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Apple Seeds, Award-Winning Children's Playspace, Taps Fluent in Foreign to Manage International Franchising

By: Apple Seeds |  8 Shares     135 Reads

May 14, 2012 // Franchising.com // NEW YORK -  Fluent in Foreign LLC, a New York City based advisory firm that helps companies grow, finance and protect their business internationally, has been retained by Apple Seeds International LLC to help them develop and manage children's activity centers, through franchising arrangements, in international markets.

Apple Seeds(R), which opened its first activity center in Manhattan in 2007, has won numerous awards for innovation in the design of its 15,000 sq. ft. facility as well as for its wide variety of extracurricular classes for children, and their parents or caregivers, from newborn to five years of age. Last year the company opened its first international facility, in Mumbai, India, with locations in Dubai and Mexico City slated to open this year along with a second Manhattan location.

"Our concept has won recognition and praise from prestigious media like New York Magazine,Time Out New York Kids and Nickelodeon, and we feel the time is right to take our concept -- via franchising agreements -- to other major cities around the world," said Bobby Berna, who, with his wife Alison and another couple, Allison and Craig Schlanger, co-founded Apple Seeds. "Busy parents in other big cities have the same desire for quality playtime and an innovative learning experience for their young children. It's something that is common to all parents, no matter the border."

Apple Seeds chose Fluent in Foreign to guide their international expansion, not only because of its 25-year reputation doing business abroad, but also because of the work of Alexander Gordin, the firm's Managing Director. As Managing Director of the international merchant bank Broad Street Capital, NY, Gordin has worked with dozens of companies large and small to open opportunities to export a wide variety of goods and services. He is a Trustee of the Princeton Council on World Affairs, a frequent contributor to several leading business publications, and wrote "Fluent in Foreign Business," a guide to doing business overseas.

"There are fantastic opportunities for Apple Seeds in many developed and emerging markets around the globe. Their proprietary concept of children's programming is well suited for interactive learning outside of a traditional pre-school environment," said Gordin. "But, in the international marketplace there are challenges and potential pitfalls for the uninitiated. We will be guiding Apple Seeds in their international expansion and develop an international franchising and operating strategy. This will help them identify appropriate markets and find and vet the right business partners in each nation."

For more information, visit http://www.appleseedsplay.com and http://www.fluentinforeign.com.

Media Contact:

David Reich
212-573-6000
david@reichcommunications.com

Bambe Levine
212-490-6500
bambe@bambepr.com

SOURCE Fluent in Foreign LLC

 

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