Just Between Friends Franchises Give Back

Michigan nonprofit honors JBF franchisees Melissa Cook and Melanie Salamone

Just Between Friends consignment sale franchisees are changing lives in their communities with every event they hold. Serving communities is a founding principle for JBF, and our franchise owners across the United States partner with local charitable organizations. With a business model based on altruism, we have helped more than 1 million families nationwide save money on buying children’s clothing, games, toys, maternity and baby gear. “Our owners empower the people of their communities,” says Dawn Pfannenstiel, Director of Training and Support with Just Between Friends. “We partner with nonprofits and help them accomplish their goals. We also give families in the community an outlet to make more money for their families, to help with that bottom line, and to help with that budget. There’s nothing more empowering than mailing those consignment checks because you know the benefit and the positives of what those families will do with that money. We get shoppers all the time who say, ‘I could not clothe my children without you.”

Michigan franchise owners recognized for community service

Melissa Cook and Melanie Salamone co-own a franchise serving the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan, areas. Cook and Salamone partner with a local nonprofit, In the Image, which provides free basic items for families in need. This spring, the nonprofit honored the pair with its Community Take Action Award to recognize their ongoing support. “We are so proud to be able to support our community in this way,” Cook says. “To be recognized by In the Image was amazing. It’s such an important organization in our community and always in need of support. We are thankful to our team leaders and our consignors for their part in helping this great organization.” In the Image’s mission is to link new and gently used clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances with people in need. The organization serves about 400 customers who are allowed to shop at no cost each week. Cook and Salamone’s JBF franchise stocks the children’s section of the store year-round. In the Image leaders say that were it not for JBF’s donations, children would go without and families’ basic needs would not be met. About 60% of the families served at In the Image have children younger than 12. Consignors have the option of donating unsold items to charitable organizations with whom the franchise partners. For the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo franchise, consignors donate about 19,000 items each year to nonprofits in their community. Hear more from Cook and Salamone about their relationship with In the Image in this video:    

Join JBF franchise and give back to your community

Just Between Friends franchise is the leading pop-up consignment sales event franchise in North America. From our beginnings in a Tulsa living room in 1997, the JBF brand has grown to 150+ franchises in the United States. By helping families buy and sell their outgrown children’s clothing, baby gear, games and toys, maternity items, and much, much more, we have become a nationally recognized brand. Over the years, we have been able to give back an estimated $25 million in cash and in-kind donations to dozens of nonprofits nationwide, with $4.9 million in 2017 alone. The amount of money and donated items we can give back will only grow through the generosity of our consignors as we expand our footprint in North America. We see our role in the community as an essential part of our company’s mission: “To glorify God by bringing communities and families together in a welcoming, friendly venue that allows them to care for children and be good stewards of what they have been given.” We’re a faith-based business, and for us that faith comes first. To learn more about franchising with us, explore the research pages on our website or request a copy of our free Franchise Information Report.

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