Overview
Once Upon A Child is the nation’s largest chain of children’s resale stores in North America with more than 210 stores across the United States and Canada! Our stores carry high quality, brand name children’s apparel, toys, furniture, equipment and more.
Products & Services
Children are constantly outgrowing their clothes, toys, books, furniture and equipment. The dilemma is what to do with all that stuff!
At Once Upon A Child®, we've come up with the solution! Parents love the fact that our stores will buy these items from them on the spot with no appointment necessary. They are also thrilled to find quality used brand name kids' stuff at great prices!
Our stores provide parents with a unique, creative and economical solution to their growing child's needs - a solution that makes great sense for their kids and even more cents for their budget!
Once Upon A Child stores are kid-friendly and community focused. They make ties with neighborhood organizations and family groups who can benefit from our unique buying and selling process. They are the community's local children's store bringing together outstanding values, personalized service and a wide variety of brand name products.
At Once Upon A Child®, we've come up with the solution! Parents love the fact that our stores will buy these items from them on the spot with no appointment necessary. They are also thrilled to find quality used brand name kids' stuff at great prices!
Our stores provide parents with a unique, creative and economical solution to their growing child's needs - a solution that makes great sense for their kids and even more cents for their budget!
Once Upon A Child stores are kid-friendly and community focused. They make ties with neighborhood organizations and family groups who can benefit from our unique buying and selling process. They are the community's local children's store bringing together outstanding values, personalized service and a wide variety of brand name products.
Training & Support
- Business planning assistance including development of a comprehensive three-year business plan. Retail site selection assistance, demographic studies and area market potential analysis.
- Over 75 hours of classroom instruction and in-store training.
- Store set-up assistance including store layout, design and build-out.
- Two days of on-site store opening assistance with employee training, merchandising, basic store operations and day close procedures.
- A proprietary inventory control system specifically designed to meet the needs of our franchisees that tracks register transactions, customers and inventory. This system includes access to a toll-free computer help desk staffed by trained technicians that provide assistance with hardware and software technical and operational questions seven days a week.
- Marketing and advertising resources including TV commercials, radio spots, direct mail pieces, print advertisements, local store marketing programs and much more!
- Access to our network of preferred vendors for new product and guidance on product valuations and current market conditions.
- On-going operations support from assigned field operations staff that serve as an analyst, strategist, advisor and a liason between the franchisee and Winmark.
- Annual franchise conferences with networking and training opportunities
Why Once Upon a Child?
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 offers franchisees a unique opportunity, based on a sound business model and the support of the parent company, Winmark Corporation. With a solid history of retail franchising, we offer strong support services, a proprietary computer system, creative advertising and marketing materials, and a seasoned operations team to assist you in maximizing your individual store performance.
Are You a Good Fit for Once Upon a Child?
Appropriate capitalization is a critical factor in the success of any business. Therefore, minimum requirements for net worth and liquid assets have been established for those wishing to become a Once Upon A Child® franchise owner. These figures are representative for each individual location.
Either individually, or with the assistance of a financial partner, applicants will have access to $45,750 to $69,887 in cash or liquid assets that can be turned into cash. Additionally, the applicant should have assets of $106,844 to $163,072 to be used as collateral to obtain appropriate financing. These financial requirements are based around the total investment costs of the business outlined below.
Either individually, or with the assistance of a financial partner, applicants will have access to $45,750 to $69,887 in cash or liquid assets that can be turned into cash. Additionally, the applicant should have assets of $106,844 to $163,072 to be used as collateral to obtain appropriate financing. These financial requirements are based around the total investment costs of the business outlined below.
