0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

58 ● 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
That was the lightbulb moment for Andy and Rammy. “We thought,
there’s got to be a better way to offer enrichment programs for kids zero to
five,” recalled Harwood.
A believer in extensive market research, Harwood visited most of
the 60 places on the Upper East Side of New York City that offered early
childhood activities. The partners quickly recognized a need to create
something wonderful for parents and kids up to five years old. Their business
plan called for bright, well-designed centers with classrooms, perhaps
a café, and a retail store. Some locations would also feature indoor playgrounds,
a space for birthday parties, and a kids’ hair salon with plasma
screen TVs.
“We wanted to create a place that people would feel comfortable visiting
with their kids,” said Harwood. “The Upper East Side is unique, and
those families deserve the best quality and cleanliness.”
To launch Kidville, they tapped their own funds and attracted some
very high-profile investors, including the Tisch family and tennis star
Andre Agassi, who was a new father at the time.
“It is a privilege to be in this business,” said Harwood. The company
owns five locations in New York City. There are Kidville locations opening
up around the world, including in Cairo; and Dubai. (A former customer
bought the right to open several in Dubai and nearby countries.) It costs
about $50,000 to buy the franchise and several hundred thousand dollars
to build the facility, depending on the size and location. Franchisees also
pay a percentage of sales to the parent company.
To make sure they did everything right, they hired renowned franchise
consultant Michael Seid, who also sits on the company’s board.
Harwood, who earned his MBA at the Stern Business School, said he
loves his job because he gets to see his preschool age kids, Cameron and
Xander, almost every day.
If you think you have a successful and easy-to-teach business concept,
here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Does my concept work well?
2. Can I create a network of owners versus hiring general managers? “If
you don’t have the right partners, it can make or break your concept,”
said Harwood.
3. Do you love what you do?