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The dreams of all parents invariably include seeing theirchildren succeed. Husband-and-wife team Matt and Lindsay Barronhave tapped into that desire with The Whole Child Learning Company,a provider of educational enrichment programs for children. Whetherit's teaching computer basics or Spanish to preschoolers, thegoal is to give them tools for life.
Started in 1996 under the name Gigglebytes, The Whole ChildLearning Company arose out of necessity. Feeling that qualitycomputer education programs for kids were lacking, the Barronsdecided to open shop in San Marcos, Texas, after a successful pilotprogram in New York City. Lindsay, a teacher at the time, had theexperience to design the curriculum, while Matt, a sales managerfor a fiber-optic cable manufacturer, had the sales and marketingexpertise to promote the company. They sold Gigglebytes computereducation service to preschools, day-care providers andafter-school programs. Parents loved it.
The name change happened in 1997, says 33-year-old Matt, when heand Lindsay had requests to offer additional services. WhileGigglebytes is still one of their most popular programs, theBarrons recently added martial arts and a dynamic movement courseto educate "the whole child."
Courses aren't the only things expanding: The Whole ChildLearning Company began franchising last May. "To keep qualityhigh," says Matt, "we wanted [people] to own a piece ofthe business." The goal is to open 10 to 12 franchises in thenext year, with each expected to annually bring in $100,000 gross.Projected sales for 2000 are $1.3 million. For $15,000 to start,entrepreneurs can jump into this ever-growing market, where ateaching background isn't required, but a love for childrenis.
And there's nothing better than knowing you're making adifference-down to the little things the kids are learning. Says29-year-old Lindsay, "We teach the kids to use the[antibacterial] hand gel so that everybody's hands are cleanbefore we start working [on the computer]. One parent told us thattheir little girl went home insisting that they have a bottle of[it] next to the computer." Evidently, the message-and theprofits-are sinking in.
Make The Call
The Whole Child Learning Company: (888) 317-3535,http://www.wholechild.com
