Comments on: CHILDREN’S ORCHARD: Overview & Links

By: Fooled

Fooled — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:14:41 +0000

The more I read about the experiences of other franchisees, the more I realize I wasn’t alone in being fooled. It looks like this franchise has stopped fooling people, because the store closings are now getting alarming. It clearly is a system in critical distress, and my guess sometime in the next 5 years it will be gone.

By: Guest

Guest — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:21:54 +0000

The store in my community just closed (Colorado) after being listed for sale for nine months. So sad that the franchise does not allow these store owners the opportunity to make a profit so they can stay motivated to keep the concept alive. I belive they were open just over three years.

By: Fooled

Fooled — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:44:57 +0000

An opportunity. That is all I wanted. I wanted a chance to add to our family income. Getting involved in this franchise was the worst mistake of my life. I talked my husband into this and now we are facing bankruptcy. The only opportunity was for the company, not for me. There are real opportunities, like Once Upon A Child or others, but not this one. Be sure to take a long hard look at what the others are doing and please think twice. Or better yet, run away.

By: guest

guest — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:51:56 +0000

Any “takers” want to bet on how long this sad looser franchise system will stay afloat? Heard that corporate office staff numbers are smaller, and some corporate office employees must have been pulled, because they have been spotted working at the corporate-owned store on a regular basis. Let’s see now, Taylor Bond boasted a few years ago, when he had over 80 stores he would grow the system to 300, and the latest count is 50 stores! Hey Taylor, you are running toward the wrong goal post!

He is the Bernie Madoff of franchisors!!

By: guest

guest — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:30:45 +0000

From what I can tell, customers of the on-line store need to spend 25 and will get a 5 card to spend in a local Children’s Orchard. This only works if the customer lives within driving distance of a Children’s Orchard. So it looks like the franchisees really get zip.

By: confused

confused — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:44:42 +0000

Do the franchisees get anything off the on line store?

By: Grace

Grace — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:26:19 +0000

The articles ADMIN posted only serve to underscore the shambles the Children’s Orchard franchise system is experiencing at the hand of the owners who took over in 2004. I only wish I knew why.

By: ADMIN

ADMIN — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:21:58 +0000

From Entrepreneur magazine http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2010/february/204624.html:
“The greatest hand-me-down from the weak economy just might be the resale shop. Sales in second-hand stores leaped $223.3 million last year, according to market research–that’s a 31 percent jump in business, when the rest of retail is foundering.”

“…Uptown Cheapskate. Stores in Salt Lake City and Greensboro, N.C., are already up and running, and four more are slated to open this year. ‘Our stores are doing wonderfully in the recession,’ Sloan says. ‘People are now proud of finding deals–it’s in vogue to be thrifty.’”

And from http://www.entrepreneur.com/trends/index.html
“Resale shops. In 2009, secondhand shops increased revenue by $223.3 million, according to IbisWorld. The National Association of Resale Professionals reports that secondhand stores had an average 31 percent increase in business this year.”

Seems like Children’s Orchard stores should be thriving in this economy.

By: Visitor2

Visitor2 — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:12:42 +0000

Keep in mind while this brand is not doing so hot, other resale brands are doing well. This franchise is managed by screwed up master minds who use whips to get their horses (franchisees) to run in the direction they dictate. The stunning drop in store numbers is proof that their way doesn’t work. They are abusive dictators that fail at every business they touch. They do not have one success to point to, and continue to hammer people until they break. It is criminal what the franchise system allows in this country. The FTC is a joke when it comes to franchisor regulation. Instead of being the great American dream, franchising is the great American nightmare.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:03:00 +0000

you’d think these stores would be flowing in the money considering the economy… everyone is looking for bargins and used clothing is a great bargin. So Sad. I used to love to shop at CO now it’s just like paying full price.