Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate are not your average thrift shops. These sister brands franchised by BaseCamp Franchising are revolutionizing the resale industry with an upscale approach, utilizing sophisticated software and proven operational techniques that have been refined for over twenty years. These recession-thriving franchises not only cater to an underdeveloped market, but the environmentally-sound model builds a band of loyal followers.
Kid to Kid, founded by Shauna and Brent Sloan in 1992, prides itself as the best of kids’ resale, buying and selling only the highest quality children’s and baby products. Unlike a typical consignment shop, Kid to Kid pays cash on the spot or more in store credit for gently used maternity items, baby gear, toys, kids’ apparel, shoes and accessories. These items are then sold in the stores at up to 70 percent off of mall prices. There are now eighty-four Kid to Kid locations in the U.S. and sixteen locations in Portugal with the hundredth store opening on December 20 in Frisco, Texas.
In 2009, Shauna and Brent’s children, Scott and Chelsea Sloan, founded Uptown Cheapskate, a teen and young adult fashion exchange specializing in name brands, current fashions and designer couture. Similar to Kid to Kid, Uptown Cheapskate buys fashionable clothes, shoes and accessories from its customers, and then sells them for a fraction of the retail value. In just four years, the company has grown to thirty-three franchise locations nationwide with more than fifteen already scheduled to open in 2014.
Both Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate stores manage their inventory using a sophisticated software program with a database containing thousands of brands. “We built our buying software so people from all walks of life and various fashion backgrounds can correctly price an item for sale in the store,” Scott Sloan says. “This, combined with our dedicated franchising support staff and proven systems, has allowed our franchisees to realize the potential of the concept.”
The potential of the stores’ success is evident in the multi-store ownership within the franchises. “Many of our franchisees own multiple Uptown Cheapskate or Kid to Kid stores,” Chelsea Sloan adds. “Many owners who begin with owning a Kid to Kid go on to open an Uptown Cheapskate as they catch on the vision that ‘used makes sense,’ Owning multiple stores or brands is a natural extension.”
“Kid to Kid is thriving because it’s a win-only proposition,” Shauna Sloan says. “Families win when they get paid for the nice things their kids have outgrown. Shoppers win and save when they outfit their kids at a fraction of the cost of new items. Our local store owners win by growing profitable businesses and our communities win as millions of quality items are conveniently recycled to new homes.”
For more information:
Website: www.basecampfranchising.com/USA
Phone: 801-359-0071 ext. 101