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.
Photo from And Her Little Dog Too blog.
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!
Photo from And Her Little Dog Too blog.
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!
In this article from huffingtonpost.com, see the many reasons why you should choose Clothes Mentor and resale over fast fashion:
Photo by Kara Hackett, from huffingtonpost.com.
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.
Earlier this month, Device Pitstop sent a couple of staffers to the Super Mobility trade show facilitated by the CTIA. Read about what they saw and learned in this blog post by Robby Molberg, Device Pitstop’s Inventory Sourcing Specialist:
Definition: CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) is an association of companies that specialize in all things wireless, i.e. carriers (Verizon, AT&T, etc.), suppliers (Apple, Samsung, etc.), accessories and many more aspects of wireless technology.
Benefits: CTIA advocates for all of their members through avenues in government as well as helping facilitate education for consumers in relation to wireless technology. In addition, the organization is heavily involved with voluntary efforts to self-regulate the recycling and reuse of wireless product.
Super Mobility: They also facilitate the Super Mobility trade show held annually. This year it was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Super Mobility is the MUST ATTEND event for everyone who’s business revolves around wireless technology, whether that be the sale of said devices, their accessories or the repair aspect. The convention brings together all of the biggest names to facilitate industry collaboration between not only the well-known companies but the startups as well; plus, it offers educational opportunities for all.
1. Wireless Connectivity
4G Advancements/5G: We were able to attend several keynotes and listened to key industry leaders such as John G. Stratton, the Executive Vice President and President of Operations for Verizon.
Mr. Stratton spoke of many advancements still to come in the 4G LTE Internet connectivity we enjoy with our smartphones today. He also touched on 5G speeds and how Verizon is working furiously to develop the infrastructure and put in place the technological requirements to see it realized by the year 2020.
5G is predicted to bring about widespread usage of the Internet of Things. Quite simply, this would mean our everyday devices, i.e. refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc., would all become connected devices and controlled through such interfaces as smartphones and tablets.
5G could very well replace fiber optic lines being laid in select cities to increase the current average speed (30mbps) to 1GB (1,000 mbps) of download speed! In laymen’s terms, that’s replacing the average consumer’s mini-van with a Ferrari! This is specifically relevant to IoT (Internet of Things) and having more devices than ever connected to the web and their subsequent draw on current bandwidth availability.
Summary: With new technology just around the corner to help facilitate faster connection speeds and connecting more of our everyday devices as an aggregate, Device Pitstop’s role in their customer’s lives will greatly increase!
As we become more reliant on technology to perform the most basic of tasks around the house, we may very well see our customers bringing a “smart” microwave in for repair or perhaps their “smart” thermostat (already in existence). This brings even more opportunity for education, repair services and saleable devices to the DP inventory.
2. Vendors – Parts
Wholesale Vendors for Repair: We were able to meet with countless companies that offer a vast array of repair tools and parts to encourage growth and streamlining the repair process that we currently engage in on an everyday basis.
Quality vs Cost – Meeting in the Middle: With a vast array of potential suppliers of mobile repair parts out there and highly visible at Super Mobility, discerning which vendors to utilize is a monumental task!
We have come away from the event with more than we could possibly utilize and are working quickly to ascertain which are here to stay and those that won’t have longevity in the marketplace.
This means determining quality product that meets our expectations as well as affordable costs to effectively compete in each and every Device Pitstop location. These vendors are vetted in our corporate location before their recommendation is made to the franchisees for their daily usage.
Innovations in Repair: Super Mobility is the best and brightest in the industry, bringing their creations to fruition and showcasing them to retailers/repair stores such as us! We were able to take part in demonstrations of the latest in repair technology. Such innovations will further the profitability of more and more devices being repaired, especially as these devices are becoming a part of IoT (Internet of Things).
3. Vendors – Wholesale Suppliers
Cellphone/Tablet Suppliers: Device Pitstop focuses on the recycle and reuse side of consumer electronics. We want to keep devices out of landfills and in user’s hands for longer! We consider this to be wise stewardship of the resources we’re entrusted with as well as a great way for everyday Americans to cut rising technological costs.
Everyone wants the latest and greatest in mobile tech but not at the price tag buying new entails. One of our primary goals at Super Mobility was to find and develop relationships with vendors of refurbished cellphones. Gently used, current models that will bring the affordability factor in play as well as staying current with the latest advancements.
We have definitely found said vendors and are working with them to bring the best, refurbished smartphone/tablet technology to a Device Pitstop near you!
Summary: CTIA Super Mobility was a whirlwind of exciting and innovating technological advancements that are currently available with many more to come in the near future!
