NTY Franchise’s Veterans Opportunities Featured in April Issue of Franchising USA

NTY Franchise Company COO Chad Olson on cover of Franchising USA standing in Device Pitstop store

NTY Franchise supports veterans with several opportunities and incentives for franchising its resale stores. Read the Franchising USA article about this topic below, or click here to see the article on franchisingusamagazine.com.

NTY Promises New Challenges, Opportunities for Veterans

One franchise that is in the business of turning the old into the new again wants to help entrepreneurial veterans start a new chapter of their lives.

NTY, standing for ‘New To You’ is a company that owns the franchising rights to five brands in the resale retail industry: Clothes Mentor, Children’s Orchard, Device Pit Stop, New Uses and NTY Clothing Exchange.

“Our main goal is to sell franchises and then support the franchisees that we sell them to,” NTY’s chief operating officer Chad Olson said during a recent interview from the company’s headquarters in Minneapolis.

Clothes Mentor, which buys and sells used women’s fashion and accessories, started franchising in 2007. Currently, it has 140 stores open and 43 stores sold and awaiting opening.

Acquired by NTY in early 2014, Children’s Orchard buys and sells gently used kids items. It currently has 27 stores open with two sold and awaiting opening.

Device Pit Stop, meanwhile, has 11 stores open with another 10 sold and awaiting opening. NTY acquired the brand’s franchise rights in the fall of 2013. It buys and sells used electronics.

Buying and selling used home goods like furniture, artwork and small appliances is the business model for New Uses. The brand has 11 stores open with one sold and awaiting opening and it’s been around since 2011.

And with two stores open and four sold and awaiting opening, NTY Clothing Exchange, which buys and sells clothes in the teen and young adult market, started franchising in Mid-2014.

The Need for Used to New

In a world that is increasingly looking for environmentally friendly ways to deal with everything, all of NTY’s brands offer that coveted green alternative for people’s old clothing and other items, Olson said, giving people the option of getting cash for the stuff they’re no longer using rather than just throwing it away.

And with consumers often being highly cost conscious, NTY also gives them a way to save money, with products selling for, on average, 70 percent less than they would be sold as new.

All of the NTY brands make sure the items people bring them have resale value. It has to be in good condition and, in the case of apparel, it also has to be in style. Each brand will evaluate a product and they all have a pricing matrix they use to make sure they’re selling items at a price that gives value to the customer and also the business.

In the Beginning

Clothes Mentor was founded in Columbus, OH. with a store in that city and another one in Canton, OH. Olson and his father, Ron Olson, decided to go into business together, both having Resale/Retail franchising experience with another company.

When they began looking at what opportunities were out there for their own business, they found out about Clothes Mentor and noted the two stores were doing quite well. From there, the father and son negotiated the franchising rights to that brand and have been adding to the NTY family since.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

While their franchisees come from all walks of life — from teachers to former professional bull riders — they all have one thing in common and that’s the one thing NTY wants in a franchisee.

“We want people who have that entrepreneurial spirit,” Olson said.

They must have motivation and they must also have accumulated some wealth in the past that they’re able to invest.

While the company has just a handful of veteran franchisees at the moment, Olson is looking to change that, as he knows veterans have a stellar reputation as franchisees.

Veterans’ dedication and commitment to carrying out the processes they’ve been taught is what makes them good franchisees, he noted.

“That’s what franchising is all about, taking the business model and the processes that we have proven to be profitable and teaching it to others,” Olson said. “People who have had that military experience following processes fit really well into a franchise system because they will take those processes that we have developed to run and execute a successful business model and follow those processes to a tee.”

NTY has just submitted its application to join veteran franchising organization VetFran. Currently, veterans receive a $2,500 discount off any NTY franchising fee.

As an added incentive — and this goes for any franchisee — three of NTY’s brands also offer a $40,000 jump start program.

Any franchisee that opens an NTY Clothing Exchange, a Children’s Orchard or a New Uses will receive a $20,000 marketing contribution from NTY when their store opens. In addition to that, every six months after their grand opening, they will receive an additional $5,000 marketing contribution from the parent company over a two-year period, totaling a $40,000 contribution toward marketing from NTY.

