Learning Express began in 1982 when Sharon DiMinico, expecting her first child, found inspiration while shopping for baby gear in Nashua, NH. The joy of selecting toys and furniture sparked an idea: a retail venture capturing the excitement of childhood.
Four years later, DiMinico, then president of Groton Community School’s board, proposed Learning Express as a fundraising initiative to bolster the school’s finances. In March 1987, the first Learning Express opened in Acton, MA.
Six months later, DiMinico launched her own store in Needham, MA. While preparing for its opening, she discovered franchising through an article in Inc. Magazine. Recognizing the potential to share the rewards of business ownership, she advertised franchising opportunities in the Boston Globe, selling the first franchise in Andover, MA in 1990.
By 1998, Learning Express held its first convention and relocated its headquarters to Devens, MA. In 1999, Entrepreneur Magazine recognized Learning Express as one of the Top 500 Franchises, an accolade it has consistently earned. Today, Learning Express stands as the largest specialty toy store franchise in the United States, a testament to DiMinico’s vision where learning truly expresses itself.
