With the opening of its 200th store, NTY Franchise Company continues to grow and be a leader in the upscale resale industry. Check out the great article about the company and its five innovative resale brands from the January issue of Global Business North America:
Click here to see the article inside the digital issue of Global Business North America.
Check out this article from the Fort Bend Independent (fbindependent.com) featuring the new Clothes Mentor Sugar Land:
America’s first national resale chain for adult women, Clothes Mentor, opens Dec. 8th at 2581 Town Center Blvd. N in Sugar Land.
Clothes Mentor is a thriving women’s fashion chain with 18 stores in Texas and 150 open or being readied nationwide. Their first Houston store is a women’s resale experience with nothing like it close by.
Clothes Mentor offers style, sophistication and quality that help make women more beautiful. Most items originate from better specialty or department stores. Everything is like-new, clean and top quality. Clothing is organized and displayed beautifully in a fine retail environment.
“We’re a totally different form of shopping,” say store owners Pieter, Esther and Oscar de Smidt.
“We fit the style, brand and value consciousness of Houston women who love fashion and adore 70% savings. And customers selling us good-condition merchandise receive immediate cash, not a consignment form.”
Clothes Mentor helps local women replenish their wardrobes with better-brand apparel and accessories that are stylish, in good condition and at dramatic savings. They carry business, casual, smart and sophisticated apparel in sizes 0 to 26. There are tops and bottoms, jeans, dresses, career separates, coats and jackets, purses, designer handbags, shoes, jewelry, belts, scarves and other accessories. Customers find bright lights, sophisticated displays and private fitting rooms. All major credit cards are accepted.
Clothes Mentor buys good-condition clothing from neighbors and is very picky about quality. Items must be current style, freshly laundered and free of stains, fading, missing buttons or broken zippers. Clothing can be brought in any time, without appointment. If accepted, customers receive cash on the spot – not if and when the item sells (like at a consignment store).
Store owners Pieter, Esther and Oscar de Smidt offer Clothes Mentor to savvy adult women.
Early response has been outstanding with customers praising this great source of better clothing at 70% savings.
For information, call 346-309-2498 or check www.clothesmentor.com/sugar-land/.
Pieter, Esther and Oscar de Smidt own the Clothes Mentor upscale-resale fashion store in Sugar Land and may open other stores in the future. They came from The Netherlands when their daughter, Ashley, was two weeks old to live the American dream.
Pieter is a credentialed physical therapist who continues to practice here. He works in a local hospital and teaches manual therapy to other physical therapists. Esther is an interior designer and has worked as a home stager for 15 years.
Recently, they sought a business they could own and run together as a family and Esther fondly remembered the Clothes Mentor she frequented in San Antonio. The concept seemed perfect for all three including adult son, Oscar, who is the store manager. They know customer response has been impressive at other Texas and national Clothes Mentor stores and felt Houston women would respond similarly.
The de Smidt family lives in Houston and loves fitness, family time and their dog, Oreo. Their daughter Ashley is pursuing a career as a physician and loves to shop in the store.
Check out this article from franchisingusamagazine.com to find out how Clothes Mentor is attracting two new customer groups:
NTY Franchise Company’s flagship resale brand Clothes Mentor is expanding its fashion focus, attracting two new customer groups: plus-size and millennial women. Launching the push to better serve these demographics at this year’s conference in Minneapolis, the company produced two exciting fashion shows hosted by Mall of America trend expert Sara Rogers and featuring fashion bloggers Amanda Williams (mybellamoxie.com) and Davee Ek (daveesecrets.com), both nationally recognized in the plus-size and millennial spaces.
The lively shows were both entertaining and educational, as models showcased the hottest fashion trends for plus-size and millennial women while the experts elaborated on the tastes, lifestyle, shopping preferences and more for these customers.
Building off of the runway excitement, franchisees continued to learn more about Clothes Mentor’s new plus-size and millennial customers during in-depth training sessions. Topics included digital and data-driven marketing, the personal shopper program, maximizing social media and more—all of which have helped Clothes Mentor stores speak to new and existing customers on a more personal level than any other women’s fashion resale franchise in the country.
