Big Blue Swim School Reaches Goal of 50% Locations Sold Within Three Years

Big Blue Swim School has reached its goal of 50% of locations sold within three years of beginning its franchising journey. With its aggressive growth plan, the company sold 201 units in 23 states across the country.

• 201 units were sold across 23 states
• Brand investor Level Five Capital Partners contributed to the growth by purchasing 27 new locations
• The goal of reaching 100 open units by 2025 is uniquely positioned to be the leader in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry

Level 5 will open 27 units across California, New York, and Maryland, adding to its initial investment of 16 locations throughout the U.S. The partnership between Level 5 and Big Blue began in 2017 when Level 5 acquired a stake in the brand.

• Level 5’s mission is to change lives locally, which aligns with Big Blue’s unique teaching process
• Big Blue’s recession-resistant business model and their unique real estate strategy made them an attractive investment for Level 5

Big Blue’s real estate team utilizes a data-driven strategy to find suitable locations for families and found territories perfect for Level 5’s new locations. The sites for Level 5’s most recent Big Blue units were selected based on readily available real estate, kid-dense populations, a need for water for formal swim lessons, and demographics that focus heavily on health, wellness, and family services.

In 2021, Big Blue opened four new locations, signed 13 leases, and awarded 82 units to eight new franchise partners. Franchisees include Olympic gold medal swimmer Peter Vanderkaay and his brother, NCAA champion swimmer, Alex Vanderkaay, with a four-location deal in Detroit, a nine-unit agreement with Gary Cohen to develop stores across Boston, and a 21-store agreement with Austin C. Smith to open locations in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.

This year, Big Blue plans to open additional locations throughout the U.S., including Detroit, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Miami, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and northern New Jersey.

Big Blue is actively looking for qualified franchise partners to develop in several other key markets across the country, including San Jose, Kansas City, Cleveland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, among others.

Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong. The first location opened in Wilmette, Illinois, followed by four additional Chicagoland schools. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a stake in the brand, and pools are now open in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and Northern Virginia.