The most impactful portion of the show was certainly meeting many current friends/vendors in person and furthering that relationship in addition to meeting a host of new ones! These relationships not only help us to stay relevant with today’s marketplace but keeps us on our toes for future innovations just around the corner and years ahead! One can never look too far in the future with mobile tech as it evolves at an ever-increasing speed.
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:
Photo by Lauren Frisch Pusateri
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.
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!
Find out what drives Children’s Orchard Huntersville franchisee Shasta Webber in this inspiring article from Lake Norman Women Magazine.
Photo by Chelsea Bren; Children’s Orchard Huntersville franchisee Shasta Webber.
My Passion? My Life!
By Leslie Ogle
With great family and friends and a successful career, things could not have been going better for Shasta Webber, owner of Children’s Orchard in Huntersville. But oftentimes, we have to deal with sudden intrusions that demand our immediate attention. Such was the case for Shasta in 2010, when she needed to remove a kidney. One week after the surgery, she suffered a pulmonary embolism (a sudden blockage of a major blood vessel in the lung) that could have taken her life.
“At the time, it would have appeared that I was most passionate about my career,” Shasta recalls. “Although I desired success, I realized I was doing a horrible job at letting the most important people in my life know they were just that: the most important thing in the world to me. Since that health scare, I’ve recognized that my life and the people in it are my passion. Even with the craziness of a new business, I make sure my loved ones know what they mean to me, and never feel like they’re ‘penciled in.’ I make time for my family because we never know what tomorrow brings.”
Shasta grew up in Catawba, North Carolina, and eventually found a career in human resources. After 20 years in corporate America, she decided to pursue two items on her to-do list—finish her college degree and own her own business. Bachelor of business administration, graduating Magna Cum Laude at age 40, check; opening her own business, check.
“My incredibly positive and motivating husband, Craig, keeps me going, as do the great people who work at the store,” Shasta says. “They have put their trust in my and the business; they work hard to make it successful. In return, I want to make them proud.
My mom has also been another great motivator and influence in my life; she is my biggest fan and an enormous part of my support system.”
Children’s Orchard, Shasta points out, is a “well-organized resale store that boasts an intuitive software,” which allows them to quickly price items at 60 to 70 percent below mall- and department-store prices. Shasta was delighted to discover an opportunity that was so aligned with her own strategies, philosophies and goals.
While Shasta never had children of her own, she and Craig have their furry babies (one dog and two cats) and are passionate about North Meck Animal Rescue and other animal rescue efforts. They also support several other charities, including Make-a-Wish and Little Smiles. Shasta would like to continue to volunteer and remain an integral part of the Lake Norman community.
“We just love this area,” she grins. “I grew up here and could not call anywhere else home. I’m amazed by the people I meet, especially the women I encounter every day. They’re constantly working to maintain the work-life balance we so frequently talk about. In order to deal with it, they must have amazing time management, support, patience, agility, among their abilities to face the challenges that life throws at them. And I’m pretty sure some of them have super powers!”
Check out this article from techrepublic.com about how Device Pitstop Maple Grove is one of the businesses drawing in techie crowds with Pokemon Go.
By Brandon Viliarolo
Pokemon Go: Real examples of businesses that have turned it into a moneymaker
Pokemon Go recently hit 100 million downloads, and the number keeps growing. Find out how these businesses turned the craze into increased exposure.
There are now more daily Pokemon Go users than Facebook visitors—that’s how you know it’s a real phenomenon. Facebook makes it easy to increase exposure and profits, so surely there must be a way for Pokemon Go to give your organization a bump—and there is.
There are a lot of businesses out there that have found novel ways to turn Pokemon Go players into customers and clients, even without a storefront. Take a look at these reports from businesses large and small—you might see something that is perfect for you.
Retail and restaurants
Device Pitstop, an electronics buy/sell/trade business, dropped a lure in front of their Maple Grove, MN, location and offered free charging cables to visitors who stopped by that day. By paying to boost the exposure of a Facebook post regarding the event they saw a huge increase in foot traffic—100 more people than usual came into the store on the day of the event.
Tasty Burger, an east coast restaurant chain, noticed that their Harvard Square location was a PokeStop. To draw more players into the restaurant they decided to give away a free order of tater tots to anyone who caught a Pokemon at their stop and showed a photo to the cashier.
Businesses you wouldn’t expect
The list of shops and restaurants taking advantage of Pokemon Go is endless, but they aren’t the only people who can benefit from the trend.
IT services company Nerdio has been working with their clients on an interesting way to get exposure. Nerdio is giving clients like comic shops and arcades a $10 weekly budget to use on lures, and when players catch a Pokemon at the location they can post it on social media with the business name and Nerdio tagged. Each post is an entry for a gift card to the business where the Pokemon was caught.
