What Is Clothes Mentor?

Anyone who has ever visited a Clothes Mentor store will tell you that it’s not consignment or thrift, it’s resale. Actually, it’s upscale resale. Clothes Mentor sells gently used name-brand and designer clothing, shoes and accessories for up to 70% off of original retail prices. Stores only stock pieces that are in great condition and are on-trend or classic and timeless.

When customers walk into a Clothes Mentor, they see a clean, well-designed store with organized shelves and racks that make shopping enjoyable. Clothes Mentor’s merchandise is also organized by color and size, making it even more aesthetically pleasing and easier for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. Inventory for Clothes Mentor stores comes from customers that have name-brand and designer pieces in their closet that they no longer wear—or oftentimes have never worn. Clothes Mentor pays CASH On-the-Spot or store credit for clothing in sizes 0 to 26 and maternity as well as shoes, handbags and other accessories.

So Why Women’s Fashion?

According to The NDP Group, a company that reports information about consumer spending, women’s apparel retail sales were recently recorded at about $115 billon a year. But women’s fashion is not just a fad. Ladies will always love improving or changing their styles and shopping for new clothing, shoes, accessories and more to update their look. And getting fashion at a great price is even better!

This business has staying power. Women change sizes and preferences frequently, and they want to keep up with fashion trends that fit their personality. This creates continuous business for Clothes Mentor. Check out the video clip below from ABC World News. The story discusses women’s fashion and the growing popularity of buying and selling gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. 

Our Product

It’s no secret that the main reason customers visit Clothes Mentor stores is because of the exceptional product within. Whether buying or selling their gently used clothing, shoes and accessories, women know that Clothes Mentor’s focus is on quality.

Our inventory comes from our customers, women that have name-brand and designer items in their closets that they no longer need. They bring it to Clothes Mentor and our certified buyers evaluate each item, making sure that it fits the following criteria:

• Great condition
• Items that are current within the past few years
• Women’s sizes
• Current styles
• Free of wear, tears, stains and other damage
• Freshly laundered
• Has brand and size labels
• Contained in a basket or bag 

Customers are presented with an offer of cash on-the-spot or a percentage more in store credit for the items the store wishes to purchase. Our point-of-sale software features a sophisticated buy matrix, which helps buyers make offers that are consistent and fit the margins of Clothes Mentor’s successful business model.

Brand Growth

It takes major confidence in your brand to start franchising on the verge of an economic downturn. And it takes an incredibly strong business model to not only withstand but flourish during such a challenging time. That’s part of Clothes Mentor’s history, and NTY Franchise Company takes great pride in its flagship brand’s resiliency and success since its humble beginning in 2007.

Interest in Clothes Mentor has spread quickly in its 10 years as a franchise. The brand’s concept of buying and selling gently used name-brand and designer clothing, shoes and accessories resonates with women in so many different communities nationwide—and its reach continues to grow. For 2015, the store count topped out at 138. And by the end of 2016, our projected store number is 146. 

One milestone for the brand came after just a few years of franchising in 2009, when Clothes Mentor was recognized in Entrepreneur’s annual Franchise 500 list. The brand has stayed on that list ever since, with 2016 marking its eighth year in a row. The recognition is based on franchise stability, growth rate and size, among other factors, and considers all franchises that complete a survey across the United States and Canada.

In addition, the up-and-coming women’s resale brand played a significant role in its parent company, NTY Franchise, earning a spot in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Fast 50 in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The program recognizes the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Twin Cities area according to criteria such as growth rate, revenue and more.

The Clothes Mentor team understands the resale business through and through—and it shows in the success of the brand and its many stores nationwide. We want you to join us in continuing to grow this thriving resale business!