Franchisees left this year’s Clothes Mentor conference energized and inspired to make 2016 a big year by welcoming new plus-size and millennial customers into their stores.
Click here to find out more about franchising with Clothes Mentor.
Check out this great article from thepostnewspapers.com featuring Clothes Mentor Strongsville and how the store helps local women feel amazing without breaking the bank.
Clothes Mentor: helping clients feel like a million bucks without the sticker shock
By Jaime Anton
Every girl’s dream is to find stylish clothes and accessories for a fraction of the price, and when she’s no longer in love with her outfit, be able to return it for cash on the spot.
The staff at Clothes Mentor of Strongsville has been making this dream come true daily with gently used, affordable clothing.
“We have all your better mall brands: Ann Taylor, The Limited, Lane Bryant, The North Face, Lululemon, Chicos and designer handbags like Coach, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Michael Kors, Dooney and Bourke, but our prices are roughly 70 percent off retail. Nine times out of 10, we are even more than 70 percent off,” store owner Randi Zeid said.
With prices like this, great deals are the every day at Clothes Mentor, but their Saturday before Black Friday sale, Nov. 19, sweetens them even further.
“Every single item in the store will be 30-70 percent off of what it’s already marked,” Zeid said. “Most people are shopping for their family or kids this time of year. This is great to be able to come in early, take advantage of huge savings and shop for yourself.”
So whether it’s date night, a special occasion, pieces for work or a new wardrobe for a growing baby bump, Clothes Mentor has everything for nearly every size and shape.
“From work to play in sizes 0-26, we have updated styles to fit all your needs whether you are 20 or 120,” Zeid said.
Designer fashion for less
Shopping can be euphoric, and it can be frustrating, like when fighting crowds while rushing from store to store to put together one outfit, trying to find the right fit at the right price, searching for summer clothes in the dead of winter for a Caribbean cruise.
Clothes Mentor understands and tries to make it a convenient, fun shopping experience for every customer.
The store is not seasonal, meaning it always stocks summer dresses, shirts, skirts, capris, shorts, maternity, and even athletic wear and scrubs all year.
“We have shorts on the floor year round, so you can still buy for your vacation anytime,” Zeid said.
To take the stress out of shopping, the store launched a new, free service for women who simply don’t have the time to shop, who struggle to put together a look or who simply want to be adventurous.
Customers can fill out a form online at clothesmentor.com to be part of the store’s free personal shopper program.
“After you have filled it out, we contact you to have you come in and try on outfits we have pulled for you,” Jen Gavin, the store manager, said.
“It’s a free, one-hour styling appointment,” Zeid added. “If you have trouble coordinating your own outfits or you have a special event coming up or you don’t have time to peruse our racks, you can opt in, and we’ll have things ready for you to try on when you get here.”
Hot, new items are shared regularly on their Facebook and Instagram.
“If you see something you like, we can put it aside for you,” Gavin said. “If we get a nice maternity buy, within an hour we’ll see four pregnant women walk in. Maternity clothes are expensive and you’re wearing them for such a finite time. What’s nice is when you are done with them, you can come back in and sell them back to us.”
The store does more than help customers find the perfect outfit; it also puts cash back in their wallets.
“We pay cash for your better mall brands and designer items and jewelry that are current and in style, which to us means they have been in the stores in the last one to two years,” Gavin said. “If something’s been in the closet that you aren’t using, why not get a little bit of cash for it? Bring it here first, let us take a look at it, and we will see what we can take off your hands before you donate it.”
The store has a loyalty program for customers, as well as a texting program to find out about flash sales and earn rewards.
“We have a free app for your smartphone, so you can keep track of your loyalty points and set up a free styling appointment. Our loyalty program is all computerized now, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of a card,” Zeid said.
Women supporting women
The store also livens up the shopping experience making it a night out with various events such as a Girls Night Out in the fall and spring, offering not only 20 percent off already low prices but also refreshments, raffles and vendors to make a fun night of it.
It’s about women supporting women for Zeid and her staff.
Every October the store raises awareness about breast cancer, featuring pink clothing front and center. One day each October, the store donates 10 percent of sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
“Our business is for women, so we want to support women,” Zeid said.
