Franchise, the eco friendly way

With an aim to increase eco friendly products and practices in pre-schools, Ekta Gangwal, Owner, Catepelose Pre School established the brand. In a candid chat with Ekta Vema, she shares the journey of Catepelose and challenges faced by pre schools industry in India.

Tell us about Catepelose Pre School. What is its USP?

Catepelose is a preschool that works with products that are totally eco friendly in nature. Started three years ago, Catepelose has seven branches across India. We have different concepts for different individuals from the society. We offer our franchise to both the aspiring entrepreneurs as well as the existing preschools. While an existing school can become our franchisee just for Rs 30,000, a new preschool franchise is available at a total cost of Rs 1, 25000. We also offer Toy Library Model free of cost as a combined package with preschool franchise. We provide educated housewife/part-time professionals the opportunity to work while performing their duties. This concept “Project Happiness” which is a home kit is offered as franchise for just Rs 3000, which can be conducted as a play zone for pre schoolers for three hours a week or either supply to the preschools or sell directly from their homes. We also sell the handicrafts made by physically challenged people, as part of our CSR role.

How suitable is the brand for the Indian market?

As the preschools are flourishing in India, there are hardly any pre schools that impart eco-friendly lessons along with international curriculum that shall make happy, righteous and diligent individuals equipped to take right decisions in life. We believe in incorporating the academic skills, along with life skills into activity based learning, thus leading to unparallel project happiness.

We are one of the few brands that offer free toy library to pre schools and home kit for housewives and part time professionals, so that they can operate play zone at home.

How many locations are you targeting for franchising in India?

Currently, Catepelose has 7 franchise centres and in another three years, we are looking at adding 200 franchisees in India.

What kind of marketing and training support do you provide your franchisees?

As a part of marketing support, we provide a fix quantity of flex banner, vertical flex, brochures, standee, counseling folder, CD of marketing design free of cost. We provide marketing, training and ideas to franchisees. We also provide training to franchisees to update them with the new concepts in curriculum.

What are the challenges for your brand in India?

While pre schools have a fine market in tier I and tier II cities, the tier III cities and villages are not very comfortable with the idea and need for a preschool. The challenge is to penetrate those markets and increase our numbers there.

Five years down the line, what do you think is the future of Preschool industry in India?

Preschools have a bright future in India. We have already entered into an era where both the parent are employed somewhere hence the need to send children to a preschool cannot be overlooked. Also, the spending capacity of Indian parent is on the rise hence the business for preschools is ensured.

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