The Owner Makes the Difference.

We provide the tools.

Tell Us About Your Store!

Convert Your Store

Keep your name, but take advantage of Learning Express resources to help run your business.

With the nation's largest family of locally-owned retail specialty toy franchise locations across the US, we understand first-hand just how rewarding and challenging our industry can be. Get access to custom graphics and marketing support, a pre-negotiated buying program, proprietary sales analytics software, hot product tips and much more. You'll still control your inventory and your business, but you won't have to do everything yourself.

Store Conversion Benefits

You've spent years building your team, perfecting your operations, and creating a strong, loyal customer base. Why would you consider joining a franchise now?

Ongoing Training & Support

Our Home Office supports store owners with services like Marketing, Graphics, Buying, Merchandising, Staff Training, IT, Real Estate and Demographic Research. In addition, we have proven success with selling store locations when owners are ready to retire. We like to think of Learning Express franchisees as independent store owners who aren't alone.

Franchise Community & Network

One of the top benefits of joining a franchise is the owner community. Our engaged owner community develops many of our best marketing programs and discovers many of our best-selling products. Store owners meet in person twice a year at Toy Fair and again at our Learning Express Convention each June, but we hold dozens of calls and webinars and send emails year round to help spread good ideas.

Brand Awareness

We believe in maintaining the brand and image that you've built as a specialty toy store owner. The Learning Express brand is well-known in many US markets, but we also feel it's important to keep an element of the original brand that your community trusts.

National Marketing Pieces

Since 1996, Learning Express has published a full-color catalog to direct-mail customers each holiday season. That catalog has grown to more than 6 nationally-published direct-mail pieces, in addition to thousands of available email and social media graphics that can be customized to your location.

Purchasing Power

Over the past 30 years, Learning Express has developed strong relationships with more than 200 vendors and manufacturers. We buy as a group at our Learning Express Convention, saving vendors valuable dollars that are passed on to store locations. As a Learning Express store, you would have access to Learning Express exclusive products and buying processes.

Proven Business Systems

Point-of-sale broken again? Gift card or Marketing Program giving you trouble? Now you have someone to call, and a community of owners off whom you can bounce ideas and best practices. Our Learning Express Intranet compiles sales data from across Learning Express stores to provide you valuable buying information when you need it.

Store Conversion Pre-Qualifications

What does it take to get started? Our store conversion prerequisites are pretty simple.

Location

The store location must be outside the designated territory of any Learning Express location.

Inventory

The store must be 50% or more dedicated to specialty toys and gifts for children.

Format

The store must be a stand-alone or inline/end-cap commercial retail space, either leased or owned. No kiosk, cart, mobile, online, or home-based businesses.

Gross Sales

Gross Sales must exceed one or all of the following:
a) $500,000 annually
b) $250 per square foot
c) $5.00 per person in a 5-mile radius from the store location.

Operator

The owner must be committed to train in the Learning Express system and work the business full-time.

Tell Us About Your Store

The best way to learn more about Learning Express and our Conversion Program is to contact our Franchise Development team. Tell us a little bit about you and your store, and we’ll contact you regarding the possibility of a store conversion. Not quite ready? Tell us why.

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Disclaimer: LEARNING EXPRESS ® franchises will not be sold to any resident of any jurisdiction until the franchise offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction* and the required Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to the prospective franchisee in compliance with applicable law. Upon inquiry you will be informed if a franchise opportunity is currently available in your state or other jurisdiction. An offer of a franchise is made only by the means of the Learning Express, Inc. Franchise Disclosure Document. Prospective franchisees are encouraged to obtain and carefully read the Learning Express, Inc. Franchise Disclosure Document thoroughly and evaluate any franchise offering with an attorney or advisor before deciding to sign an agreement or spend any money.

Pre-sale Registration States: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Learning Express, Inc. is not currently registered in North Dakota, South Dakota or Maryland.

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