Clothes Mentor opens in Turkey Creek
Clothes Mentor co-owner, Adam Scott, said the goal is to “stay on top of style.”
The brand-new boutique style “upscale resale” store next to Earth Fare in Turkey Creek, opened to buy clothes Feb. 6, and Scott said response has been amazing.
In the last week-plus, they’ve had 200-300 women come in to sell clothes and the store is ahead of schedule on inventory. Clothes Mentor’s stock will be 90 percent clothes, Scott said, with handbags and shoes coming in second and jewelry third. For now the shop is accepting merchandise, but after the grand opening in April will be both buying and selling.
“Our demographic is 25 to 55,” Scott said. “Our average age customer is mid-30s to mid-40s, but we’ve had them down to 25 and up to 65. The way I look at it, we want to stay on top of style.”
Liz Senn was operating manager for Charming Charlies in West Town Mall before coming to Clothes Mentor and brings multiple years experience in retail with her.
“This is my first time in upscale resale,” she said. “It’s really exciting because we’re buying items and pieces from our customers, and they’re buying from us. It’s really exciting to stock our store with local goods.
You’re being green because your clothes get a second life and our shoppers can save a significant amount of money. We offer boutique customer service at a price accessible to everyone. It’s like a fun treasure hunt with your girlfriends.
“We have name brands like Prada, Louis Viton, Coach, Ferragamo and Tori Burch, but we run the gamut of brands. There’s something for everyone and at a great price,” she added. “We typically sell our items for 70 percent off retail prices.”
Senn said Clothes Mentor makes it easy to sell.
“Clothes don’t have to be dry cleaned or put on hangers. We just ask that they be freshly laundered. We take all seasons of clothes, all year ‘round.”
She said no appointment is necessary as long as clothes arrive an hour before closing. The store can make a cash offer or give the customer 25 percent more in an in-store credit.
In addition to selling clothes, Clothes Mentor will offer mentoring. Customers will be able to go online, fill out a style analysis and let the staff make selections for them.
“We will have clothes waiting for you so you don’t have to spend time shopping,” Senn said. “It’ a free service. I can dress someone head to toe and send them right out the door to their next event.”
Scott owns the store with his wife, Natalie, and her parents, Charles and Suzanne Forlides. The Scotts live on a small farm in Hardin Valley and the Forlideses will soon be moving to this area from Atlanta.
“My last business was one we owned the franchise for in Atlanta,” Scott said. “We live in this community and we’re really excited to have a franchise in the community. I didn’t think women’s clothing would be my next venture. When I went home and told my wife, by the look on her face there was no way I could not do it. She thought it was the coolest thing ever.”
Store hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 865-444-6832 or go to turkeycreek@clothesmentorstores.com.
