Goldfish Swim School Rides Wave of Expansion, Dives into St. Louis, Missouri

Goldfish Swim School, the leading premier learn-to-swim concept, recently opened its newest school in Warson Woods, MO. Located at 9967 Manchester Rd. in St. Louis, the school provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Families in the community now have access to the school’s renowned proprietary curriculum, The Science of SwimPlay®, which helps to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. Warson Woods is the first location to open within the state of Missouri.

The school is owned and operated by Amy and Brad Kocher, and partners Gretchen and David Klotz and Bret and Traci Gruley. The Kochers have spent the last twenty years living in Missouri. They now reside in nearby Kirkwood where they are raising their three children. They know that Goldfish meets the needs of busy families and has exactly what families have been looking for in a swim lesson provider. The Klotz and Gruley families live in Michigan where their children have been members at the first Goldfish Swim School location in Birmingham, MI.

“Learning to swim really is a lifesaving skill and we’re eager to help our friends and families in our surrounding communities stay safe,” said Amy. “It’s a great feeling to know your business is actually saving kids’ lives.”

In line with the company’s core values, their number one focus will be educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water. The 10,000 square-foot school features a 75 x 25 ft. pool – kept at a comfortable 90 degrees – and a viewing room nearby for families.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Kochers, Klotzs and Gruleys to the Goldfish Swim School family,” shared Chris McCuiston, who co-founded the franchise with his wife Jenny McCuiston. “As we continue to grow, it’s more important than ever that we partner with local community leaders who are just as passionate about water safety as we are. Jenny and I are confident this team will help us bring awareness to the drowning epidemic and ultimately get us one step closer to reducing the number of accidental drownings.”

The brand is seeking qualified, active and engaged individuals who are involved with their community, have a passion for water safety, and are hungry to dive into the world of franchising. Today, with 97 schools open and more than 131 in development, Goldfish Swim School continues to educate families and its growing presence helps to reduce the number of accidental drownings across the country. The franchise is seeking partners to develop throughout Canada as well as the southern and western region of the United States. Specifically, company executives see substantial growth opportunities in the English-Speaking provinces of Canada as well as California, Texas, and Florida where there is strong demand for the brand’s services.

As a whole, Goldfish Swim School teaches more than 138,000 children each week how to be safer in and around the water, and each school strives to be active within the community it serves. The brand is an official partner of the Lifesaving Society. The company is fully committed to spreading awareness on the importance of water safety with the support of Brand Ambassador Ryan Murphy, the recent launch of Goldfish RX - a program that provides resources to local pediatricians to support the updated American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on drowning prevention, and providing free W.A.T.E.R Safety presentations to communities nationwide.

About Goldfish Swim School

Founded by husband and wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Goldfish currently teaches more than 138,000 students per week to swim and be safer in and around the water. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. They are currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with 97 schools open, and an additional 130+ in development in more than 27 states and Canada.

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