Plato's Closet: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Plato's Closet was founded in 1998 by Lynn and Dennis Blum, who were already experienced in the resale retail industry, having previously built and sold the franchise rights to Once Upon A Child, a children's clothing resale concept, to Winmark (then known as Grow Biz International) in 1993. Drawing on that experience, the Blums built Plato's Closet as a resale concept specifically targeting teens and young adults, and once again partnered with Winmark to help scale the brand, which began franchising in 1999 with just four existing stores in Ohio.

Winmark itself traces its own roots to 1988, when it was incorporated in Minnesota as Play It Again Sports Franchise Corporation by Ron Olson and Jeffrey Dahlberg after they purchased the Play It Again Sports franchise rights. The company renamed itself Grow Biz International, Inc. in 1993 and went public that same year, before rebranding again to Winmark Corporation in November 2001 under CEO John Morgan, who had rescued the company from the verge of bankruptcy by shifting its strategy toward a fully franchisee-owned store model. Plato's Closet grew rapidly under Winmark's ownership, gaining national media attention as early as 2001 for its markdown pricing on name-brand items from retailers such as Express and Dr. Martens.

Today, Plato's Closet operates as one of five resale retail franchise brands under Winmark Corporation, alongside Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore, and Music Go Round, with Winmark trading publicly on Nasdaq under the ticker WINA. Plato's Closet has grown to more than 475 to 515 franchise locations across North America, and Winmark as a whole surpassed 1,000 total franchise locations in 2013 and $1 billion in enterprise sales by 2015. Plato's Closet's workforce includes store employees who buy and sell used clothing directly from customers, cashiers, and store managers, typically employed by individual franchise owners rather than directly by Winmark Corporation.

Company culture and employee programs: Plato's Closet emphasizes affordable fashion, inclusivity, sustainability, and community as core to its brand identity, appealing to environmentally and budget-conscious young shoppers. Franchise owners receive training through Winmark's "Resale University 101" program at the company's Minneapolis headquarters, along with ongoing franchisor support. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary considerably by individual franchise location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a hiring manager during the interview process.

Yes. Employers in the resale and specialty retail industry, including Plato's Closet franchise locations, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Plato's Closet locations are generally reported to conduct background checks as part of their hiring process, which is standard for resale retail employers, particularly for roles involving cash handling and direct purchasing transactions with customers.

The hiring process for store-level positions at Plato's Closet typically includes an application, an interview with a store manager or franchise owner, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a resale retail role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis by each franchise owner, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Plato's Closet may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Plato's Closet or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.