Category Archive
Below you'll find all posts in the category "Owner Spotlight"
Naperville franchisee discusses the Needoh trend on local television
NAPERVILLE, Illinois. When a classic sensory toy suddenly became one of the hottest items in retail, the owners of Learning Express Toys & Gifts in Naperville were ready to explain why. In a feature by Naperville Community Television, local store owners shared firsthand insight into…
Read More
CEO Lauren Derse interviewed in viral Needoh article in USA Today
BEDFORD, Massachusetts. The viral NeeDoh craze is sweeping the country, and independent toy stores are right at the center of the excitement. As highlighted in a recent USA Today feature, shoppers are lining up and shelves are quickly clearing as demand surges for these colorful,…
Read More
When Toy Trends Go Viral: NeeDoh Hunting Drives In-Store Excitement
AVENTURA, Florida. A new viral trend is bringing families into toy stores across the country, and Learning Express store owners are right in the middle of it. In a recent feature by NBC Miami, Isaac Bendrao of Learning Express Toys & Gifts Aventura store shared…
Read More
A Family Business With Deep Roots
DEVENS, Massachuetts. Recently, the article “Learning Express: A Family Run Toy Empire” appeared in The American Executive, a business-and-leadership magazine. The piece chronicles how Learning Express Toys & Gifts has successfully navigated a retail landscape dominated by e-commerce giants by embracing a community-centric, nostalgia-infused model.…
Read More
Most popular toys this holiday season at Learning Express Toys of Bend, OR
BEND, Oregon. Local business owner Alee Lees, franchise owner of Learning Express Toys of Bend, OR, was featured on a recent TV segment highlighting top Christmas toys for 2024. The segment aired on “Good Morning Central Oregon” and showcased Alee’s expertise in curating innovative and…
Read More
Learning Express Reno Storeowner Hosts Kid-Preneur Pop-Up Shop
RENO, Nevada. Jenny Frederito, co-owner of Learning Express of Reno with along with her sister, recently hosted a “Kid-Preneur Pop-Up Shop” to help young people learn the basics of business by experiencing it firsthand. Her passion for fostering entrepreneurial skills in kids led to an…
Read More
Cautious optimism from the Toy Man
Toy World Magazine October 2023 – After 20 years working at A.C. Nielsen/D&B Research Company, Rick Derr opened the first Learning Express Toys franchise in the Chicago area in 1996, and then became a sub-franchiser, opening nine more stores. Although leaving the corporate environment behind,…
Read More
Talking Retail with Learning Express Toys & Gifts’ CEO Lauren Derse on the ‘Power Kid Podcast’
THE TOY BOOK – In this week’s episode of the “Power Kid Podcast,” host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes Lauren Derse, CEO of Learning Express Toys & Gifts to the show. Derse leads the largest franchised toy store chain in the U.S. and…
Read More
Port Washington Learning Express brings adventure, fun back to shopping
The Island 360 – The thrill of choice, the exhilaration of adventure and the opportunity to explore — these are some ideas that inspired Michelle Pascucci, a Port Washington, NY, mother, to open her community’s newest toy store. Learning Express, at 61 Shore Road, opened…
Read More
New Learning Express franchise to open in Port Washington
PATCH – A Learning Express franchisee and Port Washington mom plans a grand opening next week of her new shop, specializing in educational toys. Michelle Pascucci, a Port Washington resident, is opening a new toy store in town, one where children can visit and try…
Read More