How One Mom’s Desire to Supplement Her Son’s Art Education Inspired Her to Found Kidcreate Studio

When Lara Olson’s son, Jake, kept coming home from school frustrated by his reading and spelling lessons, but ecstatic about the time he spent in art class, she saw her younger self in him.

“Looking back at how I felt as a student at that age, I knew what he was going through,” Olson said. “He was only getting art once a week, and it wasn't enough.”

Determined to give her son more frequent access to the joy he felt during art class, Olson began searching for something to supplement what he was getting in school. None of the programs available, though, were what she wanted for him.

“What I wanted was what Kidcreate Studio is today,” Olson reflected. So, she decided to take the leap and build the setting she envisioned for her son and other children to experience art. “I became obsessed with the idea of creating this new environment for children to engage their creativity,” she said. “It took 12 years to build to this vision, but we’re finally here.”

Olson’s journey began in 2008, when the first Kidcreate Studio opened in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Over the last 12 years, the arts and crafts franchise has grown into a unique environment designed just for kids that combines high-quality art education with a comfortable, kid-friendly environment for children aged 18 months to 12 years old. Kidcreate Studio currently has eight locations in five states, with five additional locations in development and even more to come. The young brand is growing fast: After making the decision to “paint the states” through franchising just two years ago, its studios are thriving thanks to a unique combination of a 2-in-1 business model offering in-house and on-the-go classes and a tech-free, kid-centric environment.

Kidcreate Studio offers various classes and art-themed birthday parties through both its brick-and-mortar locations and an on-the-go studio division, Olson explained. The two-pronged business model is nonexistent elsewhere in the supplemental art education segment.

“We have our studio locations where we hold classes and camps, but we also offer on-the-go classes, meaning we establish partnerships with other local organizations to host Kidcreate classes and camps at their locations,” Olson said. Locations where on-the-go classes frequently occur include private schools, community centers and preschools, among others.

The 2-in-1 business model is popular from a consumer standpoint because it gives parents flexibility and convenience when it comes to scheduling and proximity of classes with the guarantee that their children still have the same high-quality experience at any Kidcreate Studio. The model not only provides additional revenue for franchisees but provides a marketing channel by which to increase their customer base. Studio owners also experience some of the highest net profit margins in the industry thanks to the combination of four main revenue streams: studio classes and camps, the on-the-go studio division plus parties and events revenue and retail sales.

The birthday parties Kidcreate Studio holds are a particularly lucrative offering for its franchisees. An hour and a half long and designed for children aged 3 to 12, the parties are structured so that customers define the details” the art project, materials, invitations and supplies. Standard parties include up to 12 children but can accommodate up to 25 for an extra fee. Events like this benefit from the intelligent structure of Kidcreate Studio’s brick-and-mortar locations, which are designed in such a way that kids can enjoy a space created just for them, Olson explained.

“Our studio space is totally kid-friendly—all tables are at kid height; there are two parakeet mascots in each studio, Arty and Crafty; and we have books, legos and puzzles to help kids transition away from their parents as they're dropped off,” she said. “Our whole space is designed to supplement what we’re doing.”

Kidcreate Studio locations are also completely tech-free for students, something unique in the segment and today’s society at large. Between schools cutting back on art education and sports taking up so much time, providing another outlet for getting them off the screen is of high value to parents.

“It's so hard to get kids away from devices these days,” Olson said. “To separate them from these distractions and help them tap into creativity at the studio is so important and a huge differentiator for us.”

As Kidcreate Studio pursues nationwide growth through franchising, business owners are taking notice of the flexibility and scalability the brand’s ownership model provides. Because Kidcreate was created around and serves families, franchisees experience that coveted work-life balance that eludes so many parents in today’s working culture. And thanks to the brand’s unique two-pronged business model, scaling the business is simple.

“Now we're really focusing on national expansion, but we’re doing it in a way I’m proud of,” Olson explained. “We’re not after speed, but instead, we’re after finding the right partners and the right location. We’re being particular about the franchisees we’re bringing on.”

Those ideal franchise partners come in many forms for Kidcreate Studio, yet all possess a deep passion for art education for kids. Entrepreneurs with a sales or management background are well-equipped to succeed as franchisees, as are teachers in search of a more lucrative career path. Olson noted other inspired parents fit the brand well, as do those connected in their community and who have a desire to positively impact children's’ creativity. Ultimately, those that can find meaning and joy in the experiences Kidcreate Studio provides children through art are the franchisees that will thrive.

“Looking back at the years I was running studios on a day-to-day basis, I remember feeling such joy seeing kids create and being proud of what they're creating,” she said. “My life's purpose was so clearly defined for me when they react to their project and show their parents.”

The startup costs for a Kidcreate Studio range from $108,800 to $231,750 with a franchise fee of $45,000. To learn more about franchising with Kidcreate Studio, visit https://franchise.kidcreatestudio.com/.