Renowned for its exemplary standard of franchisee support and mentorship, the Helen Doron Educational Group acted quickly to ensure its network remained strong during the lockdown.
Content Partnership*
The lockdown that many countries went in to combat the spread of the COVID-19 crisis undeniably took its toll on multitudes of global businesses, with many organizations needing to either pivot elements of their businesses or re-evaluate their business models entirely.
Never one to rest on its laurels, world-leading educational franchise, the Helen Doron Educational Group, swiftly leaped into action, ensuring that its global franchise network and teaching community could not only run virtual classes, but they’d be provided with a wealth of invaluable resources and digital tools to do so.
The brand’s franchisees based in 38 countries around the globe received daily, unprecedented support. The feedback from franchisees, teachers and parents was unequivocally positive, further underlining the fact that the brand supports its franchisees, no matter what.
Its unerring dedication to supporting franchisees will come as no surprise to the franchise industry, with the Helen Doron Educational Group’s founder, Helen Doron, winning the Global Mentorship trophy – a category that was judged on franchisors demonstrating the highest levels of training and support – at the Global Franchise Awards 2020.
PEDAGOGIC AND MARKETING SUPPORT
The franchise didn’t miss a beat when it came to providing its teaching network with the materials needed to continue teaching from home. Immediately after the coronavirus crisis was officially declared a global pandemic, the brand quickly conceptualized its HELENDORON@HOME online lesson format.
A team of pedagogic experts worked around the clock to provide the teaching staff training on how to, as seamlessly as possible, temporarily transition to remote education. The materials were accompanied by specific guidelines for franchisees and teachers, to ensure they not only followed the policy together, but also provided tips and instructions on how to prepare and conduct online lessons.
A comprehensive marketing package was created, including social media posts and covers, parents communications guidelines, videos, animations and a special email signature for staff and partners to use.
A range of videos were produced and released by Helen Doron herself, filmed from her home garden, personally addressing parents and teachers to both comfort and inspire them. Supporting students and their parents went way beyond that, by creating the Helen’s Daily Tips for Parents blog, providing them with invaluable advice and topics such as keeping children entertained, educated and simulated while at home.
The A Moment with Helen video series introduced a wide variety of scientific and pedagogic topics related to bilingualism, brain development and others, highlighting the uniqueness of the Helen Doron methodology.
In addition, students and potential new customers were offered free online demo lessons, Family Time Activities, Song Club animations and unlimited access to the Kangi Games portal.
With some countries now returning to partial operation, the brand has now supplied relevant franchisees with a Reconnecting in Class digital and print marketing package, providing them with all necessary tools and guidelines to promote early registrations and the safe return of students back to class.
DIGITAL INNOVATOR
To launch one app during the height of a global pandemic would be an impressive feat, but never one to shy away from innovation, the Helen Doron Educational Group accelerated the release of a range of new apps, allowing franchisees to widen their portfolio of offerings to support home-based learning and beyond.
The Bedtime Stories with Grandma apps offer classic folk tales narrated by Grandma Rosella, which come accompanied by beautiful illustrations. The stories teach important values for life. Built to run for seven to 10 minutes each, the stories are aimed at children from the age of three who can enjoy quality time listening to classic tales read by ‘Grandma’.
Another piece of software that was launched was the brand’s Alphachat app, which can be used as a standalone product or as an additional pedagogic tool that strengthens and reinforces the knowledge acquired in the organization’s Alphaboat course. A comprehensive marketing package was included with all of the tools needed to support and promote its release.
TeenBuzz Radio’s upgraded app for teens learning English was released, adding a number of new shows, featuring student participation in broadcasting and choosing content. Statistics show that the only English-as-a-foreign- language (EFL) internet station attracts attention far beyond the Helen Doron network.
EXPERT GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
A key reason that the Helen Doron Educational Group boasts such an extensive international network of master franchisees not only comes down to the quality of its products and services, but also the franchisor’s indefatigable support and guidance. During the coronavirus crisis, master franchisees have been provided with ongoing commercial support and business guidance, to ensure that they not only remain in operation, but they have the platform to flourish and expand, as well. A purpose-built online lesson communication package was created for master franchisees to ensure they can communicate effectively with franchisees, teachers and parents about the new suite of products available.
Financial tips for franchisees were also circulated, as well as special master franchisee and teacher Facebook forums created, to encourage and strengthen experience sharing among the network. Furthermore, continuous surveys were sent to gain input and insight from master franchisees, so that plans were built with their needs and requirements in mind.
With this level of support, innovation, guidance and ingenuity, it’s no wonder that the award-winning Helen Doron Educational Group is a platform loved by pupils, parents, teachers and franchisees alike.
AT A GLANCE
Established: 1985
Number of franchised units: Over 1,000
Location of units: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lichtenstein, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam
Investment range: €150,000 – €250,000
Minimum required capital: €200,000
Contact: info@helendorongroup.com
