The value of coding: when sales reflect demand

Code Ninjas first introduced their kids coding programme to the UK in the early spring and the franchise has already caught the attention of entrepreneurs around the country.

The value of coding: when sales reflect demand

Code Ninjas first introduced their kids coding
programme to the UK in the early spring and the franchise has already caught
the attention of entrepreneurs around the country. In a technology-fuelled world,
franchisees – and parents alike – understand the value of coding education,
starting kids early and equipping them with the tools for the future. David
Graham and his team have capitalised on this demand by embodying the solution,
for parents and investors, around the world.  

When it comes to business, I don’t believe in luck. Sure, sometimes it’s the little things that happen by chance that secure a quick win or a lucky break, but for the most part, success comes from good old-fashioned hard work and preparation. When we prepared to launch our concept in the UK, we first researched the demand for after-school kids coding programmes and how well our system would translate. Much to our delight – and initial predictions – Code Ninjas looked to fill a gap in the kids coding curriculum and, therefore, a gap in the UK franchise market too.

We’ve been thrilled with the response to our concept in the UK. Although we always anticipated a high number of franchisee enquiries, nothing could have prepared us for this rapid rate of growth. Just six months down the line, we’re well on our way to signing ten franchisees. This really is an incredible time for us and for kids’ coding education, in general.

Our goal has always been to replicate our success in the US and, in recent months, Canada. Admittedly, the markets have their differences but, for the most part, these three nations hold a lot of similarities – specifically in terms of consumer buying patterns. No matter the location, ethnicity or personal circumstance, parents are seeing the value of extra-curricular coding education for their children. In many cases, technology literacy is no longer regarded as a hobby but a necessity.

Parents are wising up to the fact that the next generation need an understanding of how technology works – and coding is language of technology. When looking to equip their kids with these skills, they choose our concept because we deliver this necessary education in a fun and safe environment, where kids can learn with their peers, supported by a system that enables them to not only learn coding but also improve their critical thinking skills. This increases our market appeal for budding children’s services franchisees looking to capitalise on this upward trend. In short, this is supply and demand at its finest.

One of the first prospective UK franchisees to approach us were a husband and wife team, with previous experience in running businesses of their own and a background in finance. Perhaps more notably, they’re parents of four children – two sets of twins, aged 15 and 10 – who had been disappointed to find a lack of kid’s coding clubs in their area. They did some digging, found Code Ninjas, and instead of asking if/when we’d be landing in the UK, they asked how they could become a part of our network. That’s as good an indication as any that our presence in the UK is going to make a difference.

So far, we’ve opened over 175 centres in the US, recently launching our first three franchises in Canada. Whilst considerably bigger than the UK – in terms of geographical size – the nationwide population of Canada (37.41 million1) is almost half of what it is in the UK (67.65 million2). This means that the Canadian market will likely provide some insight into the early response from parents following the opening of our first UK centre. Our first Canadian franchisee broke the Code Ninjas franchise network record for pre-enrolments, with more than 100 kids signed up before the centre even opened its doors. Whilst the UK and Canada are different countries, the fact that we will launch across both locations in the same year is a great way for us to predict activity on British soil. 

At the end of the day, a brand is most valuable if its services or products are in demand in that market, or solves a problem in a seamless and accessible way. That’s how a brand becomes a necessity – and not just a luxury. If early indications in the UK are anything to go by, Code Ninjas is ticking all the boxes! 

1 http:/worldpopulationreview.com/countries/canada-population/

2 http:/worldpopulationreview.com/countries/united-kingdom-population/

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Graham
David Graham
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