Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Hobird.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started out as a Gymboree mom bringing my 1st son to classes so I could meet friends for both of us since I was the first of most of my friends to have kids. Many of our very first kiddo friends came from Gymboree and have been life-long friends! I also brought my 2nd son since I met so many great friends the 1st time around and knew how much we loved the classes, socializing, and getting out of the house. When I was looking to leave the career I was in for 15 years to pursue something I was more passionate about and started looking into what else I was interested in, all roads led back to my love of and belief in the wonderful attributes and community benefits of Gymboree Play & Music. I couldn’t be more proud of the joy, development, and friendships we bring to the families and communities who we serve here in Encino and the surrounding areas, and hope that each and every child and family who walks through our doors experiences the same as what it brought to my own family!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t always been smooth. When I bought the franchise in 2013 it was located in Sherman Oaks in an old, run-down former bank, and attached to a rug store. I knew I wanted to move it to a more family friendly location and invest in completely updating the equipment, floors, and furnishings. I am a neat freak, and needed it to be in a clean and beautiful space! It took a while to find a location with adequate parking and of course the extensive build-out had quite a few setbacks, but when we opened in Encino in 2014 all the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it!
Please tell us about Gymboree Play & Music of Encino.
Gymboree Play & Music’s story began in 1976 when Joan Barnes, a mother from Marin County, California, tried to find a safe, fun place featuring age-appropriate activities for parents and young children to play together. Unable to do so, she did what any innovative, entrepreneurial mom would; she started her own program! We’ve been proudly inspiring parents and children ever since.
Today there are over 700 locations in 40+ countries, making us the global leader in early childhood development programs. Designed by experts in both education and in play, our age-appropriate activities for children ages 0-5 years old help develop the cognitive, physical and social skills of children as they play. Our programs are also recognized for their unique approach to parent involvement, which encourages participation in and understanding of each child’s development.
Our class curriculum is developed by our experienced child development program directors and incorporate a balanced whole-child approach with activities to support what your child is mastering right now and what he or she will aspire to later. Classes are designed in 6-month increments to continue to meet a child’s growing interests and abilities.
Our proprietary equipment was designed by Jay Beckwith, a nationally respected playground designer with more than 30 years of experience, who created every structure with the needs of children in mind. Our play environments are designed to deliver the high-quality standard parents expect for their children. We break down and rebuild our playfloor structures every two weeks to coincide with a new lesson plan, which provides new challenges and learning opportunities!
We provide an environment where children are free to move, play and explore safely. When you become a member with a monthly membership, you’ll not only enjoy our classes each week, but you can also attend all four of our Open Gyms every week (many of which are themed such as story time every Friday, various dance party themes, quarterly art projects, and many other themes), take part in the quarterly community events we do for free such as our National Day of Play celebration and CPR courses, and of course be a part of a community of likeminded moms, dads, and caregivers! Our classes are as much about your child as they are about our caregivers connecting with one another. We are extremely proud to welcome all families here, and feel an unbelievable amount of pride as we see the great strides of development in our kiddos, as well as our grownups making lifelong friendships!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have left my former career earlier! No, I do believe it was the right time for me – it all worked out as it was meant to be. Experiencing the setbacks of the buildout – which were emotionally & financially draining – if I could go back in time I would be much more assertive with our contractor and the sub and staying on top of their milestones, as well as attend every single city inspection.
Contact Info:
- Address: 16101 Ventura Blvd #150, Encino, CA 91436
- Website: https://www.gymboreeclasses.com/en/locations/CA/Encino/
- Phone: 818-788-8845
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @gymboreeencino
- Facebook: @gymboree_encino
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gymboree-play-and-music-encino-encino-2?osq=gymboree+play+%26+music+encino
- Other: www.gymboreeclasses.com
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