Zeid, who opened this franchise in 2012, said this is her favorite aspect of the business.
“I would definitely say my favorite thing is the customers. We have such warm relationships with so many of our customers. They tell us their stories, they bring us nice things,” she said. “And a happy customer is so invaluable.”
Gavin agrees.
“One of the best parts is seeing how happy customers are when they find something they love,” Gavin said. “They can come here and get a beautiful outfit for a lot less.”
The store is located at 15143 Pearl Road in Strongsville. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information call, 440-238-8300 or visit clothesmentor.com/strongsville/.
Check out the article below from franchising.com highlighting NTY Franchise Company’s 200th store: Device Pitstop Newport News!
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.
Hear answers to this frequently asked question from several Clothes Mentor franchisees from across the country:
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 photos from a fun and exciting grand opening day for Clothes Mentor Arrowhead in Peoria, Arizona.
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.
Check out this blog post excerpt from Shades of Sarah to see the perfect leather jacket that she found at Clothes Mentor Springfield:
True story: I’ve wanted a leather jacket for years. Leather jackets were made for fall, but so many of the leather jackets out there were too “moto” for my style. Who knew that I would find “the one” at Clothes Mentor? And let me tell you, leather jackets are worth the hype. Dresses, jeans and a tee — this jacket adds a cool vibe to everything.
One of my favorite ways to wear it? This LOFT tank works great with patterned dress pants, but it’s way more fun with jeans, a leather jacket and tough ankle boots. A cool boho pendant necklace and wine-colored lipstick, and this outfit totally feels like a cooler version of me. (Those buckled boots by the way? Yet another awesome Clothes Mentor find.)
Click here to read the full blog post on shadesofsarah.com and to see more photos.
Check out the recent blog post on shadesofsarah.com, which features some great fall fashions from Clothes Mentor Springfield:
Text and photo by Sarah from shadesofsarah.com
When it came to update my fall wardrobe this year, I tried something different: shopping at Clothes Mentor. My closet has its fair share thrifted pieces, but I hadn’t found a thrift or consignment store in the Philly area that I truly liked shopping at. Before I get into why Clothes Mentor is awesome, let me breakdown what I picked up courtesy of Clothes Mentor Springfield:
Dana Buchman faux leather jacket, $16 (not pictured)
LOFT lace dress, $14
Kohl’s chunky cardigan, $10
LOFT sleeveless tank, $8
Macy’s Style & Co. dress (with tags), $14
Black top, $14
Chico’s bolero (with tags), $18
Nine West heeled boots, $24
Delia’s ankle boots, $18
Not bad right? That’s 10 quality pieces for less than $160. My mom and I were honestly carried away — I used every penny of the gift card they generously provided (and more out of pocket!), and my mom picked up a bunch of stuff too. If you haven’t visited your local Clothes Mentor (there’s three in the Philly area!), here’s why it’s worth the trip:
♥ Quality pieces at discounted prices. I love bargain hunting, but sometimes you get what you pay for. At Clothes Mentor, it just happens that what I’m paying for is a new-with-tags Macy’s dress well over 50% off.
♥ Everything is vetted and on-trend. Clothes Mentor is a consignment store, not an average thrift store. Instead of being donations-based, the team at CM inspects items and only accepts clothing and accessories they know will sell. You can learn more about consignment stores here, but basically CM does the hard work for you. Speaking of consignment stores…
♥ You can make some shopping money. Cleaning out your closet? If you’re more the instant gratification type, you can try your hand at selling at CM. I haven’t tried this yet, but they do give you cash on the spot for what they’re happy to buy from you.
♥ It’s eco-friendly. Admittedly, I don’t have the most planet-friendly shopping habits but buying secondhand and saving gently-worn items from landfills is a good start.
As for the Springfield, PA location in particular, I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They are so happy to assist you in any way, and they keep the store in tiptop shape. It’s bright, organized and they have something for everyone. The shop girls had no problem finding items in my sizes and to suit my tastes.
Need more convincing? Just wait until you see the outfits I’ve come up with.
~ Sarah
P.S. Thanks again to CM Springfield for the invite!
Click here to see this post with more photos on shadesofsarah.com.