Even online tutoring marketplace Preply is getting in on the game. They’ve allowed users to sign up as Pokemon Go tutors, creating a marketplace for people who want help learning to play the game. With rates ranging from $2 to $42 per hour there seems to be a lot of money to be made in teaching people to play a simple mobile game.
Boston performing arts festival Outside The Box estimates they drew in an additional 1,000 people per day by dropping lures all over Boston Common during the festival. They tweeted about it a bunch and dropped new lures every 30 minutes, making sure people moved around the grounds and the whole festival got exposure.
IP camera manufacturer Vimtag has managed to gain exposure too. They started a contest for camera owners who snapped photos of people playing the game, and winners were able to receive cash prizes, free cameras, and deep discounts on premium products.
As if that wasn’t niche enough, PRO Housekeepers, a small cleaning and maid service from Tampa, FL, has drawn in a bunch of foot traffic thanks to lures. Increased foot traffic has led to more clients to the tune of almost $2,000.
The 3 big takeaways for TechRepublic readers
If you have a storefront you should invest in a Pokemon lure, which can be purchased inside the app. Yes, they cost money, but a whole bunch of businesses have seen increased foot traffic because of them.
Just because you’re not making sales doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from exposure. If people are stopping by they’re going to remember your name and potentially become customers or clients in the future.
Even if you aren’t selling something you can still make money or gain exposure from Pokemon Go—it just takes a little creative thinking to figure out a way to make a mark!
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.
Would you like to find out what makes a successful children’s clothing franchise? In this video, a store owner explains why customers buy and sell children’s clothing, shoes, equipment, toys, games and more at her store time and time again.
What makes a successful children’s clothing franchise?
Do you prefer a text version or want to read along with the video? If so, you can find the full text transcript below.
News Anchor: Do you have a bunch of stuff sitting around the house, particularly unused clothes that you no longer wear? Well your trash may be another person’s treasure. Reselling new or gently used items has become a multi-billion dollar industry and with a few small tips you too can get it on the craze. Kathy Wagner has been doing this for quite sometime, reselling clothing, particularly children’s clothing.
Children’s Orchard: A high end children’s resale franchise
News Anchor: First of all, Kathy, I know that some people may not know the difference between consignment stores, clothing resale franchises, and garage sales. What is the difference?
Kathy: Well, in consignment stores you take your clothing to them, they sell it and then you get your money. With a resale shop, you come in, we peruse the items, we buy what we think will sell, and you get paid right away.
News Anchor: That is fantastic. Now you have had the store for 13 years, but it has been around for about two decades. So it must really be working. We know that kids are constantly growing, so you have to get rid of old stuff and get new stuff. Why not make some of your money back on it. What do we need to know?
Low cost, high quality children’s clothing
Kathy: Well the main thing is that we want things to be clean and neat. We don’t designate for seasons, we take all seasons all of the time. We want clothes that have been washed with in a week and are neatly folded, and in good shape.
We take clothing from infant to junior sizes. We buy all brands, the less expensive the item is the better it needs to look. This is simply because people can go to the budget store and buy things on sale.
We specialize in higher end items, especially smocks. People come in and they love to buy our smocks which can be very expensive when buying brand new. We price them at one fourth to one half their retail value. People come in looking for certain things. Like the Lily Pulitzer that you have there. We have people who come in weekly to check their favorite brands and their sizes. Same thing with our playmobils, legos, and blocks. People are coming in with a need. The best thing about our job is that we can take a need and then we can find a source.
There is no waste there which is important. So I see your tips here to turn those leftover items at home into cash.
Sort through your children’s closets to find items they’ve outgrown or rarely wear
Children’s resale stores want current fashion styles and trends
Items should be free of wear, tear, and stains. Wash clothes before reselling
Save time by having a valid ID ready, and know if you want cash or credit towards a purchase in the store
What kind of folks do you see coming in looking to sell their items? I would imagine it is people from all walks of life.
Yes, you are right. But the biggest portion of our sellers are coming from the middle of the road. They are families who appreciate a good bargain and they are looking for someone who sees the value in the things that they have put their cash and their heart into.
Children’s clothing resale franchise is a win win
Everyone wants to think that what they have is valued, and they get excited to think that someone else wants what they had. It is a perfect marriage of a need for recycling and finding the source which makes you feel justified in getting rid of items, and having someone come in and find something awesome at a price they can afford.
Well, we appreciate you being here. There is a lot of money to be made and some great items to be purchased this summer. Asses your kids clothes before the start of the new school year. For more tips and tricks, visit TWCNews.com and click on the “In depth” tab under our News tab.
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.