Big Blue Swim School Starts 2022 with a Splash

By: Big Blue Swim School | 1 Shares 186 Reads

April 01, 2022 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO - Big Blue Swim School announced today that it has reached its goal of 50% of locations sold within three years of beginning its franchising journey.

With its new commitment, Level 5 will open 27 units across California, New York, and Maryland, adding to its initial investment of 16 locations throughout the U.S. The partnership between Level 5 and Big Blue began in 2017 when Level 5 acquired a stake in the brand. Level 5’s mission is to change lives locally, which aligns with Big Blue’s unique teaching process that shows kids they can do anything by unlocking their full potential in the water.

“We are excited about the acquisition of 27 new Big Blue units as we continue our plans to grow alongside the brand,” said Scott Thompson, Managing Partner and CDO of Level 5. “Big Blue’s recession-resistant business model and their unique real estate strategy made them an attractive investment for us, and we are thrilled with the growth we have been a part of since joining the brand as a partner in 2017.”

Big Blue’s real estate team utilizes a data-driven strategy to find suitable locations for families and found territories perfect for Level 5’s new locations. The sites for Level 5’s most recent Big Blue units were selected based on readily available real estate, kid-dense populations, a need for water for formal swim lessons, and demographics that focus heavily on health, wellness, and family services.

In 2021, Big Blue opened four new locations, signed 13 leases, and awarded 82 units to eight new franchise partners. Franchisees include Olympic gold medal swimmer Peter Vanderkaay and his brother, NCAA champion swimmer, Alex Vanderkaay, with a four-location deal in Detroit, a nine-unit agreement with Gary Cohen to develop stores across Boston, and a 21-store agreement with Austin C. Smith to open locations in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.

“We’re excited about the pace of the growth we’re experiencing and reaching our 50% goal this early on,” said Scott Sanders, CEO of Big Blue Swim School. “We’re also thrilled by the reception we are receiving across the country. We’re not just opening swim schools; we’re helping children build life-saving skills and boosting their confidence at the same time by showing them they can do anything by unlocking their full potential in the water. We couldn’t accomplish this without our incredible franchise partners, including Level 5, who have helped us grow immensely over the past three years.”

SOURCE Big Blue Swim School

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