Training and Support

NTY helps franchisees find the right real estate, helps them procure financing, and brings them to Minneapolis for three weeks of comprehensive training in every aspect of running their business.

The company also offers support on site when franchisees are building out their store and getting it ready to open to ensure it’s being built out properly, they’re acquiring inventory properly and their employees are being trained properly. Then they’ll let the franchisee start running their store and come back out to help franchisees with their grand opening. NTY representatives will visit again 90 days after grand opening, a minimum of three times in that first year to check on inventory, customer service and if franchisees need any additional training.

Each brand has its own regional operations managers, which are assigned to franchisees. Each regional manager has about 20 or 30 franchisees in their region and their main goal is to be a small business consultant. They have monthly consultation calls with franchisees and answer any questions they have and visit franchisees at least once per year.

Expansion and Experience

All of NTY’s brands are open to expanding anywhere in the United States. The collective experience of everyone who is involved with NTY is a huge incentive for any frachisee to choose one of the company’s brands for opening a business, Olson said. Each brand has a vice president in charge of it, he explained, and all of those vice presidents have over 20 years of experience in the retail resale sector. His father, who is president of the

company, has 30-plus years of experience in the sector and when you add in Olson’s 22 years of experience, that’s a lot of knowledge for new franchisees to draw from.

For veterans who are looking to make a new start in life, NTY gives them an opportunity to make that new start a success.

See more from Franchising USA.

Latest Children’s Orchard in Murfreesboro is Opening Soon

Check out an article from Nashville Parent about the upcoming opening of Children’s Orchard Murfreesboro, Tennessee:

Children's Orchard Murfreesboro store, clean and neat and organized with clothing and toys and stroller, open floor plan

While it sounds like an outdoors activity for children, it’s quite the opposite. The Children’s Orchard is a children’s clothing resale shop from [Minnesota] with a Murfreesboro location underway.

After moving from Minnesota, following their children to Tennessee as they pursued their college education, Angie and Jeff Geldert decided to open a store of their own. “We love living in Murfreesboro and want to give back to our new community and helping them by providing economical but stylish clothing options for their children,” says Angie. “Our store is an upscale resale store of children’s name brand clothing (sizes 0 – 14), shoes, toys, books and accessories such as bouncy seats, high chairs and strollers. We do not sell car seats or beds for safety reasons. We sell items at roughly 30% of the retail price. We offer a serviceman discount for military, police and fireman,” she adds.

If you want to sell your items to them, start prepping your stuff! They are still in the process of remodeling their store front to fit their needs, but they will open soon — hoping for the store build-out to be completed by March 4, open to buy clothing and other items by March 7 and a hopeful opening to the public in April. The location is set for 2705 Old Fort Pkwy., Murfreesboro. They will be open seven days a week Mon – Sat 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sun 12 – 6 p.m. Call 615-410-7610 or visit childrensorchard.com/stores/murfreesboro.

This article was written by Kiera Ashford, associate editor of Nashville Parent and mother of two. See the article on the Nashville Parent website here.

Moms Make Amazing Business Owners

Sheree Commerford. Photo by Sam Elsom for Captain and the Gypsy Kid; courtesy My Domaine
Sheree Commerford. Photo by Sam Elsom for Captain and the Gypsy Kid; courtesy My Domaine

Building a business and building a family can happen simultaneously—just ask any of the four mom-preneurs highlighted in this article by Sacha Strebe for My Domaine.

“There has never been a better time for women to be creatively fulfilled and also pursue the role of motherhood. The digital era in a way has set us free. Our value cannot be hidden anymore; it’s out there in the open for all to see.” 

– Sheree Commerford, stylist and founder of Captain and the Gypsy Kid, featured in the article mentioned above.

NTY Franchise Company has helped inspired moms like Sheree pursue their creative passions and achieve their dreams of owning a business many times over. Passionate about fashion and kids? Open a Children’s Orchard store and do what you love every day.

Check out the article for more inspiring tips and advice for running a successful business while raising a family.

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Successful Franchisees Share Their Secrets

Check out this insightful interview from Business-Opportunities.biz featuring two longtime Children’s Orchard franchisees:

Claudia Aguirre and Donahi Bunt, owners of a Children’s Orchard franchise in McAllen, Texas.
Claudia Aguirre and Donahi Bunt, owners of a Children’s Orchard franchise in McAllen, Texas.

