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DEVICE PITSTOP: DP Is A Computer Service Franchise & A Computer Resale Store

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business and of being the person in charge? If so, opening a Device Pitstop computer services franchise can be just the right option for you. There are many reasons why this type of business is good for those just starting out and why they’re often more successful than other businesses even in the same industry. Opening a computer services franchise requires an initial investment and some time taken for training but in the long run, it’s typically a very lucrative business and one that offers a service everyone needs. People always need their computers repaired or upgraded, and are always in the market for new computers. Like transportation, computers are necessary for one’s work and livelihood so a computer services franchise is a business that rarely closes or goes out of business due to lack of customers. Another good reason to consider a computer services franchise is that the environment and atmosphere of the business is much easier to manage and maintain than other businesses. For example, you could open a fast food restaurant and do quite well financially, but this means working in a hot kitchen with greasy food and also typically means hiring teenagers and an otherwise unreliable staff. However, with a computer services franchise you work in a clean storefront with professionals that are reliable and knowledgeable. This makes running that business much more enjoyable on a daily basis. When thinking of a computer services franchise remember that you can expand the business to offer sales of equipment and other options. Very often when someone gets their computer repaired, they see this as a good time to also add in new software or other accessories. By offering these at your computer services franchise you increase your profit potential by a very large margin. You can offer services but also equipment and accessories so that computer owners are tempted to buy, and this too increases the profit potential. Often a computer services franchise will also mean reselling the computers you’ve repaired, as the original owners may be trading them in for a new one. Selling refurbished items, as they’re called, can be very profitable since they’re much less expensive to buy than new computers. Someone on a budget may visit a computer services franchise store specifically looking for repaired or refurbished pieces of equipment so you have profit potential with this type of sales as well. It’s also good to remember that you can open a computer services franchise in just about any neighborhood or city and have it do very well. Trying to open an upscale restaurant in a neighborhood with lower income levels or opening an auto repair shop in a large metropolitan city where few people own cars may mean less business overall. A computer services franchise is a business that just about everyone needs and so you have a wider range of options when it comes to your neighborhood and area. If you are interested in owning a computer service franchise, the Device Pitstop might be right for you. Head over to the Device Pitstop Franchising site to learn more about owning a computer service franchise.

Ronald G. Olson

President

Ron Olson has been President and a Director of NTY Franchise Company since October 2006. Ron’s background included starting his career at Dayton’s Department Store, where he held many management positions. In 1977 he opened his own furniture store in Minnesota, which was a Drexel Heritage prototype store. In 1988 he co-founded Grow Biz International, now called Winmark. The first franchise rights that Olson purchased and started marketing was Play It Again Sports. Olson continued buying the Franchise rights for Once Upon A Child, Plato’s Closet, and Music Go Round. Today there over 1,000 Franchise locations.

Under NTY Franchise Company, the franchise rights were bought for Clothes Mentor and New Uses. In 2013 Olson bought Laptop Exchange and changed the name to Device Pitstop. In 2014 the company opened NTY Clothing Exchange and NTY Kids, now Children’s Orchard. There are currently 204 stores sold and 133 stores opened under the NTY Franchise umbrella.

Chad Olson

Chief Operations Officer

Chad Olson has been Chief Operations Officer of NTY Franchise Company since January 2007. From May 1994 to December 2006, he held various positions for Winmark Corporation (f/k/a Grow Biz International, Inc.), including Field Operations Manager for the Once Upon a Child concept from 1999 to 2002, and Regional Operations Manager for the Plato’s Closet concept from 2002 to 2006.

Sarah Primmer

Vice President of Finance & Human Resources

Sarah Primmer is the Vice President of Finance and Human Resources for NTY Franchise Company. She joined the company in January 2014. Prior to joining NTY, Sarah spent over 25 years as the controller and business manager of a local sales and marketing firm calling on Target stores.

Michael D. Smith

Vice President of Strategic Planning

Michael D. Smith has held numerous roles with NTY Franchise since 2010. He is currently the Vice President of Franchise Development and Strategic Planning. From December 2000 to July 2010, Michael held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the franchise company Laptop Xchange. From June 1994 to December 2000, Michael held numerous roles within the Grow Biz International brands of Play It Again Sports and Computer Renaissance. These roles included Corporate Store Management, Field Operation Specialist, and Franchisee.

Jenny Mann

Vice President of Operations | Executive Director of IT

Jenny Mann is the Senior Vice President Clothes Mentor and Children’s Orchard. In February of 2024, Jenny took on her current role overseeing IT, Marketing and the e-commerce platforms for both brands. Prior to this, Jenny was the Director of Marketing for NTY Franchise Company since January 2013. Jenny started with the NTY Franchise Company in 2008 with Clothes Mentor and has held many roles, including; Store Manager, New Store Opener, and Regional Operations Manager. Before joining NTY Franchise Company, Jenny worked for Old Navy (Gap, Inc.) and Target in management roles.

Michelle Vaudrin

Senior Director of Operations

Michelle Vaudrin is the Senior Director of Operations for Clothes Mentor and Children’s Orchard. Prior to joining NTY Franchise Company in March 2016, she worked in leadership roles for Burlington, American Eagle and Macy’s. Michelle attended University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in Retail Merchandising and Business Administration. She brings extensive background in training of strategies, merchandising, customer service and multi-unit store operations to the team.

Ashley Huebner

Director of Marketing

Ashley Huebner oversees NTY Franchise Company’s marketing and advertising efforts to drive sales, build brand awareness and lead the planning on how to effectively market both brands. She leads creative initiatives for NTY Franchise Company, driving the brands’ vision in aesthetics, tone, and trends to elevate our brand position as a leader in the resale category. Ashley joined the Clothes Mentor team in March of 2015. Ashley has 8+ years of Graphic Design experience. Ashley holds a strong background in design, user experience, and a passion for creativity. She holds a BA degree in Advertising and Art.

Jessica Fix

Franchise Contract and Office Administrator

Jessica Fix is the Franchise Contracts and Office Administrator for NTY Franchise Company. She started with the company in January of 2018. Jessica works alongside the Franchise Development Team and provides office support to the headquarter office. She has 20 years in the franchise industry, previously working for Carlson Leisure Group/Travel Leaders Franchise Group in a variety of roles, such as Database Coordinator, Legal Contract Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the Franchise Sales Team.