Since opening our first store in 1988 under Play It Again Sports®, Winmark - the Resale Company® has grown to nearly 1,300 locations across North America.
Our five resale brands fill the gaps in many communities - offering diverse products and expertise to help customers find just what they’re looking for at affordable prices. From little ones to teens, parents and grandparents - Play It Again Sports®, Plato’s Closet®, Once Upon A Child®, Music Go Round® and Style Encore® cater to every member of the family!
For the Little Ones and Their Parents
Even younger kids want to look stylish, and Once Upon A Child allows them to do just that. Because little ones grow so fast, our resale model also allows parents to sell the clothing, accessories, toys, shoes, equipment and furniture that their kids outgrow and make some money back, to spend on new ones. This is just one reason Once Upon Upon A Child has ranked number one in the Children’s Retail category of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for twelve years in a row.
With Average Gross Sales of over $1 million in 2021, many Once Upon A Child franchisees are parents themselves who appreciate benefits like work-life balance and giving back to their community.
“We wanted our store to provide a haven for the mothers in our community. I think it’s important to have a store, especially when you’re a new mom, where you feel welcome and that’s your safe place,” said Sara and Kevin A., owners of Once Upon a Child and Plato’s Closet.
For the Teens, College Students and Young Professionals
Speaking of Plato’s Closet, this resale brand provides gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for teenagers, college students and young professionals. For these customers, their “look” plays a big role in how they express themselves.
Plato’s Closet’s diverse selection of styles and labels offers name brands at prices 70-90% off regular retail pricing. On average, Plato’s Closet stores topped $1.2 million in sales in 2021, and many of our franchisees go on to become multi-unit owners. In the coming months, Plato’s Closet is expected to open its 500th location.
“Because [Plato’s Closet] is a franchise, it helped us make our decision because of our opportunity to open more stores. Once we figured out the system, it’s like making a pizza - once you figure out how to make one great pizza, then you want to make 100 of them,” said Jake W., who owns Plato’s Closet stores with his wife, Alicia.
For Trend-Setting Women
Who doesn’t love to be a trendsetter? Career-oriented women, moms and female shoppers who are fashion, bargain and recycling-conscious females a place to “shop til they drop.” Style Encore provides opportunities for all women to have access to the latest and greatest in fashion - without having to pay the bigger price tags that are typically found in women’s fashion.
With over 71 stores across North America, Style Encore franchisees reap the benefits of owning a successful retail store - without having to build their business from scratch.
“I like the franchise system,” said Tim T., 16-year owner of Style Encore and Plato’s Closet. “Someone else is doing all the global research about what you should be doing for operations, marketing and how much inventory you should have. It would be very difficult to operate the same kinds of stores that I have on my own without the support of a franchisor.”
For the Hobby Enthusiasts
For musicians, athletes and their families, Music Go Round and Play It Again Sports offer everything from instruments to equipment and accessories for hobby enthusiasts of all ages. Music Go Round, the largest seller of used musical equipment and gear in the world, caters to veteran musicians, students and parents.
Meanwhile, Play It Again Sports provides opportunities for kids of all ages to participate in the athletic activities they love.
Music Go Round and Play It Again Sports average over $1 million in sales and many franchisees give back to their communities by sponsoring local sports teams, musical programs and community events. Instruments, accessories and sports equipment can be pricey, and our stores help level the playing field for families of all incomes.
Play It Again Sports Erich K. knows all about using his business to give back to the community.
“As the CFO ‘Chief Fun Officer’, I love talking to young athletes and parents and supporting local teams and leagues, park districts, nonprofits and underserved communities. I’m beyond grateful for this new career and look forward to continuing to provide a much-needed service to my community for years to come,” he explained.
Sustainable Solutions for Everyone
As the public’s desire for affordable, sustainable solutions increases, the resale market will only continue to grow. With diverse brands bringing Resale for EveryoneTM across communities throughout North America, our satisfied franchisees continue to grow their portfolios with Winmark, and many do so with more than one of our brands.
Looking to open a resale franchise with 360-degree support and fill a gap in your community? Contact us today to learn more about opening a Winmark store in your area.
