SMART BUSINESS: Why Women and their Spouses Love NTY Franchise Company’s Business Model

More women than ever are taking their careers into their own hands, by owning and operating a franchise business. According to FranNet, a company that connects people with franchise opportunities, female franchise ownership jumped by 83 percent between 2011 and 2017. For married women, that can mean navigating a new relationship with a spouse who may or may not be active in the daily business operation. Fortunately for women who own an NTY Franchise Company brand, there is a solid business model to help them balance work, family and personal time.

ANGIE AND JEFF GELDERT WORK THE NUMBERS

Fifty-two-year-old Angie Geldert left her long-time teaching career to purchase a Children’s Orchard kids clothing franchise in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, two years ago. She knew she needed a change, and had the luxury of being married to an accountant who could help her keep track of the store’s finances. Angie says the business model of her NTY Franchise Company brand allows her to spend more time with her family, and work with them to grow her new business.

“My daughter is an accounting major and she is the store manager while she continues to study for her degree,” Angie explains. “She’s a great partner.”

Angie also enjoys her new business relationship with her husband, Jeff. “There are different stressors now,” she allows, “but it’s something we have done together.” Jeff does the books for the store, and Angie says he’s always willing to lend a hand whenever she needs it. “He helps with purchases, with storage… and it’s nice to have someone around who can lift more than I can,” she laughs. “We like bouncing ideas off each other.”

Jeff agrees, saying he appreciates how his wife took on the challenge of operating her upscale resale franchise. “It’s great — she’s put a lot of effort into it. At first we were nervous, but we’re much happier now that things are catching on. I’m proud of her; she’s worked very hard.”

And the numbers bear that out: Jeff says the sales growth is ahead of schedule. “We were expecting it to be slow to begin with, but in the middle of last year, sales started to show double-digit increases. We are seeing monthly growth in sales of 17 to 30 percent (over the same period last year).”

THE BARNETTS’ LEAP OF FAITH

When Chris Barnett purchased her Clothes Mentor women’s fashion franchise in Pennsylvania five years ago, she knew it was a leap of faith.  She and her husband Stephen jettisoned their corporate careers and plunged into operating their franchise.  They wanted to have more control over their lives, and teach their values to their 10-year-old daughter, Eliza. They still work long hours, but they’re in charge of their time.

“We are in the store most days, but we are working on the business every day,” Chris said. Still, they are able to spend quality time with their daughter while they work. “Eliza comes into the store every weekend, and two to four times during the week.”

The business model has proved to be a winner for the Barnetts. Just 18 months after opening their store, they bought a second Clothes Mentor franchise. “Having multiple locations allows us to have economy of scale,” Chris says. Even so, she says, they couldn’t have done it without the support they received from the NTY Franchise Company corporate team.

“They give us the tools and as much hand-holding as we need. They have great regional advisors who help us with marketing. What gets scary, though, is… it’s your business, your baby. They give you a strong foundation, but you have to take care of the rest of your house.” With a five-year track record, the Barnetts’ house appears to be in great shape.

THE CHERNEYS’ JOURNEY

Thirty-three-year-old Sadie Cherney earned her master’s degree, married her husband Bill three months later, and moved across the country to open a Clothes Mentor franchise in South Carolina soon afterward. This dynamic duo are also parents of two sons under the age of 3. They now own three Clothes Mentor women’s resale stores, and they credit the NTY Franchise Company business model with helping them achieve career success at a young age.

“The best part is the wealth of data from the point of sales system,” Sadie acknowledges. “They are always crunching numbers and that helps franchise owners. Back-of-the-house data is always available to franchisees. The company is wonderful, supportive and communicative.”

Bill was an English teacher when Sadie opened her first location. A year later, they were starting their family so Bill quit his job to make sure there wasn’t a loss in leadership during Sadie’s maternity leave. Sadie returned to work after the birth of their son, but shortly thereafter, their child suffered a health scare. The NTY Franchise business model made it possible for Sadie to be with their toddler when he needed her most.

