This year has been one of many milestones for Winmark - the Resale Company®, and we’re topping it off with the opening of our 500th Plato’s Closet store!
The store opened on December 1st in Windsor, ON, furthering our mission to provide Resale for Everyone™.
The Store that Started It All
Plato’s Closet, the leading resale store in the buying and selling of name brand, gently used apparel and accessories for teens and twenty-something girls and guys, first opened in 1998 in Columbus, Ohio. Its original owners, Lynn and Dennis Blum, also founded Once Upon A Child®, which Winmark added to our portfolio of top-quality resale brands in 1993.
For nearly three decades, Plato’s Closet has offered a diverse selection of looks and labels, ranging from American Eagle Outfitters® to H&M® at prices that exceed 70%-90% off of regular retail pricing.
Three Generations of Winmark Franchisees
Not only is the opening of the 500th Plato’s Closet Store a remarkable occasion, but it adds to one family’s long history with Winmark brands. The multi-unit franchise owners, Scott and Lisa Doerr, are following in their family’s footsteps. The Doerr family has been involved with Winmark brands since 1999 when Scott’s parents opened their first Once Upon A Child in London, ON.
Carrying on the legacy, Scott and Lisa’s son Terry Doerr, and their longtime manager Tara Organ, will also soon open their first Plato’s Closet together in London, ON, in 2023.
“500 Plato’s Closet locations is a huge accomplishment and a testament to our collective efforts with our franchise partners, their employees, and the team at Winmark to achieve this milestone. It is especially rewarding to share this experience with Scott and Lisa who are great franchise partners and passionate about serving their communities, their employees, and who understand the impact that our brands bring to their customers,” said Renae Gaudette, Chief Operating Officer.
A Groundbreaking Year for the Winmark Resale Franchise
There is so much to celebrate in 2022. Earlier this year, Plato’s Closet, Once Upon A Child and Play It Again Sports ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, with Once Upon A Child ranking #1 in its category.
Between inflation and the rise of green consumerism, the resale industry market value is expected to expand, “growing twice as fast as the broader retail market,” and Winmark stores have recently celebrated an additional milestone, with 1.5 billion items recycled system-wide since 2010!
With over 2,800 available territories in the U.S. and Canada across all five brands and a 97+% renewal rate across all five brands since 2002, Winmark is on track to surpass even more milestones in 2023!
Are you looking to join a rapidly-growing franchise in 2023 with a rich history, exciting future and a high franchisee satisfaction rate? Contact us today to learn more about opening a Winmark resale store in your area.
