Women who took advantage of downtime during the coronavirus stay-at-home order to clean out their closets have a way to cash in on their hard work.
If organizing guru Marie Kondo inspired you to toss that tan handbag or remove those red-bottom stilettos from your wardrobe (after you thanked them for their service, of course), local entrepreneur Holly Morris invites you to sell them to her.
She will open Broward County’s first Clothes Mentor franchise at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 4 in the Jacaranda Plaza at 8181 W. Sunrise Blvd. in Plantation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m.
Clothes Mentor pays cash on the spot for gently used women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. It does not deal in men’s or children’s clothing but buys and sells trendy women’s clothing in sizes 0 to 26, including petite and maternity wear.
Morris has been buying inventory since earlier this year, and then the COVID-19 shutdown of non-essential businesses delayed the store’s opening.
“There has already been a lot of support from the community as well as my family and friends and the inventory is looking incredible,” Morris said in a statement.
Now, she is busy implementing cleaning and social-distancing policies in advance of welcoming customers and sellers to her new 3,000-square-foot store. The store’s capacity will be limited to 50%, or about 20 people. Only two fitting rooms will be open to maintain social distancing, and they will be cleaned and sanitized after each person. Any clothes that are tried on will be steamed before being put back on the racks, which will sanitize them. Aisles will be limited to one way whenever possible and all guests will be required to wear masks.
Morris plans to have giveaways and promotions each day that will be posted on the store’s Facebook page, facebook.com/clothesmentorplantation/.
Before the pandemic, Morris talked about the path to opening her business and what shoppers — and sellers — can expect.
What’s your background? Have you owned a business before?
“I have never owned a business before, so this is totally new for me. My background is in hospitality management and human resources. Prior to opening Clothes Mentor, I worked in HR in tech and finance in New York City for almost 10 years.”
Why did you choose Plantation to open Clothes Mentor?
“I looked around for a location for a long time. I wasn’t set on one specific area, but I had criteria about size, price and the type of plaza I was looking for. This location came available and it was perfect for what I was looking for.”
How is the buying process going? What are some of the best items you’ve purchased so far?
“The process is going very well! We’ve been consistently busy since we opened, with a steady stream of customers coming in every day. We’ve also been lucky to already have a few repeat customers come in multiple times. We’ve bought some great designer handbags from Coach, Gucci and Kate Spade as well as some beautiful clothes from Lilly Pulitzer, Tahari and other top brands. One of my personal favorites is a classic Burberry trench coat that was never worn!”
What are you looking for as far as brands and styles?
“We take all brands, from Old Navy and Gap to Chanel and Gucci, and everything in between. The only rules for selling to us is the item needs to have the brand label (so we know who makes it and can put it in our system, and a size tag). The clothes need to either be a classic style that will never go out of style, or from the last two to three years.”
How do you determine how much you’ll pay for an item?
“We have a great database and pricing system that basically determines how much we should pay for an item and how much we’re going to sell it for. The two main factors are condition and style.”
For women who don’t shop for gently used clothing and accessories, why should they?
“There are so many reasons to shop resale, it would be hard to list them all! It’s such a great option for those women who like to have beautiful things but don’t have an unlimited budget. We evaluate every item that comes in for condition, so everything is in great shape, and many items still have their original tags still on them. We have a huge range of sizes and brands, and everything is 70% off or more from the original price. Where else would you be able to find items from the Gap, from Lilly Pulitzer, Guess, INC and more in one place. Then, there’s also the sustainability factor. By reselling clothes, you’re helping to save the environment and giving new life to items the original owner no longer needs.”
What’s the best used item you’ve ever purchased personally?
“I purchased a Gucci skirt from a resale store that retailed for over $900, and I paid $25.”
How should women bring in their items?
“We ask that all items be laundered and clean when they are brought in. It’s easiest for us if they are in a laundry basket or some kind of tote bag, folded, not on hangers. We will always return the bag the items came in to the owner after we’ve finished evaluating the items.”
What will the shopping experience be like?
“It’s a lot of fun! Since we are buying new merchandise every day, you never know what you’re going to find. We have such a large variety of brands available that you can find some great pieces you never would have found at the mall or at other stores.”
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just that if you’ve never shopped resale, come in and check us out. The store feels more like a high-end boutique than a resale store and we’ll make sure you have a great experience. If you’re thinking about selling to us, bring your items in and let us make you an offer. You are always able to decline the offer and take your items back if you would prefer; there is no obligation to sell to us. Finally, we have a partnership with the Salvation Army so any items we can’t buy from you, we are happy to donate so you don’t have to bring them home again.
The Plantation Clothes Mentor is the 10th store in Florida. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
