Our Featured Franchisee: Andy Constantinou, Kidproof Canada® Waterloo, Ontario
Andy Constantinou already had one successful kid-centred business when he joined Kidproof as a franchisee in Waterloo Region, Ontario. Andy runs a playground safety company called Safe Play Recreation Inc., that's going into its sixth year of business.
“I inspect playground equipment primarily,” says Andy. “It's nice because both businesses overlap, but they are also very different. As a playground safety inspector, I'm kicking the kids off the equipment to inspect it, so I don't get to interact with them as much! I like the interaction with the kids at Kidproof.”
The search for a business that was both “commercial and personal” ended when Andy discovered Kidproof last year. “Kidproof caught my eye in November, and I was immediately drawn to it,” he says.
Andy says one of his favourite parts of running the franchise is personally delivering Kidproof's various child safety programs, which inlude Babysitting Training, At Home Alone, CyberSafe Internet Safety, I Wanna Walk and A Girl's Way. “I love working with the kids – I almost went into teaching, actually,” he says. “Now I get to teach 30 to 40 percent of the Kidproof courses, which is great.”
Andy, who is a parent himself, has noticed the impact Kidproof programs have had on his Ontario community. “The word of mouth is spreading,” says Andy. “Some parents have been waiting for Kidproof courses for quite awhile, so the feedback has been very positive.”
Andy recently had a chance to see just how much of an impact Kidproof programs have on kids and parents. “A mother and daughter stuck around after a class to ask me some questions. They explained that the girl was being bullied at dance class; this was an ongoing problem. We went over the situation and her reactions, and discussed what she could do, and she was happy to have someone else besides a parent to talk to. It was fulfilling for her to come forward, and to be able to talk to her and have her listen.”
Next on Andy's to-do list: Kidproof's parent seminars. “I'm really looking forward to expanding and implementing the parent seminars,” says Andy. “We had a fast start, and we were very aggressive with scheduling, and the Kidproof classes have been great. So, I want to really promote Kidproof programs and parent seminars in my region.”
Sounds like another busy year for Andy, who says he is “looking forward to the challenge!”
About Kidproof Canada® Franchises
Kidproof Canada® provides vital information that parents and kids need in today's changing world. One of Canada’s most trusted child safety educators and the only child safety education franchise if its kind, Kidproof Canada® continues to find exceptional people to represent their brand of exclusive child safety programs directly to families in their communities. Some of Kidproof's exclusive child safety programs are Babysitter Training, At Home Alone, Internet Safety and Stranger Awareness, to name just a few.
Kidproof offers a unique opportunity to build a successful business while helping to keep children safe. Learn more about Kidproof franchises: a business with meaning.
