British Swim School’s aggressive pursuit of new pool partnerships is helping it expand the brand’s footprint and create more opportunities for franchisees. “By building stronger relationships with prominent pool facilities and organizations, we’ve increased our brand’s accessibility and reduced barriers to entry for potential franchisees,” said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School president. “Expanding our network of pool facilities allows us to maintain a competitive edge and accelerate growth by quickly meeting demand in more markets.” Because British Swim School franchisees rent pool space, there’s no buildout cost and capital outlay is modest. The brand nearly doubled its count from 2021 to 2023, going from 126 locations to 218. Gundlach attributes the success to good communication. “Our goal for each party, whether its franchisees or customers, is for them to feel heard,” Gundlach said. “We work to ensure that growth doesn’t come only from short-term gains, but from genuine engagement, long-term partnerships and brand standards that elevate both individual success and our shared vision.” The quick growth, though, led to the challenge of scaling the brand’s systems and support structure to coincide. Gundlach said to ensure British Swim School keeps up, it’s taken a proactive approach by investing in a stronger support team. “By expanding our staff and refining systems early, we’re able to maintain high service standards for current franchisees while seamlessly onboarding new ones,” Gundlach said. Buzz Franchise Brands, the owner of Pool Scouts, Home Clean Heroes and Wonderly lights, bought British Swim School in 2019.
| F&S Rank 2024 | Prior Year Rank | 2021-2023 Sales Growth % | 2021-2023 Unit Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 111 | 120.50% | 73.00% |