“Our two-year-old son was hospitalized last year with a critical illness, and I basically lived at the hospital,” Sadie confides. “The flexibility we have with this company is incredible. It really makes such a difference when you have a crisis. We have built up a team that’s like a family. They’re there when we need them.”

With their son healthy again, Sadie and Bill are focused on raising their boys and growing their business. “To be successful, we have to work closely together. Sometimes it’s challenging, especially if we need our own space after work, but we go home together. What works best for us is that we don’t try to be in charge at the same time,” Sadie chuckles.

“MOORE” SUCCESS IN LITTLE ROCK

The Moore family owns two Clothes Mentor women’s resale clothing franchises and a Children’s Orchard kids clothing franchise in Little Rock, Arkansas. Twenty-nine-year-old Jade Moore runs the stores and feels supported by the NTY Franchise Company business model. It has allowed her 31-year-old husband Turner to pursue his calling as Junior High Pastor at their church.

“He is a humble man who is encouraging and motivating to me,” Jade beams. “He is the greatest at lifting my arms up when I am tired or calming me down when I make a rash decision. I’m blessed to have him as my support.”

Jade appreciates the NTY philosophy of offering high-quality clothing at affordable prices to families in her community. She’s also thrilled that unsold clothing is donated to needy families. “It’s part of a new way of living… allowing less-fortunate parents to say they can give to their children.”

FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCEPT

The NTY Franchise Company business model works well for all of these female franchisees. The corporate support, with flexibility for local owners, is a winning combination. Franchise owners are able to build a business while staying connected to the people they love. It’s a family-friendly concept that helps working women achieve the balance they crave in their personal and professional lives.

How to Run a Successful Franchise While Working Just 20 Hours a Week

Claudia Zertuche is living her dream.

After emigrating from Mexico almost two decades ago, she and a friend decided to explore franchise ownership. In 2005, they decided to open a Children’s Orchard (a national children’s resale clothing franchise that buys and sells gently used children’s apparel, toys and other items) in McAllen, Texas.

…read the whole Entrepreneur.com story here.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310445

 

 

Love Women’s Fashion? Here’s How to Love It Even More!

Love Women’s Fashion? Here’s How to Love It Even More!

You know that feeling when your outfit just works? When every accessory is perfect, the fit is fabulous, and the look is exactly what you want? Women who shop for designer clothing at Clothes Mentor get to experience that feeling every day. The power. The self-confidence. The freedom. Now imagine owning the clothing franchise and being able to work — and shop — in the world’s most amazing closet! For those who have a fancy for clothes, an eye for high style and a heart for helping, owning a women’s clothing franchise like Clothes Mentor may be just the career you’ve been craving.

Let’s get real. This is not your grandmother’s thrift shop, full of castaways that no one wants to wear. NTY Franchise Company brands like Clothes Mentor are highly selective in the items they purchase. Designer clothing. Name brands you know and love. Current fashion, gently-used and in excellent condition. Upscale resale clothing, designed to fit and flatter a variety of shapes and sizes. And the women who own a Clothes Mentor franchise get to live their dream of being on the forefront of fashion, while also helping their community. Every day they make customers look and feel their best, at a price they can afford.

JENNAH ESPOSITO: GETTING PAID TO SHOP

Mansfield, Ohio, is located between Columbus and Cleveland, with the closest big clothing retailers an hour’s drive in either direction. Thirty-year-old Jennah Esposito opened a Clothes Mentor franchise in Mansfield last October. She loves women’s fashion and admits it’s a blast to come to work and be able to shop on the job. She also enjoys helping her customers find upscale clothing without paying mall prices.

“There’s something new coming in every day,” she explains. “When stuff comes in the door, we have our pick of the latest fashion finds. I go to work every day and can basically shop, for myself and my customers. I’m the mannequin dresser and almost every day, people undress the mannequins and buy the entire outfit!”

Jennah says the Clothes Mentor business model makes sense on several levels for the women of Mansfield. “Before these kinds of resale stores,” she wonders, “what did you do with your stuff? The only option was donating to charity.” But with Clothes Mentor, local women can repurpose their gently-used clothing and accessories and sell them to the store. The customer makes money on the sale, and the other shoppers benefit from great fashion at a reduced resale price.

