Case Studies

Sandra, Franchisee, Gymboree Play & Music Watford

Sandra had grown up with a passion for young children and knew from childhood she wanted to work with little ones.  Initially she’d wanted to be a midwife and started her career as a maternity nurse.  This role involved stressful work, early starts and late nights, but she loved it.  Sandra decided against the idea of being a midwife after the birth of her second child (!) but still wanted to work with babies and children.  She was passionate about newborn babies and learning about their early development.

Sandra brought both her girls to Gymboree Play & Music Watford and heard from another member that it was for sale, and a seed was planted in her head!  She’d never run a business before but her husband ran his own business so she had insights into what’s involved.  She’d always liked the structure of the Gymboree Play & Music classes, and could see her girls loved them, and really benefited from them.  Her youngest girl was only 2 at the time so still very much needed her to be around.  Deciding that her maternity nurse career would take her away from her family too much, she wanted a job which could fit around her family and allow her to continue working with little ones.  “It had to work with my kids because I love being mum”, Sandra remembered.  So in 2019 Sandra bought Gymboree Play & Music Watford!

Knowing the brand and having been a member put her in good stead for running the business.  She undertook the training involving 4 days of business, marketing, operations and finance training, and then 2 weeks of teacher training at a local centre.  It was a tricky time with the pandemic coming along only a year later but Sandra and the business have flourished and she’s now confident, happy and settled running a business which works for her.

Sandra lives in Watford with her husband Eimis, and their girls Lilija 13, and Ava 6.

Aaron, Franchisee, Gymboree Play & Music Wandsworth & Wimbledon

Aaron originally studied his undergraduate degree in Drama and Theatre Studies in his home country of Ireland, then moved to London to do his MA in Musical Theatre.  While he was waiting for his big break, in between auditions, he took on various part time jobs including working in a stage school, running storytime sessions in local nurseries, and also teaching at Gymboree Play & Music.  He loved his role at Gymboree Play & Music because he could see how the classes were obviously beneficial to the little ones, but also how members relied on the Centre for support. “It didn’t feel like a job, it felt like you were contributing to this little hub in the local community” Aaron remembers.  So when the previous franchisee asked him if he wanted to buy the business he was intrigued.

He’d always liked the idea of having his own business, and this seemed like the perfect scenario as he really enjoyed the work and the business was being offered to him!  So Aaron did his research and spoke to his family and took the leap to be a Gymboree Play & Music franchisee in 2019.

At this point he dropped his other jobs and focused full-time on this new project.  He’d never run his own business before so there was a lot to learn in terms of managing people, his time, and money.  But he knew the classes side of things having been a teacher for just over a year, so that was a big benefit.  Aaron found the training, systems and support he needed to manage the business very useful.  The website, booking system, and communication tools allow him to focus on running the business efficiently and professionally, and he still teaches lots of classes himself, but also employs 3 other teachers.

Aaron now runs Gymboree Play & Music Wandsworth & Wimbledon full time but still finds time to play basketball for his local team and perform, including taking a role in Kinky Boots in 2022!

 

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