Lee’s Summit, Missouri Consignment Sale
Named 2009 JBF Franchise of the Year

Eastern Jackson County’s largest children’s and maternity consignment event, Just Between Friends Lee’s Summit was just named Franchise of the Year at the national JBF “Beyond the Numbers” Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. JBF Lee’s Summit topped more than 90 franchises from 19 other states, including Missouri and Kansas, in achieving this honor.

JBF Lee’s Summit franchise owner Amber Post began the sale four years ago to help local families save and earn money on their children’s clothing and equipment needs. Post first participated in the Tulsa sale as a working mother trying to make ends meet and thought the Lee’s Summit area could benefit from a similar event.

“Every family has a never-ending supply of outgrown clothing that was rarely or never worn, not to mention the piles of toys and baby equipment that seem to multiply year after year. I had such great success selling my daughter’s wardrobe at the Tulsa JBF sale that when I moved to Lee’s Summit, I drove back twice a year to participate. It wasn’t long before I realized that starting a franchise in Lee’s Summit would be something that would really relate to families here,” said Post.

The Lee’s Summit JBF franchise was recognized for its commitment to building strong relationships with consignors, volunteers, the community as a whole and non-profit organizations who serve the area, as well as with other Kansas City-area franchise owners.

“Of course making some extra money on their kids’ clothing is the reason most people get involved in JBF originally, but the reason that we have consignors who have sold with us for multiple sales, and volunteer up to 24 hours in a weekend to make the sale successful, is because of the relationships that are built on the floor. We get to know the families who are involved—who their kids are, their hobbies and interests, and even what type of bargains they are looking for. The people of JBF Lee’s Summit are what make this sale so much fun for me personally,” said Post.

JBF Lee’s Summit held two events in 2009, and wrapped up its most successful sale ever at the Pavilion at John Knox Village in August. The fall sale included more than 450 consignors; nearly double the participation of the previous year.

Just Between Friends Lee’s Summit is a bi-annual consignment event featuring gently-used or new children’s and maternity clothing, toys, and equipment. Participating consignors price their own items and earn a minimum of 65% back for each item sold and can increase their earning percentage by volunteering at or before the sale. For the Lee’s Summit 2009 events, the average consignor earned $393.

Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc. is the largest children’s and maternity consignment event in the country. In 2009, the organization boasted a 38% increase in consignors (38,000+), a 23% increase in shoppers (260,000+), and is projecting national sales of $10.5 million, a $3.7 million increase from last year. JBF has been featured nationally on CNN, Good Morning America, CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” and ABC News.