Some of the biggest success stories in the history of franchising business in India can most certainly be attributed to pre-schools. Planet Kids, a Bangalore based pre-school chain also adopted the same model and has witnessed unparallel success.
Some of the biggest success stories in the history of franchising business in India can most certainly be attributed to pre-schools. Planet Kids, a Bangalore based pre-school chain also adopted the same model and has witnessed unparallel success. Partner with them and write your own success story as they seek franchisees pan India.
Is this pre-school brand located on a different planet? Why is it known as Planet Kids? It's a planet of the children, for the children and created keeping in mind the various requirements of young learners. Planet Kids was incepted in the year 2005. It's a brain child of two young edupreneurs, Chandu Jain and Amar Kapasi, Founders, Planet Kids. With an expertise of over 27 years in the education industry between them, the two young entrepreneurs embarked on the journey to create a wonderful 'First out of home learning experience' for the little children by launching Planet Kids. Since then there has been no looking back for them as both of them have successfully managed to create world-class learning environment for the little ones with state-of-the-art infrastructure coupled with very scientifically researched pedagogies of early education.
Planet Kids is a chain of pre-schools that offers its young learners a curriculum which is very 'child centric', 'age specific' & \'developmentally appropriate'. Its curriculum has been developed by a team of highly qualified academicians & child psychologists keeping in tune with the latest pedagogies developed across the world.
The brand emphasises that children must learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing & hearing. \'Curiosity\'-which is the innate nature of every child is satiated at Planet Kids with a theme based integrated approach, led by enquiry based learning. Great emphasis is laid on developing the intrinsic motivation to learn, autonomy & self-discipline. With innovative methods like \'Discovery time\', the children are introduced to concepts of problem solving & creative thinking in a number of interesting ways.
The faculty is very well trained & is kept updated with the newer teaching methodologies. All children are nurtured with motherly care and a homely atmosphere that facilitates the child’s upbringing in a congenial manner. The brand has tied up with international programmes such as X-SEED, E-blocks and Kinderdance to set benchmarks in the industry. It is a whole new world of \'Learning the fun way\'.
A road to the planet success
The two entrepreneur had a maiden start eight years back in Bangalore with an honest attempt to create a difference in the pre-school industry by providing an experience of international standards to the children as well as the parents. The company started off with company owned and operated model of pre-schools and was a pioneer in the field by integrating modern pedagogies of teaching combined with a state-of-the-art infrastructure at an affordable price point. With-in a very short span of time Planet Kids created an indelible impression in the industry in Bangalore for delivering high quality standards as well as pioneering creativity based activities for the children. So far over 12,000 children and thousands of happy parents have been a part of this successful story.
When asked about their initial journey tale, Amar said: “With a single school with three students in 2005 to 15 schools with over 2000 children in 2013, the journey indeed has been exciting and a fulfilling one. And yet we say, \'We have just begun\' as there is a lot more to achieve and accomplish.”
Why did they land on the ‘Planet Franchising’?
Planet Kids has always been in a healthy competition with its competitors. The brand envisions competition as an impetus to grow within and bring out the very best. Trying to keep in pace with the market requirements and also go that extra mile, the brand has always incorporated newer methods of learning & standardizing procedures to creatively execute various events and happenings which give a differentiating edge as compared to market competition. One of the various methods adopted is franchising. When asked about their reason to adopt franchise mode, Chandu Jain says: “Our foray into franchising was the right decision for our brand as we already had goodwill for Planet Kids as a brand in Bangalore, but franchising helped us take this goodwill to other prominent cities of the country. Franchising, we feel is the fastest way to reach out to people across the nation and partnering with the right persons will make us attain our goal promptly.”
Planet Kids, in a stint of eight years, has successfully managed and operated multiple company-owned centres. After having a rock solid foundation for its brand and mastering the fine art of quality pre-schooling education, the duo planned to share its expertise and knowledge by spreading its brand\'s wings via franchise route. Also the company strongly had believed that quality education should not be restricted by distance as a barrier. Therefore they started partnering with like-minded individuals. The company wanted its franchisees to provide the best pre-schooling experience across the country.
To partner with Planet Kids, a franchisee can start off in an area which is 2500 square feet and above with an investment ranging from Rs 12-20 lakh, depending on the location and set-up costs. The brand prefers its franchisees to be located in the prime residential localities with ample outdoor play space with a good visibility and accessibility for its students.
Women entrepreneurs top the priority list for Planet Kids. The brand plans to tie-up with certain well known financial institutions that will be able to offer financial assistance to women entrepreneurs in a hassle free way and attractive rates of interests. The brand is also looking at associating with the existing pre-school owners to convert their brand into Planet Kids.
Prior to expanding in the targeted areas via franchise model, the brand worked on its expansion strategy and model. They did a full-fledged research around their expansion strategy. Keeping in mind various parameters like topography, competition, local understandings, government and other related departmental stipulations and also opportunities that are available to be explored, Planet Kids seeks partners with local knowledge and know-how in specific areas so that decisions based on local level marketing and also understanding the specific needs of certain markets could be ascertained and worked upon.
Currently Planet Kids is operational in Bangalore and Allahabad. Out of 15 centres, nine units are franchisee-run and six units are company owned and operated. They are looking to expand in various sectors across the country with a goal of reaching 500 centres over the next 5 years.
On expansion plans, Amar says: “We are looking to enter the potential tier I & tier II markets in the first phase of our expansion plans with metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and many more on our radar. We are targeting at least 50 centres by the end of this year which will start operations from the next academic year.”
Guidebook to franchisees
Planet Kids offers its franchisees extensive support to start and operate a centre. The brand also shares its operations manual for beginners to get the framework of policies and procedures to be incorporated. They also conduct a two day franchisee induction programme to help the new franchisee understand the pre-school industry and also how Planet Kids functions. The teachers are trained by academic leaders from Planet Kids at the beginning of the academic year and also during the year if the need may arise. Regular audits are made at the franchise centres to help teachers perform better. Marketing co-laterals like advertisement designs, banner designs, leaf lets etc are also offered based on the needs.
Once the staff is appointed, the company conducts teacher training programmes on an on-going basis as and when the need arises to equip the teachers with the knowledge of executing the curriculum in the classroom and also upgrade them with newer teaching pedagogies from across the world. They truly believe that a well trained teacher who can execute the lesson plan well in the class along with a passion and a flair for teaching toddlers is the mainstay of the school.
Planet Kids’ vision
Education Industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country today. With more and more foreign universities opening up or aspiring to open up in our country, it is very evident that the nation is already witnessing an education revolution. The sector will only show an upward trend in growth and the industry will witness a huge consolidation in a few years to come where-in only the performing companies will stand the test of time, whilst the others will have to shut shop.
At Planet Kids, their vision is to be one of the top three players in the pre-schooling industry over the next five years with over 500 centres operational across the country. They aim to become a destination pre-school brand which will be regarded as a place for high quality pre-schooling experience along with affordability. Integrating technology in the curriculum along with building strong values in the children will be their focus. Partnering with like-minded people to realize this vision will help them grow in the process, will help them create their own space in the pre-school industry in the country. The company also aspires to get into the business of starting formal schools over time to come.
Recently they have re-designed their franchise pattern and have incorporated day care centres and also after school activity programmes for children which will be a great avenue for the franchisee owner as he can earn extra returns utilizing the space of the school most optimally. The extra profits earned out of these new avenues will surely make it a more exciting offering to the franchisee.
For franchise enquries contact:
The Franchise Manager
+91 93-43-279555
1800-103-6766 (Toll Free line)
Email: franchise@planetkids.in
Website: www.planetkids.in
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