Winmark Corporation Selected by Forbes as one of the Top 20 Small Public Companies in America

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, November 03, 2011 (Press-News.org) Winmark Corporation—the franchisor of well-known brands Play It Again Sports , Once Upon a Child , Plato's Closet and Music Go Round that buy, sell, and trade new and gently used merchandise—today announced it was ranked No. 11 on Forbes' Top 20 Small Public Companies in America list for 2011.

The rankings are based on earnings and sales growth, as well as return on equity during the past 12 months and throughout the past five years. The list features companies from a variety of industries that have been publicly traded for at least one year, generate annual revenue between $5 million and $1 billion and boast a stock price no lower than $5 a share.

"This recognition is a testament to our accomplishments and sustainability as a leader in the retail industry," said John Morgan, Chairman and CEO of Winmark Corporation. "We're honored to be part of this prestigious list, and to be ranked amongst some of America's leading companies. Winmark Corporation is meeting a demand for retail services across the nation, and being recognized on a list as prestigious as Forbes Top 20 Small Public Companies further positions us as a leader in the franchise industry."

Winmark Corporation has been a leader in the franchise industry for more than 25 years, and currently has more than 920 franchise locations operating across its family of resale brands. In addition to franchises in operation, at the end of Q3 2011 Winmark awarded an additional 39 retail franchises slated to open in the next year.

"Our business model is successful in any economic environment, by offering consumers and investors alike a retail option that provides both affordable and high-quality products," added Morgan. "We continue to grow through both store sales and opening additional locations and look forward to continued and aggressive expansion of our brands in the coming years."

Winmark Corporation's experience and commitment to its franchisees provides small business owners and potential investors with the best possible chance for success with an organization that has a proven track record in the resale retail business. Franchisees and investors receive extensive training and support including business planning, site assistance, store design and layout, inventory management, proprietary computer systems, franchise-specific product, style and trend training, and professional marketing and merchandising materials, among others.

For more information about Winmark Corporation visit http://www.winmarkcorporation.com or to learn about Winmark Corporation's franchise opportunity visit http://www.winmarkcorporation.com/franchising.aspx.

Complete results of the Forbes America's Best Small Companies, including company profiles, sales, earnings and return on equity, can be found at http://www.forbes.com/best-small-companies/list/.

About Winmark Corporation
Winmark Corporation, based in Minneapolis, creates, supports and finances business. Specializing in leasing and developing franchises for retail stores that buy, sell, and trade new and used merchandise, it is the parent company of Play It Again Sports , Once Upon A Child , Plato's Closet , Music Go Round , Wirth Business Credit , Winmark Capital and http://www.WBSOnline.com. Winmark has more than 920 franchise territories and is publicly traded at (NASDAQ=WINA). For more information visit http://www.winmarkcorporation.com.