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Style Encore Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Style Encore is a men’s and women’s resale franchise that buys and sells gently used clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories.
Style Encore is a retail resale franchise owned by Winmark Corporation. The brand buys and sells gently used women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, giving customers a way to refresh their wardrobes, earn cash for items they no longer wear and shop more sustainably. With more than 65 stores across North America, Style Encore operates in the growing apparel resale category while offering franchisees the backing of Winmark’s larger resale franchise system.
1. What Is the Brand Overview for Style Encore?
About the Brand
Style Encore was launched by Winmark Corporation in 2013 as the company’s newest resale franchise concept. Style Encore was created to serve customers looking for quality, gently used fashion at affordable prices, with a focus on women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories.
Mission: Style Encore’s mission is to make it easy for customers to buy and sell gently used fashion while helping extend the life of clothing and accessories.
Vision: Style Encore’s vision is to bring sustainable, affordable resale fashion to more communities across North America.
Unique Selling Points (USPs)
- Customers can sell gently used items and get paid cash on the spot.
- Stores buy styles for all seasons, all day, every day with no appointment necessary.
- Shoppers can find gently used clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories at affordable prices.
- The brand offers women’s sizes 0-30 and XS-6X, as well as men’s sizes 28W-44W and XS-XXXL.
- Style Encore promotes sustainable shopping by keeping clothing and accessories in use and out of landfills.
2. What Are the Franchise Opportunity Details?
Why Franchise With Style Encore?
- Backing from Winmark Corporation, a resale franchisor with more than 30 years of franchising experience.
- A proven resale business model in the growing secondhand apparel category.
- Comprehensive training and support before and after opening.
- Business planning support, including help building a three-year financial plan and written narrative for financing.
- Retail site selection support, including guidance on economics, visibility, parking, co-tenants, lease basics and broker selection.
- Style and trend training, including monthly “What’s Hot” communications and hands-on product training.
- Ongoing support from Winmark field operations managers with retail and operational experience.
- Marketing and advertising support, including television, radio, digital, social, event and local store marketing assets.
- Access to a recognized resale franchise network that includes multiple Winmark brands.
Available Territories
Style Encore has available territories throughout the United States and Canada. Prospective franchisees can review open markets on the brand’s Available Territories page.
Investment Overview
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Style Encore franchise ranges from $339,200 to $458,900. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Fixtures and Supplies | $50,000 | $65,000 |
| Signs | $11,000 | $16,000 |
| Security Cameras | $1,500 | $4,000 |
| Point-of-Sale (POS) System | $23,200 | $30,900 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $10,500 | $20,000 |
| Build-Out | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| Deposits & Business Licenses | $8,000 | $18,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $70,000 | $80,000 |
| Miscellaneous Pre-Opening Expenses | $45,000 | $65,000 |
| Rent (3 Months) | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $40,000 | $50,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $25,000 for a new Style Encore franchise. Existing Winmark franchisees or those opening a second or subsequent Style Encore store pay a reduced fee of $15,000. The fee is due in full when the franchise agreement is signed and is nonrefundable.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Style Encore franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Continuing fee | 5% gross sales/week |
| Marketing | $1,500/year |
| Local marketing | Minimum of 5% gross sales/year |
| Software | $295/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 62 Style Encore stores operating for the entirety of 2025 reported the following annual gross sales:
| Quartile | Average | Median | High | Low |
| Top 1/4 (15) | $1,631,150 | $1,495,016 | $2,786,831 | $1,223,273 |
| Second 1/4 (15) | $1,080,886 | $1,077,886 | $1,221,458 | $943,968 |
| Third 1/4 (16) | $741,249 | $743,401 | $909,483 | $605,397 |
| Bottom 1/4 (16) | $434,456 | $442,689 | $596,696 | $233,521 |
| Total (62) | $959,541 | $873,963 | $2,786,831 | $233,521 |
3. What Franchisee Support Does Style Encore Provide?
Pre-Opening Support
Style Encore provides franchisees with support before opening, including business planning, financial planning, site selection guidance, lease education and help preparing for store launch. Winmark recommends that franchisees wait to secure a site until after completing training and developing a business plan.
