Big Blue Swim School Eyes Arizona as its Next Priority State for Development

In the decade since U.S. national champion swimmer Chris DeJong founded Big Blue Swim School, the Illinois-based swim instruction franchise has signed agreements to develop 118 locations throughout strategically chosen markets across the U.S., carving out a lucrative position as a leading brand in the $3 billion swim school industry. Big Blue is preparing to leverage that position to fuel an aggressive growth plan over the next few years, pinpointing Phoenix, Arizona as a prime market.

Backed by an investment from Atlanta-based private equity firm Level 5 Capital Partners, Big Blue Swim School has already signed agreements to develop in markets across the Southwest. The leadership team believes this will give the company a marked advantage as it seeks to grow its footprint. Big Blue already has franchise partners in the neighboring states of Utah and Colorado and Arizona is a logical next step for growth. 

As one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., Arizona is positioning itself as the alternative to California for tech companies and entrepreneurs. The state’s lower personal and corporate income taxes, lower cost of living, and more affordable housing all contribute to that growth. 

“Arizona is a great market for Big Blue because there is a dense population of families with kids under twelve years old. In fact, the territory has twice the number of children in our key demographic than our headquarters city of Chicago,” said Big Blue CEO Scott Sanders. “Arizona’s warm climate means many homes have pools and kids need to be strong swimmers in order to be safe at home, or when visiting a neighbor or friend’s house. Our concept makes a difference in the communities we serve and for families who understand that learning to swim is an important, life-saving skill.”

According to Sanders, the Phoenix market can support up to 11 Big Blue pools, and DeJong says Arizona’s dense population of dual-income households makes it a prime development opportunity. “The demographics found in the Arizona area are perfect for our unit model, which caters to ages 6-months to 12 years old,” said DeJong. “Big Blue delivers the highest-quality swim lessons while also providing more scheduling options to allow siblings to swim in the same half-hour window. We make the need for weekly swim lessons as convenient as possible for dual working parent households.”

Big Blue’s proprietary enterprise system, LessonBuddy™, is designed so franchise partners can operate successful pools without requiring a daily on-site presence. It also lets parents conveniently schedule lessons and track a students’ progress. The brand also utilizes the data collected by LessonBuddy to modify staffing levels allowing the company to be more nimble with its cost structure. The technology-driven model sets the brand ahead of its competition.  

Arizona’s continued metropolitan development and economic boom provide valuable opportunities for prime real estate. Big Blue uses market knowledge and a data-driven real estate assessment methodology to identify prime real estate in trade areas across the country that fit the brand’s member profile. To ensure these sites start off on the right foot, Big Blue also provides a franchisor-operated marketing plan that optimizes customer acquisition and retention strategies before the doors are even open.

These advantages have helped establish the brand as a key player in the swim lesson franchise segment, positioning franchise partners for success across the nation. As the franchise brand prepares for its next stage of expansion, Sanders says the ideal timeline for new openings includes having a Phoenix site under lease within the next 12 -to-18 months.  

“For us, it’s all about creating an essential learning experience for the kids and a convenient and frictionless experience for the parents,” Sanders said. “We believe Arizona is a hot spot for swim schools in the U.S. and the area’s young families will love the convenience, technology, and experience they will receive from Big Blue Swim School.”

Multi-unit franchise opportunities are available for qualified candidates looking for their next big opportunity, and veterans can receive a 10-percent discount on the $80,000 franchise fee. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a new Big Blue Swim School is $2,329,223 to $3,636,998 (refer to item 7 in FDD) To learn more or inquire about Big Blue Swim School, visit https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/.