Winmark Corporation

Winmark Corporation is a resale company that operates as a franchisor in the United States and Canada. Its primary business involves franchising several retail concepts that buy, sell, and trade gently used merchandise. The company's portfolio includes Plato's Closet, which focuses on gently used clothing and accessories for teenagers and young adults; Once Upon A Child, which deals in gently used and new children's clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, and accessories; Style Encore, which offers gently used women's and men's apparel, shoes, and accessories; Play It Again Sports, which buys, sells, and trades gently used and new sporting goods and equipment for activities like team sports, fitness, skiing, snowboarding, and golf; and Music Go Round, which handles gently used and new musical instruments, speakers, amplifiers, music-related electronics, and accessories. Additionally, Winmark operates a middle-market equipment leasing business under the Winmark Capital brand and provides point-of-sale system hardware to its franchisees, as well as certain merchandise to its Play It Again Sports franchisees.

Winmark Corporation is listed on the NasdaqGM exchange under the ticker symbol WINA. Its shares are traded in US dollars (USD). The company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and its primary operations are in the United States and Canada, but its stock is traded on a major US exchange, reflecting its US-based corporate structure and reporting in US dollars.

Winmark Corporation operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector, specifically within the Specialty Retail industry. As a specialty retailer, the company focuses on niche markets—in this case, the resale and franchise of gently used goods across multiple categories such as clothing, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Being in the consumer cyclical sector means its performance is tied to the health of the economy; consumer spending on discretionary items like used clothing and sports equipment tends to fluctuate with economic cycles. However, the resale model may offer some resilience as consumers seek value during downturns.

Winmark Corporation is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The company was incorporated in 1988 and was formerly known as Grow Biz International, Inc. before rebranding in November 2001. It serves the United States and Canada through its franchise network. The company's franchise brands—Plato's Closet, Once Upon A Child, Style Encore, Play It Again Sports, and Music Go Round—operate in various locations across both countries, focusing on the resale of gently used merchandise to value-conscious consumers.

Winmark Corporation generates revenue primarily through franchising its retail concepts. As a franchisor, it earns fees from franchisees, including initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties based on a percentage of franchisees' sales. The company also provides point-of-sale system hardware to its franchisees and sells certain merchandise to its Play It Again Sports franchisees, which likely generates additional revenue. Additionally, Winmark operates a middle-market equipment leasing business under the Winmark Capital brand, which provides leasing services for equipment to businesses. This diversified model allows Winmark to earn income from both its franchise operations and its leasing segment, reducing reliance on any single revenue stream.