“After our clearance sales,” Jennah continues, “we donate to a specific church that gives the clothes away to people in need in our community. We are helping people who can’t afford retail prices still feel good and look beautiful.”

SADIE CHERNEY: STAYING ON TOP OF TRENDS

For 33-year-old Sadie Cherney, keeping up with what’s current in women’s fashion is part of the joy of owning three Clothes Mentor franchise operations in Greenville, Columbia and Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her staff is very selective in the items they accept, purchasing only 25–30 percent of the items customers bring in for sale. “We always stay on top of trends, so we can help customers find what they want in our store,” she says. “We look for spike trends, we buy with caution, and we don’t accept older items.” She’s proud of the quality of clothing in her stores and admits it’s a problem to keep her own closet from exploding. “No matter what anybody says, you’re always shopping when you’re working,” she laughs.

“For mall retail stores, they normally have one specific look,” Sadie explains. “Our diversity of clothing and accessories can be exciting. We sell designer handbags, footwear, accessories and clothing. The quality is good to great.” This franchise owner knows what she’s talking about — because she studies it for fun, and for profit.

Sadie is driven by data, and says she relies on the corporate NTY Franchise Company team for help in keeping her store on the cutting edge. “They are always crunching numbers and that helps franchise owners,” she says. “If we have a clearance sale, we know what customers said ‘no’ to. We know trends and prices. It helps us to be ready to adapt to any type of change. The company is wonderful, supportive and communicative.” It’s the perfect place for a fashion-forward woman like Sadie to work and help others live their fashion fantasies!

Sadie offers her customers the Clothes Mentor Personal Shopper Program at all three locations. The service allows shoppers to fill in their personal details on the franchise’s website. The Personal Shopper then sets an appointment and has items ready for the customer to try on when she arrives. The program is free of charge and there’s no obligation for customers to purchase anything.

CHRIS BARNETT: HELPING WOMEN LOVE THEIR BODIES

The Personal Shopper Programs in Springfield and Westchester, Pennsylvania, are a point of pride for Clothes Mentor owner Chris Barnett. She hires fashion and merchandising grads from local universities who like nothing more than finding a perfect outfit for a customer. “So often women feel bad about their bodies, when they really only need to feel bad about the way the clothes fit,” Chris believes. “Our Personal Shoppers’ mission is to show women how beautiful they are by finding clothes that fit them the best.”

Chris says her mission is accomplished when a customer can run a full cycle at her Clothes Mentor store. “A woman can buy the business suit and Coach briefcase she needs to land a great job,” she adds, “then purchase her work wardrobe, and sell back the items she doesn’t wear very often.” She says Clothes Mentor allows a woman to always have what she needs when she needs it, and what she wants when she wants it.

Chris also appreciates the eco-friendliness of the Clothes Mentor franchise concept. It’s sustainable, not fast-fashion. “You purchase an item, but when you tire of it, you sell it,” she offers. “In our store, we also have three places for our customers to donate clothing they are unable to sell. We then take donations to a local church that distributes the clothing to homeless shelters.” Her stores hold fundraisers on site and participate in “retail therapy parties” for birthdays and other functions.

LIVE YOUR PASSION FOR FASHION EVERY DAY

Owning a Clothes Mentor franchise has given all three of these women a chance to surround themselves with beauty and inspiration. They see the high-end designer fashions that make their way into the store. They chat with customers and share expertise on new trends and timeless styles. They help women make wise fashion choices that fit within their family’s budget. And they all love what they do.

“Our staff is friendly, and customers love that there are so many sizes and styles,” says Jennah Esposito of her Ohio Clothes Mentor business. Once people discover her store, “they say it’s so beautiful and it’s so nice to have it in our town.”

For Jennah, Sadie and Chris, owning a Clothes Mentor franchise is more than a great investment. It’s a way to live their passion and help other women. And in case you’re wondering, the side benefit of working in the world’s best closet allows them to keep their own closets stocked, season after season, with fabulous clothes they purchased on the job.