Hear answers to this frequently asked question from several Clothes Mentor franchisees from across the country:
Women’s Clothing Resale = Big Opportunities
Do you love fashion? Have you ever dreamed of owning your own women’s resale fashion boutique but never knew where to start?
Maybe you’ve been told by friends and family that there is no money in owning a women’s fashion resale franchise or that inventory is too expensive.
We are here to tell you that this is not the case, in fact, the exact opposite is true: There is a lot of money to be made in the women’s clothing resale space!
We interviewed several current Clothes Mentor owners to find out exactly how much money can be made in this booming industry. Watch the short video above to find out more about following your dreams and owning your own women’s clothing resale franchise.
Check out this exciting article from Franchising USA about NTY Franchise Company’s 200th store opening this month!
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.
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!
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.
Learn about NTY Franchise Company’s merger with Children’s Orchard in this quick read from forbes.com. Find out why Chad Olson and team decided to merge, how they did it and where the Children’s Orchard franchise is headed in the near future as a result.
Photo courtesy forbes.com.
Secrets to a Successful Small Business Merger
Every small business merger is unique, but they all share a few common challengers, from choosing the right partner, to managing the transition, to branding and post-merger management. Here’s how five small business owners pulled it off.
Building a Franchise
A longtime franchise veteran sought to turn his prototype children’s apparel resale shop into a national franchise by merging with Children’s Orchard, a recognized brand with 32 stores.
Why Merge? Olson’s prototype store, NTY Kids, needed a recognizable, trusted brand to grow. Children’s Orchard needed point-of-sale software to bring its stores into the 21st century—technology available through another business Olson owned.
What Happened Olson and his team moved slowly, announcing the merger to franchisees over the phone, and not making a single change to operations until they had met with each owner face-to-face. “It was all about building that relationship and credibility with the franchisees.”
Takeaway A merger can be a frightening prospect for franchisees because it affects how they run their individual businesses. “These people are entrepreneurs. They’ve invested money. This has been their life and blood and livelihood for a lot of years.” Patience and empathy is vital.
NTY Franchise hosted its first-annual conference for Children’s Orchard earlier this week. Many hardworking and inspiring franchisees joined together in Minneapolis, MN, for store tours at the Mall of America, sessions about the NTY point-of-sale system, reporting, marketing, hands-on experience at the corporate Children’s Orchard store and plenty of fun.
The following snapshots show just a few of the highlights from the 2016 Children’s Orchard conference.
Watch this video message from Chad Olson, NTY Franchise Company’s Chief Operations Officer, and be inspired to open your own resale business! Find out what makes NTY’s five resale brands unique as well as get a feel for our company values. Check it out now:
Clothes Mentor was recently named Franchise of the Day by Entrepreneur. Read the brief write-up here, or check it out at entrepreneur.com.
Franchise of the Day: Up Your Style With Some New Duds
When it comes to style at a low cost, Clothes Mentor has got ya covered.
The chain isn’t the first resale franchise founders Lynn and Dennis Blum opened. Previously working on two others, Once Upon a Child and Plato’s Closet, the duo sold them to Grow Biz International (now Winmark Corporation).
Clothes Mentor opened its doors in 2001 offering a place for women to buy and sell shoes, purses, clothing and other delightful duds. It caught the eye of Grow Biz co-founder Ronald Olson, who had left the company in 2000. He began franchising Clothes Mentor in 2007.
Today, the franchise is ranked as No. 260 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list for 2016.
This article, originally published on huffingtonpost.com, mentions NTY Franchise as a growing company in the booming resale industry. Read on to learn why franchising a resale store is such an appealing option for entrepreneurs:
Graphic courtesy huffingtonpost.com
By Yatin Khulbe
It goes without saying that finding the right balance between a successful retail strategy and an approach that sets yourself apart can be a big challenge.
After all, an increasing number of new businesses fail each year while attempting to break into the seemingly impenetrable arena of modern retail.
The wall of the booming big box and major brand monoliths isn’t entirely impenetrable, however. Surprisingly, a number of upcoming retail contenders and franchises have taken an unorthodox approach to the resale market in recent years.
