Goldfish Swim School Announces Signed Agreement in Maine, Marking its Statewide Debut 

May 11, 2022

PORTLAND, ME Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC, the premier learn-to-swim franchise concept, has announced a signed agreement that will bring the first Goldfish Swim School to the state of Maine. Site selection in the greater Portland area is well underway as the school aims to open in early 2024. Behind the agreement are existing franchisees Tim and Jennifer Casper who own Goldfish Swim School – Wyckoff and Closter, NJ with one additional school to be developed in New Jersey. The Caspers also have an ownership interest in the Gowanus, Brooklyn location.  This latest addition brings their Goldfish Swim School portfolio to five total schools.

The Caspers have been franchisees with Goldfish Swim School for nearly 10 years. They crossed paths with the brand after discovering a dire need for more learn-to-swim facilities in their hometown of Bergen County, NJ when searching for the right fit for their four young children. Not only were there not enough pools or instructors to service the high demand in the area, but the facilities were dated and not the family-friendly environment many young families seek out.

The Caspers have always viewed water safety as a top priority. Jennifer grew up a swimmer, swam competitively during high school and was a lifeguard for many years. They truly believe in the value of swim lessons as a lifesaving skill that is fun and confidence-building for children both in and around the water. The husband-wife team learned about Goldfish Swim School because a member of Tim and Jennifer’s family have a close relationship with co-founders Chris and Jenny McCuiston, and several of their family members had already opened their own successful schools in Illinois and Pennsylvania. All touted the strong business model, renowned proprietary curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, marketing support and more.

“We quickly realized Goldfish Swim School was the leader in the learn-to-swim category and believed the concept would be a perfect fit for our community – and we were right,” said Jennifer Casper. “We opened our first school in Wyckoff in 2015 and followed up with a second location in Closter in 2018. Most recently we partnered with Tim’s brother-in-law to open in Brooklyn and have another school in development in New Jersey. These businesses have been community leaders for children’s swim lessons – we also host family swims, birthday parties, water safety events and more – and really do aim to engrain ourselves as a strong community partner.”

“With proven success of our existing schools, it was a no-brainer to continue growing our portfolio so we could bring this lifesaving opportunity to more families,” said Tim Casper. “Portland has been an important part of our lives for many years. We have family in the area and have spent over 40 summers on Peaks Island. It is an emerging market, but many families are relocating to this hotspot due to working remotely, real estate opportunities and a great quality of life. There’s certainly a need for swim lessons and we hope to fill that need with a premier facility in the form of Goldfish Swim School.”

Consistently outranking its competition, Goldfish Swim School continues to prove itself as a top-rated and most established swim school franchise in the space. Its ability to go above and beyond to nurture a culture that provides a GOLDEN Experience! is unmatched by its competition. Goldfish Swim School’s core values extend from its members to its franchisees, as the Franchise Office Support team is committed to going above and beyond with every detail. It is this level of best-in-class support that drives prospective franchisees to continuously choose Goldfish.

“This is an exciting milestone in our growth journey as we break into a new state,” said Chris McCuiston, CEO & Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School. “There’s an unwavering demand for high-quality swim lessons, and this coupled with an open real estate market opens up an opportunity for development. We’ve built an incredible infrastructure for growth and by partnering with like-minded franchisees, like the Caspers, we are poised for long-term success.”

Riding this wave of success, the company is looking for qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities who are involved with their community, have a passion for water safety and are hungry to dive into the world of franchising. Today, with 125-plus locations open and more than 110 in development, the brand is on track for strategic franchise expansion across North America.

Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years, teaching children how to be safer in and around the water. Each school offers swim lessons and programs using a proprietary philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay®, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. Each school’s number one focus and main priority is always the same – educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water.

For more information on Goldfish Swim School and its franchise opportunity, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/franchise-opportunities/ or call 248-801-1850. 

About Goldfish Swim School 

Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. Recently, the brand was recognized by Entrepreneur in its Franchise 500® ranking, Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious List, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with more than 125 schools open, and an additional 110+ in development in more than 30 states and Canada.

###

Advertisement