ONCE UPON A CHILD: EXTON, PA

Owner: Megan Davis, discusses her Winmark journey

How did you come to own a Winmark franchise? What did you do prior to owning a Winmark franchise?

I loved working at my local Plato's Closet/Style Encore. I worked there for almost ten years. Both stores were very successful, and I assumed a Once Upon a Child in the same territory/shopping center would also do well. I opened my store because I did not want to leave the resale world.

What were some steps you took at the start of opening your store that led to your overall success?

I hired an employee who had worked at another Once Upon A Child and her knowledge was vital. I also became fast friends with other operators. Their help and continued guidance have made a huge impact on our store. I cannot stress enough the importance of collaborating with other owners. 

Have you implemented any new tactics to keep your staff motivated and to help with employee retention?

We have many areas where we need to continue to fine-tune, but thankfully, our employee retention has always been high. I provide snacks in the breakroom, and the employees basically decide their own schedule. They can change their availability up until Monday or Tuesday before the following week. I focus on my managers and try to check in with them individually. Like many owners, I have an open-door policy with all staff members so they can talk to me at any time.

How has the partnership with JMM benefited your business? 

My account manager goes above and beyond to enhance their services. I hear from other owners about their social media accounts going dark, getting hacked, or violating some obscure FB policy. I know that if something similar happens to my platform, they will help me get it back free of charge. I cannot keep up with the changing social media landscape, so I rely on them to manage our ads when it matters most.