They prefer to focus on cultivating an upscale atmosphere and level of service usually reserved for their conventional and big brand counterparts.
So how did “resale retail” go from a budget niche to a booming new brand of resellers with increasing interest and profit margins?
Here are some of the points which encouraged resellers in coming up with smart and unconventional strategies in recent years:
Flexible Points of Entry
The unique nature of upscale resellers as an up-and-coming industry often mean that aspiring entrepreneurs looking to break into store management or ownership can enjoy more substantive options to finance a small business.
The availability of franchise opportunities among national resale parent companies has skyrocketed recently.
Resale is a multi-billion dollar a year industry because it attracts the consumers from all economic levels.
Why are buyers are excited about resale deals?
The answer is simple.
Everyone wants to save money on consumer goods and utilize it for vacations, child education, retirement funds, and various family activities.
Breaking into franchise management can traditionally serve as a safer starting point for those getting their start in ownership across a variety of industries.
Companies looking to expand the influence of their existing resale branding have substantially increased the availability of options for management newcomers in recent years.
What does it mean?
A minor nest egg can be invested with a greater range of strategies for those looking to make the most out of their existing experience in retail and business.
Unfortunately, the majority of small businesses generally won’t expect to yield profit margins in the first months (or even years) of operation.
If a budding retail entrepreneur doesn’t find this initial period of low profits viable or attractive, a partnership with an existing upscale resale franchise can often provide valuable options for getting the ball rolling.
Consistent Consumer Experience
Traditional resellers have often relied on lower than standard profit margins and nonprofit dichotomies focus on providing a service to the local community.
On the other hand, upscale resale stores concentrate on consumer experience by understanding the needs and desires of their buyers.
Modernized resellers provide no restraint shopping experience to the customers. It allows for more competitive price points while still retaining the attractive benefits of a resale outlet experience. Resale businesses with a focus on this above-par shopping experience include growing resellers such as NTY (New To You).
Why modern resellers overpower traditional counterparts?
It’s win-win for both the parties.
Consumers lock down lower prices while still enjoying the experience and atmosphere that come with new goods retailer.
The benefit doesn’t extend solely to customers.
The smooth shift towards an upscale customer experience means that owners and franchisees can expect to enjoy an operative experience and keep up with the steadily rising revenue of retail frontrunners as well.
Strong Support Systems
Breaking into uncharted territory doesn’t mean that resale franchises are going alone. In fact, a vast majority of resale stores rely on the framework of support networks that allow them to fall back on training opportunities, marketing materials, and more.
The main question arises:
Why are they helping each other?
A range of prospective overhead costs is saved which require a lion’s share of time and money.
As a result, this support mechanism allows room for innovation.
Lower Overall Risk When Taking the Leap
The idea of kicking off small businesses looks very attractive, but it often leads to lower than anticipated profits. The standard new retail venture without well-timed market research means failing within the first year or even less timeframe.
On the more optimistic flip side, from the very beginning, resale retailers break into the market with the convenient advantages.
For example, reliance on inventory that stems from donated clothing, furniture, or even the computer hardware take away the pain of investing in new stocks.
Without investing deeply in product purchases on the front end, the same investment can be allocated for primary concerns such as property and operation overheads.
On the verge of opening her third Clothes Mentor store in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on March 17, franchisee Sadie Cherney talks about spring fashions from Clothes Mentor that are available for hundreds of dollars less than original retail prices.
In addition, Cherney talks about the upcoming Girls Night Out event at her Greenville store, featuring hundreds of Lilly Pulitzer items for spring. Watch the video to learn more about these big events.
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.
Kaitlynn McShane
Graphic Designer + Marketing Coordinator
Graphic Designer + Marketing Coordinator
Ashlyn Aarness
Social Media Specialist
Social Media Specialist
Gina Geary
Franchise Business Consultant
Franchise Business Consultant
Alice Heidenreich
Franchise Business Consultant
Franchise Business Consultant
Susan Praus
Training Manager
Training Manager
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.