Rank no.138 – Once Upon A Child – US

Rank no.138 – Once Upon A Child – US


Top 250 Franchise by Entrepreneur-Rank no.138-Once Upon A Child-USA

once-upon-a-child-logo

Products & Services: New & used children’s clothing, equipment, furniture, toys

Number of Locations: 272

Total Investment: $239.69K – 336.1K

Founded: 1984

Began Franchising: 1992

About Once Upon A Child

Founded in 1984 in Columbus, Ohio, Once Upon A Child specializes in selling new and used children’s clothes, toys, furniture and equipment. Franchises were first offered in 1992. The company is owned by Winmark (formerly Grow Biz), which also franchises Music Go Round, Plato’s Closet, Style Encore and Play It Again Sports.

Franchise Units

Year U.S. Canadian International Company Owned
2013 244 28 0 0
2012 226 25 0 0
2011 222 22 0 0
2010 215 22 0 0
2009 211 23 0 0
Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $239,700 – $336,100
Franchise Fee: $25,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 10 years, renewable
Financial Requirements

Net Worth: $200,000
Liquid Cash Available: $71,910 – $100,830

Operations

25% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 – 5. Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators).

How This Franchise Supports Franchisees

Training: Available at headquarters: 2 weeks.
Ongoing Support: Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support: Co-op advertising,

Franchise Ranking History

Franchise 500®: #138 (2013), #144 (2012), #137 (2011), #166 (2010), #197 (2009),
America’s Top Global: #128 (2013), #117 (2012), #113 (2011), #132 (2010), #152 (2009),
7caa4bb5-57c2-453c-a17c-dea2fc089bd7Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Once Upon A Child franchise family. Once Upon A Child offers a truly unique retail franchise opportunity as the leading children’s resale store of its kind — focusing on the buying and selling of high-quality, new and gently used apparel, toys, baby equipment and furniture for children at affordable, family-friendly prices.

To learn more about this exciting franchise business opportunity listen to our franchisee testimonials.

We are the largest national chain that specializes in reselling clothing and other items for children from infants through tweens. With over 265 store locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, we out-number Children’s Orchard® and Kid to Kid® more than 3 to 1! Unlike our competitors, we don’t believe in consigning and we pay $$$ on the spot! We also buy all seasons – all the time, with no appointment necessary.

There is an amazing amount of nearly-new clothing, toys, baby gear and more hidden in every family’s home, which presents fantastic opportunities for both franchise owners and customers alike. Making the decision to be your own boss and be in control of your future is an exciting adventure, and we appreciate being considered in your business search.

Once Upon A Child Fast Facts

Average Store Size:
2,800 to 3,800 square feet
Product selection:
Clothing, toys, accessories, furniture, and equipment for children, infant to pre-teen
Product Mix:
94% gently used
6% new
Real Estate Location:
Power strip centers or suburban centers around regional shopping malls
Key Demographics:
Moms age 25-44
Middle to upper-middle income households
Presence of kids under age 13

Secondary Customer Group:
45-65 year old females (Grandmothers)

 

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1 Bring in your gently used children’s clothing, toys and baby equipment.
Step 1 While you check out the great kids stuff in the store, the buyer will review your items.
Step 1 The buyer will select and make an offer on the items that meet current style, safety and condition standards, as well as store’s current stock levels.
Step 1 Once you accept the offer, you’ll be on your way with some extra money, some great new stuff for your kids, or both!

At Once Upon A Child you’ll find a huge selection of gently used kids clothing, toys, furniture and equipment at up to 70% off retail! We’re not your typical secondhand store. The items that we buy and sell are next to new, good quality, clean and have been checked for safety standards.

No appointment necessary – we buy every day and will pay you on the spot! Check with your local store for additional details.

©2013 Winmark Corporation