NTY CE growing
The Lebuses are adding onto their shop at 10420 Kingston Pike in Lovell Heights shopping center, by taking down a wall and moving into the adjacent mattress store.
“We’re going to double our space, so we’re going to have another 2,500 to 3,000 square feet of sales floor (space),” Jennifer said. “And, we’re going to put in a store within a store.
“We’re going to have a specific area, which is our street ware and sneakers, because that’s a huge ticket item here, and we need more space for it,” she said.
“It’s a very popular culture,” Robert added.
Additionally, the Lebuses are adding another venture to their repertoire.
“We’re actually about to open a Hot Worx, an exercise studio (in Hardin Valley),” Robert said, adding that business probably will be open in late August or September at 10839 Hardin Valley Road.
“That will coincide with the expansion here, too,” he said.
“(The fitness studio) also is a franchise, and it’s an infrared studio that allows two or three people at a time to be in it,” Jennifer said. “It’s a very intimate, almost individual workout.”
“It’s a virtual trainer, so it’s 24-7, too,” Robert said.
“We’re going to open two more after Hardin, Valley,” Jennifer said. “We will come to Farragut (with the fitness studio) in spring 2021 and Bearden or University of Tennessee area in 2022.”
The Lebuses opened NTY Clothing Exchange in April 2018, Jennifer said.
The couple, who own a shipping company, got into the business on advice of a friend who bought into the consignment shop market.
NTY (which stands for New To You) is geared toward both females and males from 13 to 40 years old.
“We like this model because we have kids that are 13 to 26,” Robert said. “We know the styles … so it was an easy fit for us to get into.”
While being closed for COVID-19, the Lebuses stayed busy with the store’s online business.
“We weren’t sure what was going to happen when we opened back up,” Robert said. “But, if you look at the same time frame last year — compared to when we re-opened this year — we’re exceeding sales … in that time frame.”
“Considering the situation we’re all in, that’s a pretty good result to have,” Jennifer said.
“I think people were just getting a little cabin fever,” he added.
“I think (the customers) also have less fear in that they’re not really in that high-risk category; so the minute they had an opportunity to get out, they didn’t have as much fear holding them back,” Jennifer said.
Unlike a consignment shop, NTY Clothing Exchange buys clothing and other merchandise outright.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m., Sundays.
For more information, call 865-286-8559 or visit www.ntyclothingclothingexchange.com
