Big Blue Swim School Prepares for Opening of a New Pool in Chantilly, Virginia

Big Blue Swim School, one of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises, is coming to Chantilly, Virginia this summer.

Big Blue’s team has already begun construction on the Chantilly pool, which will be located at 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy in Fairfax and is part of a plan of four pools throughout the Fairfax area. When the pool opens later this summer, children and parents in the area will be introduced to the innovative swim school experience that makes Big Blue one of the most exciting and sought-after opportunities in franchising.

“Big Blue has seen incredible growth in recent years, and that’s largely because we are teaching children a vital life skill,” said Chris DeJong, Big Blue’s Founder and President. “Parents understand how important it is for their kids to learn how to swim at a young age, but there aren’t many high-quality programs available, especially for families with multiple kids. We’re filling that gap, and the response has been astounding.”

Scott Sanders, Big Blue’s CEO, says the Chantilly area is particularly well-suited for the swim school franchise.

“The Northern Virginia market is densely populated with high-income families who are very committed to their children’s achievements, and those are exactly the types of families who flock to Big Blue,” he said.

According to Sanders, Virginia’s close proximity to the Atlantic ocean is another contributing factor to the high demand for swim lessons.

“Families are planning their summer vacations, and along the coasts, vacation means beaches and swimming,” he said. “Parents do not want to wait until just a few weeks before vacation to teach their children to swim, so we see signifcant demand year-round.”

When selecting sites for new pools, Big Blue sources only Class A real estate, establishing another marked point of differentiation from the brand’s competitors. To find the perfect location for a new pool, Big Blue analyzes troves of real estate data to find sites aligned with parents’ existing consumer habits, increasing both convenience and brand awareness.

As the so-called Amazon Effect continues to shutter brick-and-mortar retail stores, Big Blue is benefiting from a wide range of previously rare Class A real estate opportunities, and the brand is taking full advantage of those opportunities to ensure prospective Big Blue pool owners are positioned for success.

The new Chantilly pool is only the latest example of Big Blue’s resilience to the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, and the brand aims to expand rapidly throughout the market, with eight additional pools throughout the DCA metro already planned to be developed.

As Big Blue expands throughout DCA and other markets across the country, DeJong says the brand remains committed to its original mission of “showing kids they can do anything by unlocking their full potential in the water.”

“Everything we do is designed to show kids they can achieve anything,” he said. “Swim lessons are an incredibly effective way to build confidence in children. It’s like magic, and everything we do at Big Blue encourages that magic. That’s what drives us.”

As for the lessons themselves, Big Blue Swim School takes the unique approach of hiring highly trained, professional swim instructors. Big Blue has also built a defensible moat around its competition by offering heightened flexibility in scheduling, making swim lessons substantially easier for parents to book.

“All of our pools and programs accommodate different skill levels, so when kids are ready to progress, their families don’t have to figure out a whole new schedule,” DeJong explained. “And our proprietary software eliminates the challenges families would otherwise find when scheduling and rescheduling lessons for their families.”

All of those benefits add up to a strong opportunity for Big Blue franchise partners, and the brand offers a wealth of additional resources to ensure its franchise partners are fully equipped to make the most of that opportunity.

“When our franchise partners open, they are given the tools they need to scale quickly,” said DeJong. “Plus, our business model is recession-resistant, because swim lessons fill a vital need for water safety and cannot be replaced by an online offering, which is very important these days.”

Big Blue has already signed agreements for 131 units in 21 states across the country, and the franchise aims to reach 150 units by year-end, positioning the brand as the standout leader in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry.

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 $2,414,223 to $3,721,998 (refer to item 7 in FDD) To learn more or inquire about Big Blue Swim School, visit* *