 

 

Successful franchisees Claudia & Donahi share their story

We recently spoke with Claudia Aguirre and Donahi Bunt, owners of a Children’s Orchard franchise in McAllen, Texas, and learned why they chose the franchise, what challenges they faced when they first started out and, lastly, what advice they have for potential franchisees.

How long have you been a franchise owner? 

11 years.

What were you doing before becoming a franchise owner? 

We both had worked part time in our families’ businesses for years. (Claudia in the Maquila field and Donahi in the telecommunications field.) It came a time that we wanted to have the experience to create and operate our own business.

Why did you choose Children’s Orchard franchise opportunity? 

As moms, we know how expensive it is to dress the kids in style and how fast they outgrow their clothes. Children’s Orchard offers parents a way to make money by selling their children’s outgrown, gently used items. Plus, they can stick around and shop for fashionable clothing, toys and equipment for a fraction of the retail price. It’s a great concept!

What were some of the challenges you faced starting a franchise?

Finding a way to finance the business and creating an appropriate work and life balance was difficult, especially in the early years when we were just getting the business going.

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

We called some store owners and talked to a lawyer, but we already knew we wanted to be part of the Children’s Orchard team. During our first year of operation, we visited some of the top performing Children’s Orchard franchises to learn about their daily processes.

How much does starting a franchise cost? 

All of our money! Truthfully, it was an amount very close to what the corporate office told us, but we exceeded that during the first couple of years.

What does a typical day look like for you?

In the early years we were both full-time at the store. Little by little, we built a great team capable of handling much of the day-to-day operations. One of us takes care of the administration and the other takes care of advertising and marketing.

What is your secret to success?

Remember, your customers are the reason you are in business. When something goes wrong, spend your time and energy making it right. Don’t waste time searching for someone to blame. Stay focused on your goals, and track your results. Build a great team to help you reach your goals.

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

We would definitely invest more time into learning about our market before opening our doors.

Where do you see your business in five years?

We just moved to a bigger location for the third time, so right now, we just want to focus on getting everything under control and use this change to impact our sales and community involvement in a positive way.

What is one trend that really excites you?

Businesses becoming more eco-friendly is really exciting. It’s rewarding to be part of that trend by allowing parents to recycle their children’s clothes and toys.

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

Google Drive: All our images, documents, ideas and campaigns are available on any device!

Constant Contact: We love being able to email market!

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

We like to look for learning opportunities everywhere. Other store owners have helped with that learning process.

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

Understand that you are buying a franchise in order to mitigate risk and follow a proven success model. If you’re not willing to follow a franchise system, you’ll want to look for another opportunity.

Learn everything you can about the franchise before you buy. Get to know the management team, the owners and the history of the franchise. Talk to as many franchisees as possible, and ask questions. If possible, visit a few franchise units to see the day-to-day operation and talk to customers regarding their opinion of the business.

Would you recommend others be franchisees? Why?

Yes. Buying into a franchise gives you a proven system and support from people with experience in the industry. At the same time, you are the business owner, so you must stay focused in order to succeed.

Where can people get more information on Children’s Orchard franchise opportunities?

Visit the website here.

Where can people find Children’s Orchard on social media?Facebook

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Halloween is Here!

Halloween is here and your kids might need some last minute costumes…

Remember to shop at Children’s Orchard for some like-new, gently-used costumes for your kids. No matter what they want to be this year, at Children’s Orchard we can help. Stop by your local Children’s Orchard and see the fun things we have for your kids to dress up in!

No one wants to spend a ton of money on something that the kids will wear one night! Your kids will love the assortment and ideas for Halloween at Children’s Orchard…and you’ll love the low prices on like-new costumes – and we don’t mind a bit that it’s last minute!

Children's Orchard little chick Halloween costume, little kid carrying pumpkin bucket

 

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Halloween at Children’s Orchard

Halloween is almost here…and at Children’s Orchard we have a large variety of costumes for your kids in a variety of sizes!

Maybe your son wants to be a superhero this year – or your daughter wants to be a doctor. Or maybe they have a  new invention that is all their own that they can find the key pieces for at Children’s Orchard.

