Women's Clothing Franchise Ranked Among the Elite in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500

APPLE VALLEY, MN, January 19, 2013 (Press-News.org) Mainstream Boutique, a women's clothing and accessories franchise that's gaining traction around the country, has ranked 374 in Entrepreneur's 34th Annual "Franchise 500," the world's most comprehensive franchise ranking. It is the brand's first appearance on the list.

This annual ranking of America's top franchise opportunities highlights companies based on quantifiable measures of the franchise operation. Most importantly, the rankings examine the financial strength and stability, as well as company growth rate and size of the system.

"To be featured on this list is truly a testament to the strength of our brand and our relentless commitment to the support and success of everyone in our franchise system," said Marie DeNicola, president and CEO of Mainstream Boutique. "We are honored and humbled to be ranked amongst the nation's leading franchises. I could not be more proud of how far we have come as a brand and the successes we've achieved so far. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds as we continue to expand Mainstream Boutique nationwide."

The rankings for each of the 500 companies are determined using an exclusive formula that takes into account objective and quantifiable factors, and an independent CPA analyzed all financial data. All franchises are given a cumulative score, and of the 500 franchises with the highest of that score become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

"Franchises are not only a great avenue to business ownership for many with a thirsty entrepreneurial spirit, but they're also capable of playing a key role in carrying us into a growing economy," said Amy Cosper, VP and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "The $153.7 billion in total payroll and 7.9 million jobs they account for speak to that loud and clear, and the ones that made this year's Franchise 500 are a great place for anyone to start their search for the right business."

Mainstream Boutique, which began franchising in 1998, has already seen substantial growth. The company has managed to double in size since its humble beginnings and shows all signs of becoming a powerful force in today's $50 billion clothing store industry. Alongside its rising geographical footprint, Mainstream Boutique experienced robust store sales, with an average store sales increase of more than $100,000 between 2010 and 2011.

Unlike large department stores that have huge volumes of merchandise, Mainstream Boutique's typical 1,500 square-foot stores carry smaller quantities of inventory, thus allowing franchise owners to respond quickly to changing trends, giving their customers the latest fashions on the market.

To view Mainstream Boutique in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January 2013 issue of Entrepreneur.

For more information about Mainstream Boutique, please visit http://www.mainstreamboutique.com or call 952-423-7344. For more information regarding franchise opportunities, please visit http://www.mainstreamboutique.com/newsite/retail-clothing-franchise.

About Mainstream Boutique
Founded in 1991 by Marie DeNicola as a direct sales company, Mainstream Boutique is a women's retail clothing and accessories franchise that offers a variety of affordable, fashion-forward pieces for women of all ages. The franchise has 23 successful boutiques operating in 10 states with four locations currently under development. The Minnesota based company, which began franchising in 1998, is set to double in size by 2014 with expansion plans in Texas, Illinois, Colorado and Wisconsin. For more information, please contact Corey DeNicola at cdenicola@mainstreamboutique.com. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit http://www.mainstreamboutique.com/newsite/retail-clothing-franchise.