Learning Express Toys, incorporated in 1987 as Learning Express, Inc., is a specialty toy, game and book retailer and franchisor headquartered in Devens, Massachusetts, United States.[1] The company franchises specialty toy stores in the United States, each locally owned and operated.[2][3][4] It also operates online at learningexpress.com.
Sharon DiMinico, chair of the Board of Directors and parent of two children at Groton Community School, proposed a business plan in 1987 for the school to open a specialty toy store in order to prevent tuition increases.[5][6] Later that spring, the school opened the first Learning Express in Acton, Massachusetts,[7] and, six months later, Sharon opened the first store owned by Learning Express, Inc. in Needham, Massachusetts.[8] Inspired by an article about franchising in Inc. Magazine,[9] Sharon licensed the company's first franchise location in Andover, Massachusetts in 1990.[10]
Since 1999, Learning Express Toys has produced an annual convention for its store owners, vendors, and other members of the toy industry. The event is held in various locations in the United States. The final evening is generally reserved for an Awards Banquet, where members of the community give and receive honors for their contributions to the Learning Express Toys community. Notable vendor awards include "Vendor of the Year" and "Toy of the Year."[14][15][16][17][18]
CatalogEdit
Learning Express Toys produces several print catalogs each year and two during the critical toy industry holiday season during November and December. The holiday catalog is distributed to customers nationwide. Individual store owners use the catalog as a guide for toy purchases throughout the year.[19]
ReferencesEdit
^Hoover's - "Learning Express, Inc. | Company Information"
^"Our Story" 2013-08-19 at the Wayback Machine - Learning Express Toys website
^Control Scan Case Study - "Learning Express Helps Franchisees Brace for Increasingly Aggressive Hackers" - 2011
^"Learning Express Toys Franchise Information" - International Franchise Organization (IFA)
^Chain Store Age - "Product Mix Gives Edge to Learning Express" - April 13, 2011
^Norman, Jan. "28: Communication is king." What no one ever tells you about franchising: real-life franchising advice from 101 successful franchisors and franchisees. Chicago, IL: Kaplan Pub., 2006. 49-50. Print.
^"Learning Express moves to bigger, brighter store" - The Columbia County News-Times
^"Retailers making learning fun for more San Antonio kids" - San Antonio Business Journal
^"Learning Express reopens in Northern Kentucky" - Cincinnati Business Courier
^"Rea Road toy store owner recognized at company’s national convention 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine" - South Charlotte Weekly - Page 8 - July 16–22, 2010
^"Learning Express Recognizes Toy Vendors at Annual Convention" - Berkshire Partners - Melissa & Doug - In the News
^"Toysmith Named Vendor of the Year and Receives Five other Prestigious Awards 2013-03-02 at the Wayback Machine" - Toysmith
^"The Orb Factory Receives "The Industry Leader Award" from Learning Express" - PRWeb
^Toy Directory Monthly - "Learning Express CEO Knows Specialty Retail" - February 2006
External linksEdit
Official website
August 30, 2023
learning, express, toys, incorporated, 1987, learning, express, specialty, game, book, retailer, franchisor, headquartered, devens, massachusetts, united, states, company, franchises, specialty, stores, united, states, each, locally, owned, operated, also, ope. Learning Express Toys incorporated in 1987 as Learning Express Inc is a specialty toy game and book retailer and franchisor headquartered in Devens Massachusetts United States 1 The company franchises specialty toy stores in the United States each locally owned and operated 2 3 4 It also operates online at learningexpress com Learning Express Inc Logo used since 2005Trade nameLearning Express Toys 2005 Present Learning Express 1987 2005 TypePrivateIndustryRetailFounded1987 36 years ago 1987 in Acton MA U S FounderSharon DiMinicoHeadquartersDevens Massachusetts U S Area servedUnited StatesKey peopleSharon DiMinico CEO Kathy Troknya President ProductsToysGamesBooksWebsitelearningexpress wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Stores 3 Convention 4 Catalog 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditSharon DiMinico chair of the Board of Directors and parent of two children at Groton Community School proposed a business plan in 1987 for the school to open a specialty toy store in order to prevent tuition increases 5 6 Later that spring the school opened the first Learning Express in Acton Massachusetts 7 and six months later Sharon opened the first store owned by Learning Express Inc in Needham Massachusetts 8 Inspired by an article about franchising in Inc Magazine 9 Sharon licensed the company s first franchise location in Andover Massachusetts in 1990 10 Stores Edit Typical Learning Express Toys storefrontMost Learning Express Toys locations are in strip centers regional malls lifestyle centers and town centers They range in size from around 1 200 square feet to 4 000 square feet though 2 500 square feet is a typical size 11 12 13 Convention EditSince 1999 Learning Express Toys has produced an annual convention for its store owners vendors and other members of the toy industry The event is held in various locations in the United States The final evening is generally reserved for an Awards Banquet where members of the community give and receive honors for their contributions to the Learning Express Toys community Notable vendor awards include Vendor of the Year and Toy of the Year 14 15 16 17 18 Catalog EditLearning Express Toys produces several print catalogs each year and two during the critical toy industry holiday season during November and December The holiday catalog is distributed to customers nationwide Individual store owners use the catalog as a guide for toy purchases throughout the year 19 References Edit Hoover s Learning Express Inc Company Information Our Story Archived 2013 08 19 at the Wayback Machine Learning Express Toys website Control Scan Case Study Learning Express Helps Franchisees Brace for Increasingly Aggressive Hackers 2011 Learning Express Toys Franchise Information International Franchise Organization IFA Chain Store Age Product Mix Gives Edge to Learning Express April 13 2011 Norman Jan 28 Communication is king What no one ever tells you about franchising real life franchising advice from 101 successful franchisors and franchisees Chicago IL Kaplan Pub 2006 49 50 Print Groton Community School Website Worcester Business Journal Online Learning Express Thrives Alongside Big Box Stores November 14 2012 Retail Merchandiser Learning Express 2011 Archived 2013 07 27 at the Wayback Machine Learning Express Franchise Entrepreneur Learning Express moves to bigger brighter store Archived copy The Columbia County News Times Retailers making learning fun for more San Antonio kids San Antonio Business Journal Learning Express reopens in Northern Kentucky Cincinnati Business Courier Rea Road toy store owner recognized at company s national convention Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine South Charlotte Weekly Page 8 July 16 22 2010 Learning Express Recognizes Toy Vendors at Annual Convention Berkshire Partners Melissa amp Doug In the News Toysmith Named Vendor of the Year and Receives Five other Prestigious Awards Archived 2013 03 02 at the Wayback Machine Toysmith The Orb Factory Receives The Industry Leader Award from Learning Express PRWeb Awards About Us Curiosity Kits Toy Directory Monthly Learning Express CEO Knows Specialty Retail February 2006External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Learning Express Toys amp oldid 1134358451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
