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DEVICE PITSTOP: Husband-Wife Team Building a Business with Electronics Franchise

In this interview with new Device Pitstop owners Dave and Liz Root, they talk about starting out a new business – which they state is so much easier with the support they receive from the franchise team. ”They build a road map that we can follow from negotiating with the realtor, the size of the shop, the type of inventory, down to smallest detail….They help every step of the way. There is no way I would undertake this myself without their road map.” Not only do they get solid support and guidance, they’re starting a great – and very needed – business that buys, sells, and repairs desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones that are gently-used, like-new and always guaranteed. Source: kansascity.com

Device Pitstop offers consumers options to replace every day electronics.

Dave Root spent three decades in business-to-business sales while his wife, Liz Root, worked in retail. The couple was looking for a business they could team up — and they found it with Device Pitstop located in southern Overland Park. Device Pitstop buys, sells, trades, services and upgrades laptops and mobile devices.

“We were weighing all of our options,” Dave Root said. “My age is close to retirement, but I wasn’t looking to do nothing. I thought this is a great way to stay active, have fun and build my retirement (funds).”

The Roots opened the franchise store March 26, the first in the area for the Minneapolis-based company.

Q: What does Device Pitstop offer?

Device Pitstop inventory includes laptops, tablets, smartphones and accessories including Windows, Apple and Android devices and parts. All sales are backed by a 90-day warranty. The company buys for cash or takes trade-ins. Root said his staff includes trained technicians who can repair and upgrade products in the store.

“The value we try to bring to the customer is since we do the refurbishing on site they can maximize their spending dollars rather than buying new pieces of equipment,” he said. “For example, a customer may bring in a laptop that’s got a broken screen and we estimate what it is to repair. They may decide that’s too much, and we will buy it from them for store credit and they use it for something they like.”

With the devices the store purchases, the items are either refurbished and put up for sale or stripped for parts that are reused in store stock.

“In other cases we’ll offer some parts on Ebay if we don’t have a need for it.” Root said. “It’s the entire green issue of recycle and reuse it.”

Root said the staff wipes memories clean on all items before they are resold.

On average, customers can expect to pay 20-40 percent less for devices than the equivalent new item.

Q: Why did you choose a franchise?

Dave Root said a franchise was the best way to go into business on his own because of all the support he receives.

”They build a road map that we can follow from negotiating with the realtor, the size of the shop, the type of inventory, down to smallest detail…. They help every step of the way. There is no way I would undertake this myself without their road map.”

Root said the parent company provided help on the business plan, a customized point of sale system and suggested pricing on what to pay customers for their devices.

“We rely on them for help on marketing including how much to invest in direct marketing versus TV,” he said. “We make the final decision, but they help guide us.”

Despite having the first franchise location in the Kansas City area., the Roots don’t have exclusive rights to the entire market.

The Roots used their own finances to buy into the franchise.

“Now we‘re in the process of applying for a loan” from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dave Root said.

Q: How did you choose your location?

The Roots wanted a location in Johnson County with considerable traffic. It took a long time to find the perfect spot.

“We wanted to be in one location but Radio Shack was there and it was in the lease that no other electronic stores could go in,” Root said. “Then there were other places that didn’t want stores that sold used goods. Both limited us on where we could locate.”

The couple finally settled on the West 135th Street corridor.

Q: How do you run the store?

The Roots are active owner/operators and are in the store daily. They also have three employees including an assistant store manager.

“We have a lead technician who can fix just about anything out there,” Root said. He hopes to hire a store manager down the road “so I don’t have to work so many hours.”

“The key thing is to find the right technicians to work here and developing that trust with them,” Root said.

Q: What’s been the greatest hurdle for you since opening the store a few months ago?

“Building the traffic has been the most challenging yet,” said Root, “but we are already having repeat customers.”

Root constantly reviews where he’s spending marketing dollars to see if it gets results.

“We try to ask everybody who comes in the store where they heard about us,” he said. They have advertised on Hulu, among other outlets.

“We get a fair amount of activity when we post on Craig’s List,” Root said.

Device Pitstop also posts daily on its Facebook page.

“We are starting to have a weekend sales that we promote there,” he said. “It’s all taking longer than I anticipated. I want things to happen much faster.”

IN A NUTSHELL

COMPANY: Device Pitstop

ADDRESS: 7113 West 135th Street at Metcalf in Overland Park

TELEPHONE: (913) 703-5515

WEBSITE: www.devicepitstop.com/store/overland-park-ks/

 

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.