Growing STEM Educator Begins 2013 Strong and
Maintaining Goal of Adding 50-60 Locations This Year
Engineering for Kids, a 50-plus-unit
Fredericksburg, Va.-based franchise offering a range of learning-based classes
including after school programs, camps, evening classes, in-school field trips,
workshops and even birthday parties, today announced a 124 percent system-wide
sales increase in the first quarter of 2013. With expansion, the company has seven
new openings in areas of the country including Tennessee, Maryland, New Jersey,
Wisconsin, Texas and California.
Sales
strength has allowed them to complete a total of 15 signings in the first
quarter, further demonstrating the rate of growth the company has experienced
thus far and helping to maintain the aggressive goal of adding 50 to 60
locations by the end of the year.
“As
we have now had some time to get Engineering for Kids up and running, I am very
encouraged by the rate of growth and actual expansion we have experienced
to-date,” said Dori Roberts, Engineering for Kids’ founder and CEO. “What is interesting
is although we are a relatively new company, our emphasis helps show strategic
STEM-focused curriculum is a strong and lucrative topic for education. We started
out on the East Coast, but are now really starting to expand. For anyone with a
true passion for teaching the sciences, Engineering for Kids offers a great niche
option.”
Engineering
for Kids highlights not only the importance of learning engineering skills at a
young age, but also the potential success children can have in engineering
fields in the future, while not forgetting one of the most important features
of learning – fun.
With
5,300 children enrolled across the network to-date, enrollment has never been
higher and offers a
suite of
programs for children ages four to 14 that introduce them to science,
technology, engineering and math through a variety of workshops all aimed at
developing problem-solving skills.
In
areas of the country where STEM education is particularly emphasized and where
there is a strong base of IT and science-based jobs, success has been very
high. For example, Juanita Leung, who runs the San Francisco Engineering for
Kids, experienced 10 times the sales revenue for her first month compared to
others’ first-month sales in the network.
“While
Juanita’s story is only one example and cannot be assumed in all cases, we do
see a correlation between the demand for engineering-based positions and
stressing the importance of teaching the curriculum properly, and
enthusiastically, at a young age,” Roberts added. “Time will tell as we
continue to grow, but we are excited to see what developments come as we head
into the next portion of 2013.”
With
a franchising fee of $17,500 and a typical home-based franchise cost of $25,000
to $30,000, Engineering for Kids currently has over 56 locations spread
throughout the United States that are in various forms of completion.
As
a low-barrier opportunity with room to grow, Engineering for Kids franchisees
have the option of taking their home-based franchise and eventually open a
learning center, which are typically 1,200 square feet in size. An ideal
franchisee is someone who is well connected in their community, a parent or an
individual who has a passion for educating children.
“Our
most successful franchisees are those who truly understand the need for supplemental
education to elevate kids beyond the standards taught in public education,”
explained Roberts. “These people see funding cuts and the gaps in curriculum at
their own children’s schools and want to fill that need.”
Engineering
for Kids also retains an active and engaging Facebook page featuring fun and
informative information on engineering. ‘Like’ the page at
www.facebook.com/engineeringforkids.
Engineering for Kids was recently featured in The Capital Gazette in an article titled, "Young engineers: New Anne Arundel businesses target math, science education". 
The third full week of February is National Engineers Week! Started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, this week is observed by more than 79 engineering, educational, and cultural societies along with more than 50 corporations and government agencies. The week is scheduled to coincide with the birthday of President George Washington, whom many consider the nation's first engineer (likely due to his extensive survey work).
