Children's Orchard
Children's products resale storesBackground
Founded: 1980 Franchising since: 1985
Former flight attendant Karen Lynch opened the first Children's Orchard store in 1980. Each store buys and sells used children's clothes, toys and other items, selling them for 50 to 80 percent less than retail. The first Children's Orchard franchise opened in 1985, and it now has locations across the United States.
Franchisor has 13 employee(s); 3 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Determined by demographics
Special Programs
Children's Orchard and its franchisees sponsor the Interstate Program of the Family Builders Adoption Network (FBAN), a national non-profit organization that matches up families with abused, neglected and special-needs children.
Former flight attendant Karen Lynch opened the first Children's Orchard store in 1980. Each store buys and sells used children's clothes, toys and other items, selling them for 50 to 80 percent less than retail. The first Children's Orchard franchise opened in 1985, and it now has locations across the United States.
|
900 Victors Way, #200 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 |
Phone: (800)999-5437 |
Franchisor has 13 employee(s); 3 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2006 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Determined by demographics
Special Programs
Children's Orchard and its franchisees sponsor the Interstate Program of the Family Builders Adoption Network (FBAN), a national non-profit organization that matches up families with abused, neglected and special-needs children.
Costs and Fees
|
Total investment: $115.6K-197K Franchise fee: $25K |
Ongoing royalty fee: 5% Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | No | No |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | No | No |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $225K
Cash liquidity requirement: $40K
Business Experience:
- Customer service experience
Operations
- 15.6% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 6
- Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (98% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
Other marketing support
- Available at headquarters: 12 days
- At franchisee's location: 3 days
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Grand opening
- Internet
- Security/safety procedures
- Field operations/evaluations
- Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
- Ad slicks
- Regional advertising
Other marketing support
- Monthly promotions