so we pass on items that could trigger allergies. Me: Now, once I have my items ready, what happens next? What’s the best time of year for people to trade-in their clothes? Chris: Hooray! So you just need to bring in your items to Clothes Mentor in a box, bag or basket—not on clothing hangers, please. In Springfield and West Chester, we buy 7 days a week. We buy all day, every day and don’t forget that we buy all seasons, too. Me: Any good stories of customers selling to you recently? Chris: Of course! We always have great buying days and we post our most favorite new items on our Facebook pages. We buy around 300 new items each day. We’ve recently purchased a large number of designer shoes in West Chester—many pairs of Christian Louboutins that sell for more than $400 but we are selling them for under $100. We also just bought several Michael Kors bags in Springfield from a “collector”. She had a cross-body bag, several totes and a metallic satchel. She put nearly $300 in her pocket since we pay the customer 50% of the floor price on designer bags! Me: 50% for designer bags? Chris: That’s right. The payout is generally 30-40% of the sales floor price for clothing and accessories. All pricing is computer generated—no haggling or negotiating, which is something I never enjoy. For designer bags, my stores offer customers a payout of 50% of the sales floor price: premium pricing for premium bags. Me: Sounds like I need to get shopping—and selling to you! It also strikes me that we’ve mainly been talking about selling clothes but you buy much more. Can you elaborate? Chris: Absolutely. We want to be a one-stop shop for the fashionable women in town! We buy shoes, jewelry, designer bags and wallets. We buy coats, jackets, scarves and belts. Oh, and don’t forget specialty lines like athletic wear and maternity. They can be so expensive in the retail stores so we love to buy current styles in excellent condition for moms-to-be and our workout warriors! We buy all women’s sizes, including petites, talls and, unlike most typical consignment stores, we love plus size items and are always requesting larger sizes from our customers. Me: Sounds great! So why do you love what you do? Chris: Aside from the fact that the customers have become my friends and my family, I believe in what we do at Clothes Mentor. I have a beautiful daughter that learns everyday about women taking care of women at our store. What a beautiful message. We cheer each other on when we get a great deal. We help everyone leave the store feeling beautiful and strong. By reselling your items, we make them more affordable for the next person and we are doing one more thing to help Mother Earth through the eco-friendliness of recycling. What’s not to love about all of that goodness? And there you have it, Philly Burb Mom readers, the truth behind the successful Clothes Mentor stores in our area. Maybe you sold to them or tried to sell to Clothes Mentor in the past and they couldn’t make an offer. My advice? Try again! Use these tips to put some extra cash in your pocket this fall—the stores are super popular and they are always looking to buy, so why not clean out those closets? Disclaimer: I’m so pleased to be a sponsored business partner with Clothes Mentor. All opinions are my own!

Sometimes it really is all about the shoes…or boots. The right pair can really make an outfit. And booties are really on-trend this season.

The great thing about a stylish pair of booties is they can be worn with just about anything. They look great with a short dress or a maxi dress, as well as with any length of skirt. A higher heel can elongate your legs and make your look more hip, a lower heel can add a casual vibe to your outfit.

No matter what trends you like this fall, add in a great pair of one of the biggest trends – a great short bootie – and you’re set to go! Stop in to your local Clothes Mentor and see the great selection they have of gently-used, like-new booties to update your look this fall.

Love you style, and love what you pull out of your closet in the morning…but don’t forget to add a great pair of booties to make your look that much more modern and on-trend.

We all like to keep up with trends and be fashion-forward, but it’s hard in our busy lives. Too many mornings you probably just throw on whatever is fast and convenient. Why not have a personal shopper help you out?

At Clothes Mentor, we understand how crazy busy life can be – between work and your family and friends, there is often little time to do anything for yourself. That is too often the case with a lot of women…we do everything for everybody else and very little for ourselves. So why not let Clothes Mentor’s Personal Shopper Program make shopping fun again?

Just think of the idea of someone else shopping for you, giving you honest feedback as you try things on – and helping you to see your true style while being on-trend and modern. It’s something you can do just for you…and did we mention it’s FREE?

Check out your local Clothes Mentor and ask them about the Personal Shopper Program – or click on the link or photo to go to the Personal Shopper page and fill out the form to schedule a free style consult. It just might be one of the best things you have done for yourself in a long time!

We have a brand new area added to our website that we think you’ll really like! We all love fashion – and we all love to be inspired by different styles and trends. What better way to do that then to post pictures of your favorite outfits on Instagram – and then have them post directly to the Clothes Mentor website?

This fun idea is now on our website, so every time you post a photo of a great outfit or trend, using the hashtag #cmstyle, and then your store location, the photos will automatically be displayed on this website under Shop and #CMStyle. Now you can not only enjoy your style, you can share it to inspire others too!

Randi Zeid, a Clothes Mentor store owner from Ohio, gives us some good examples of the great designer fashions you can find at Clothes Mentor…and all the pieces are like-new, gently-used, and on-trend styles. Source: wkyc.com

If you’re searching for the perfect outfit for an inexpensive price, Clothes Mentor is the place to look! Owner of Clothes Mentor, Randi Zeid along with her mother and daughter, show us some of the lightly used designer clothes that can be found at any one of their 5 Northeast Ohio locations!