In case you’re unfamiliar with our “MUMBO” acronym, it stands for “Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Owner,” in which a franchisee owns and operates multiple units, also representing more than one brand. It’s a strategic way to build an enterprise operation and one that Unleashed Brands makes an easy proposition with its multiple youth enrichment concepts. Because Unleashed Brands has developed and refined our proprietary enterprise platforms – networking tools and resources that enhance an owner’s capabilities – becoming a MUMBO in our system is simply a matter of scaling your operation and is a distinguished honor.
One such example is Kayla Opperman, who owns both a Snapology and Class 101 franchise in the northern Denver/Boulder area. Below, in her own words, Kayla shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey and explains the “why” behind her decision to become a multi-unit, multi-brand owner with Unleashed Brands.
Background
“I earned an electrical engineering degree from Colorado University at Boulder and spent the next six years working for ME Engineers, designing iconic buildings and sports stadiums. One of the projects I worked on was the new football stadium at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. My husband is also an engineer, and we were both committed to climbing the corporate ladder until I started to become sick of the daily grind and 60-hour work weeks. I didn’t have much of a work-life balance. Things began to change even more when we had our first child in 2017. After maternity leave, I wasn’t exactly eager to return to the office. Deep down, I knew it was time for a change, so I finally quit my job to pursue something new.”
On Choosing an Entrepreneurial Future
“Growing up, I always had entrepreneurial aspirations. My mother and grandmother had started their own business, a healthy-eating program, which later became a franchise opportunity. She was a very hard worker, but I also saw the flexibility and freedom she had as her own boss. By the time I finally got tired of the grind in Corporate America, I was ready to look into franchising myself. I really thought it would be a great opportunity for me to work smarter, not harder. And entrepreneurism was kind of in my DNA. My husband and I continually look for opportunities to generate income for our future.”
What Attracted You to the Snapology Opportunity?
“I began to look at different franchise opportunities in 2018, with a close eye on our financial tolerance. I looked into some tutoring businesses because I wanted to do something educational. That’s when I stumbled upon Snapology. It appealed to me because of my engineering background, as well as my interest in STEM learning. After meeting the founders, I was impressed that Snapology was essentially run just like a family style business. They shared the same values as we did, and my background was a fit for becoming an owner. Thinking of my own daughter, I knew Snapology would be a match for me – and one day in the future, for her too.”
Tell Us About Getting Started With Snapology
“I officially became a Snapology franchisee in March 2018. I began with a single unit but gradually expanded my operation to include a total of five territories by 2021, the majority of which are located just north of Denver and on up to Boulder. I feel like I really got a lot of support, tools, and resources from Unleashed Brands, which helped me to hit the ground running. I decided to go with the all-mobile option, in which owners set up Snapology sessions at schools, libraries, and rec centers. I had no prior experience with marketing or sales, but it was pretty easy to get appointments. Most of these targets would never turn down an opportunity for kids to get the kind of hands-on learning experience they get with Snapology. The email blasts seemed to work the best and we’ve had all the business we could handle ever since.”
Why Do You Think You Were a Fit for Snapology?
“Again, I’d have to say my engineering background and prior experience with STEM learning programs. I’m also a mom now, so I’m raising the literal target market for Snapology’s curriculum. And because I consider myself a social person, I also really like to be connected to my community and Snapology gives me that opportunity early and often.”
What Have These Business Opportunity Afforded You That You Might Not Have Otherwise?
“Oh gosh, overall, I’d have to say that the flexibility is a big plus for me. My husband was still working his full-time job when we launched the Snapology business, and he had a front row seat to see how owning your own business can be freeing. He eventually resigned to come help me run things, as our business portfolio began to grow even more. I also like how being your own boss means you’re not limited in what you can earn for yourself. The harder you work, the more revenue you can generate. Franchise ownership has really been great for our family. We get to set our own schedules. Sometimes, it feels like the freedom we have – like going to the driving range and hitting a few golf balls each morning – is like we’re living in a dream. I’m forever grateful to Unleashed Brands that this is our life now.”
What Does the Future Hold for You?
“As I mentioned before, we’re always looking for the next entrepreneurial opportunity and we didn’t have to look far before we discovered another great Unleashed Brand opportunity – Class 101. Once we learned all about it, we thought it was a no-brainer to become franchisees. So, we bought our first Class 101 franchise in April of this year. We established a modest office to work from and have found that there’s a lot of synergies between Class 101 and Snapology. Essentially, the target market is the same demographic, just separated by a few years in age. We’re hoping that when our current Snapology classes age out, they’ll then need college prep and advisory services from Class 101. For now, we’re really focused on building up our client base for Class 101. Ultimately, we’d like to integrate these services into the same territories where we maintain our Snapology presence. Unleashed Brands makes it easy to become a multi-unit, multi-brand owner. We’ve even thought about expanding further, perhaps with The Little Gym or XP League – which we keep hearing great things about. Our plan is to keep running these businesses for the rest of our careers, perhaps even into retirement as semi-absentee owners. We just love the flexibility that comes with being your own boss. I guess you could say we’re entrepreneurs for life!”
A Little More About Us…
The Unleashed Brands platform includes Urban Air Adventure Park, Snapology, The Little Gym, XP League, Class 101, and Premier Martial Arts youth enrichment franchises. As the parent company, Unleashed Brands was founded to curate and grow the most innovative and profitable business opportunities that help kids learn, play and grow. Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses that focus on serving families. All have become first-in-category brands by providing fun, engaging, and inspiring experiences that help kids with their No. 1 development goal – to become who they were destined to be.
To speak with one of our franchise experts and learn more about our children’s business opportunities, simply fill out this form and an Unleashed Brands representative will be in touch shortly.
