ABOUT
Rhea Lana Riner, CEO & Founder
In 1997, Rhea Lana Riner began her small business as a young mom with three small children after her husband changed careers, taking her family from a corporate salary to a ministry salary. Like so many people, she had a passion for fashion, but on a limited budget, she could not afford to dress her children as she hoped. Knowing many other moms who experienced the same challenge, she came up with an idea that would help them all: she invited a few friends to a small event in her living room to buy and sell their children’s used clothing. The positive feedback from the first event was overwhelming, and she quickly realized that there was an eager market among families of all kinds for gently used children’s clothing.
From this humble beginning, Rhea Lana’s was born and has grown. Now twenty years later, Rhea Lana’s Franchise Systems supports 84 franchises operating in 22 states and has received numerous awards. Entrepreneur magazine ranked Rhea Lana’s as one of their Top 500 Franchises in 2017. Franchising
Gator named Rhea Lana’s Top 100 fastest growing franchises in 2017 and 2018, and among the Top 200 fastest growing franchises in 2016. The organization has been recognized as a Top 50 Franchise for franchisee satisfaction in 2017 by Franchise Business Review. Rhea Lana and her business have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, and Bloomberg Business. She has also been featured on numerous television and radio broadcasts. Additional awards include Top Retailer, Top 50 Franchise for Women for 2017 and 2018, 2017 Top Innovative Franchise, Top Low-Cost Franchise in 2018, 2016 Bronze Stevie Award for Company of the Year, 2016 Silver Stevie Business Award for Maverick of the Year, 2016 and 2017 Silver Stevie Award for Woman of the Year.
As a community leader, Rhea Lana has been recognized as 2016 Business Executive of the Year in her hometown of Conway, Arkansas. Rhea Lana’s Franchise Systems, Inc. is integrally involved in the communities where our franchises are located through giving back to local non-profit organizations focused on families in need as well as local foster families.
As a champion in her industry, Rhea Lana Riner has appeared in Washington, DC before the Senate HELP committee to discuss Women in the Workforce and before the House subcommittee for Workforce Protections. She is frequently a speaker on entrepreneurship, women in business, social media in business, and the franchising model. Rhea Lana lives in Conway, Arkansas with her husband Dave. They enjoy visiting their grown children and granddaughter, Lana, in Oklahoma and Texas.
