In Pictures: Diana Goodwin's swimming-lesson enterprise
Contest semi-finalist works with 750 instructors serving Toronto and parts of the U.S.
AquaMobile Inc. is one of the five semi-finalists in the Small Business Challenge Contest, sponsored by The Globe and Mail and Telus Corp. Diana Goodwin’s Toronto-based business offers teach-at-home swimming lessons. She wants it to be “North America’s largest at-home learn-to-swim school.”JENNIFER ROBERTS/The Globe and Mail
Here, Ms. Goodwin greets guests at a Small Business Challenge function in Toronto. Her enterprise has about 750 instructors serving Toronto and parts of Florida, California, Arizona and Texas. “Our roster of instructors includes a couple of former Olympians,” she says.Matthew Sherwood/The Globe and Mail
A key part of her company’s growth has been its custom-made technology platform that allows customers to go online, key in their pool address and be matched with an AquaMobile instructor in their area. By comparison, AquaMobile’s competitors can take several days to find a match.JENNIFER ROBERTS/The Globe and Mail
If she wins the Small Business Challenge contest, Ms. Goodwin says she plans to hire at least one full-time employee to recruit swimming instructors, plus another employee to look after marketing and advertising. Finding good instructors is challenging, especially in the United States, she says. Having a dedicated recruiter will help AquaMobile find good instructors willing to stay and commit.Matthew Sherwood/The Globe and Mail