Big Blue Swim School Sets Sights on Kansas City as Priority Market for Expansion

One of the nation’s fastest-growing swim schools looks to expand into the Kansas City market based on the large population boom in the area.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Big Blue Swim School, one of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises, has identified Kansas City as a top market for new growth in 2022. With an aggressive growth plan in place, Big Blue Swim School has already signed 201 units in 22 states across the country. With a goal of reaching 100 open units by 2025, the brand is uniquely positioned to be the leader in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry. In Kansas City, Big Blue plans to add three units over the next several years.

Big Blue’s real estate team uses a data-driven strategy to find suitable locations for families, and Kansas City is the perfect next stop, considering its boom in growth over the last 10 years. Its population has increased by nearly 10% since 2010, with nearly 7% representing children under the age of five. For a brand with a mission to teach the vital life skill of swimming to young children, Kansas City offers a target-rich environment.

“I grew up in a small town called Baldwin City near Kansas City, which provided us a rural setting with quick access to the city,” states Casey Morford, Chief Technology Officer for Big Blue, “We didn’t have swim schools in the area, however, so as a parent of now-teenagers, our options were either local rec centers, someone’s backyard pool, or the lake. I know the local community will be glad to see Big Blue moving into the neighborhood to provide a resource for parents and children.”

Big Blue has identified several neighborhoods in the Kansas City market as places of interest, such as Overland Park, Olathe, Stillwell, Leawood and even farther west such as Shawnee and Lenexa — all great locations along the K-10 corridor, providing easy transportation for families.

“Big Blue loves Kansas City and believes it will be successful here for the same reasons we’ve been successful in our other markets — the population density, the number of children located here, and the great school districts,” Morford said. “The demand is here for swim lessons for kids, and we know Big Blue will be a natural fit for the community. We look forward to becoming a staple in the Kansas City area.”

In 2022, Big Blue plans to open additional locations throughout the U.S., including Detroit, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Miami, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Watchung, and Paramus, N.J.

The brand is actively looking for qualified franchise partners to develop in several other key markets across the country, including San Jose, Raleigh, Cleveland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, among others.

ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong. The first location opened in Wilmette, Illinois, followed by four additional Chicagoland schools. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a stake in the brand, and pools are now open in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Northern Virginia. Big Blue is currently growing through franchising with plans to have a minimum of 240 pools sold by the end of 2022. Big Blue Swim School's real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its best-in-class consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.