Training Programs
Style Encore franchisees receive more than 65 hours of classroom instruction. Training covers store operations, customer service, business planning, buying, product selection, style trends and financial planning. One full day of training is dedicated to building a detailed three-year plan and written narrative for financing.
Operational Support
Winmark provides ongoing operational support through field operations managers with retail and operational experience. Franchisees receive guidance on daily operations, customer experience, market challenges and business growth. The brand also supports franchisees with retail site selection, including criteria such as store size, visibility, parking and co-tenancy.
Technology and Tools
Style Encore provides franchisees with a point-of-sale system and operational tools to support buying, selling, inventory management and store operations. Franchisees also receive marketing assets, digital and social media support, event marketing materials and access to preferred marketing vendors familiar with the brand.
4. What Are the Franchise Requirements for Style Encore?
Eligibility Criteria
- Liquid Assets: $75,000 - $105,000
- Net Worth: $400,000
Style Encore does not require every franchisee to have a retail background. The brand looks for candidates with strong leadership skills, a passion for serving their community and an interest in resale, fashion and customer service.
Operational Commitments
Style Encore franchisees should be prepared to operate a retail business with inventory buying, customer service, staffing, local marketing and daily store management needs. The brand’s materials emphasize committed ownership, business planning and preparation before opening.
Funding Assistance
Winmark says many franchisees are able to secure financing through loans or financial partners. The company also says it has partnered with leading franchise financial institutions to help candidates get pre-qualified and navigate the loan process.
5. Are There Franchisee Success Stories?
"Winmark has done a really good job with providing the playbook to make everything as simple as possible as well as give you guidance to build the best team. … We saw growth very, very quickly."
- Olivia Balliet, Franchisee — Mooresville, North Carolina
For more franchisee testimonials and success stories, visit the Style Encore franchise website.
6. What Is the Market Potential for Resale Clothing?
The U.S. secondhand market reached an estimated $61 billion in 2026 and is projected to grow to $74 billion by 2029, driven by increasing demand for affordable, sustainable fashion. More than half of the market now comes from resale businesses, while 58% of U.S. shoppers purchased secondhand apparel in 2024 and 83% of Gen Z consumers have either shopped for or expressed interest in buying secondhand clothing. As resale continues to outpace traditional apparel growth, brands like Style Encore are well-positioned to benefit from consumers' growing acceptance of buying and selling gently used clothing.
Competitor Analysis
Style Encore competes in the apparel resale and thrift category. Its primary competitors include Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor, Uptown Cheapskate, Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading, local consignment stores, independent thrift stores and online resale platforms such as Poshmark, Depop, Mercari, eBay and ThredUp.
Style Encore sets itself apart through its cash-on-the-spot buying model, local store ownership, broad women’s and men’s size ranges, affordable pricing and the backing of Winmark’s resale franchise system.
7. What Is the Application Process for Style Encore Franchisees?
- Apply and Meet Requirements: Complete the qualification form and provide basic information, including your financial qualifications and the market where you would like to open a Style Encore franchise. Winmark also answers initial questions about the franchise opportunity during this stage.
- Get to Know Franchisees: Qualified candidates are introduced to existing Style Encore franchise owners and visit operating stores. This gives prospective franchisees the opportunity to see the business firsthand, ask questions about ownership and learn how stores operate.
- Attend Discovery Day: Candidates are invited to Discovery Day to meet the Winmark team and learn more about Style Encore's operations, training, marketing and ongoing franchise support. This is also an opportunity for both parties to determine whether the partnership is the right fit.
- Join Style Encore: Following Discovery Day and final approval, candidates officially become Style Encore franchisees. Winmark then schedules initial training and begins assisting with business planning, site selection and store development.
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