Mainstream Boutique is a women’s fashion and accessories franchise that began in 1991 in Minnesota. Founded by Marie DeNicola, the business started as a direct-sales operation from her spare bedroom and quickly gained national attention after being featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the brand grew rapidly due to increasing demand for its unique retail concept.

The company began franchising in 1998 and has since expanded to over 70 boutiques across 24 states. The first franchise opened the same year, and Mainstream Boutique has continued to grow with a focus on empowering local entrepreneurs.

Mainstream Boutique offers a curated selection of women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, and its exclusive “Mac and Me” private label. Each store delivers a personalized shopping experience tailored to its local community.

Training

Mainstream Boutique offers a well-rounded training program to prepare franchisees for successful operations. The training is structured across several formats, both in-person and virtual, and extends into ongoing support.

1. Initial Training Program
   New franchisees attend a four-day training at Mainstream’s headquarters or virtually, covering business system orientation, daily operations, inventory purchasing, merchandising, customer service, sales, and financial reporting.
2. Franchise Onboarding Support
   For the first six months post-opening, franchisees receive weekly onboarding support, including sales and inventory reviews. After this period, ongoing support continues monthly through a Franchise Coach.
3. Additional and Refresher Training
   Mainstream may offer or require additional training during the franchise term on topics like sales techniques, inventory management, trade show setup, and event planning. Franchisees are responsible for their own expenses and training fees where applicable.

Territory Protection

Mainstream Boutique provides territory protection to its franchisees through a defined Designated Territory. This area generally includes a population of approximately 100,000 people or a 10-mile radius from the franchise location.

As long as the franchisee complies with all contractual obligations, Mainstream agrees not to establish or franchise another retail store within this territory. However, this protection is subject to certain conditions and limitations.

Mainstream Boutique reserves the right to terminate territorial protection without ending the Franchise Agreement if the franchisee defaults and fails to cure the issue.