Stop by your local Children’s Orchard and see what we have for costumes.* You’ll be able to find something fun for your kids without breaking the bank…and with the great costumes you’ll find at Children’s Orchard’s low prices, you’ll feel a bit like a superhero yourself!

Children's Orchard Halloween promotion with two little girls holding arts and crafts paper ghosts on sticks

*Inventory varies for each store.

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Shoes & Boots for Fall

Your kids need warm feet and chances are their shoes and boots from last fall no longer fit.

It might just be time for a trip to Children’s Orchard…where you can find like-new, gently-used shoes and boots for your kids. We have a large variety of sizes and styles that you and your kids are sure to love.

Stop by your local Children’s Orchard today and find some new footwear for your kids. They will have a fun, new style that fits them, great quality shoes– and they’ll have warm feet!

Children's Orchard baby shoes with text that says kids' shoes and boots for fall

 

 

 

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Children’s Holiday Looks

Take a look at this great video from Twin Cities Live. It shows the fantastic prices you can get on like-new clothes at Children’s Orchard. Source: twincitieslive.com

There is nothing cuter than getting the kids all dressed up for the holidays.  What is tough is convincing yourself to spend the money on those outfits that they will probably wear once.
 

Children’s Orchard in Minnetonka can help with that.  They have clothes that are like new for a whole lot less.  Becky Geyer from Children’s Orchard shows us some of the looks. 

J.D.:

  • Khaki pants, Cherokee (original $16), $6
  • White polo shirt, Tommy Hilfiger (original $24), $8
  • Stiped sweatshirt, Polo (original $49.50), $15

Retail: $89.50
Children’s Orchard Price: $29

 Jack:

  • Khaki pants, Gymboree (original $32), $10
  • Plaid shirt, Polo (original $49.50), $12
  • Navy v-neck sweater, GAP (original $30), $8
  • Jacket, Land’s End (original $45), $15

Retail: $156.50
Children’s Orchard Price: $45

 Evelyn:

  • Black leggings, Children’s Place (original $20), $6
  • Ivory Paris motif sweater, Epic Threads (original $28), $8
  • Pink puffer jacket, GAP (original $105), $30

Retail: $153
Children’s Orchard Price: $44

Eteria

  • Pink leggings, Epic Threads (original $18), $6
  • Black love statement sweater, Epic Threads (original $28), $10

Retail: $46
Children’s Orchard Price: $16

 William

  • Denim jeans, (Original $48), $12
  • White shirt, Joseph Aboud (original $40), $10
  • Moss v-neck sweater, Mossimo (original $20), $6
  • Dress blazer, Joseph About (original $250), $50

Retail: $358
Children’s Orchard Price: $78

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Sweater Season

Our days and nights are getting cooler, the leaves are starting to change to vibrant fall colors, and it’s time for your kids to start wearing sweaters and warmer clothes. It’s most definitely sweater season!

At Children’s Orchard we have a large variety of sweaters, as well as jackets and coats, to help keep your little ones warm this season.

Stop by your local Children’s Orchard today and see all the great gently-used, like-new sweaters and other apparel, shoes, boots, and accessories we have for your kids for fall – at up to 70% off of retail prices!

Children's Orchard two kids jumping in the air holding hands. Girl is wearing purple sweater dress and boy is wearing striped sweater and jeans

 

CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: A Children’s Orchard Business

Being able to buy and sell gently-used, like-new clothing, shoes, toys, and accessories is great for shoppers. Children outgrow everything pretty fast. But, as a business, Children’s Orchard is a whole other matter. It is, in fact, a very smart business.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about how great it would be to own your own business? Or maybe you’ve been thinking about what a great opportunity it is to own one that has such a huge need in your community? Children’s clothing, shoes, equipment, and toys are always needed, and the fact that they’re at much lower prices and gently-used – or hardly used in most cases because they’re outgrown so quickly – makes it even better!

Look no further than Children’s Orchard. Take a look at our franchise information and see what you can do to move forward in owning your own highly-supported, successful business. You’ll be happy you did!

Children's Orchard own a franchise promotion, little girl with trendy knitted hat and scarf, text that says dream it, wish it, do it