Sharon Duke Estroff embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. First, the former teacher leveraged her background in education to build Challenge Island, a popular children’s program. She then cultivated her business into a thriving multi-state franchise. Now, Estroff is poised to make Challenge Island a household name; the published author has announced signing a three-book contract to create the Challenge Island book series. By Rochelle Miller
Sharon Duke Estroff embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. First, the former teacher leveraged her background in education to build Challenge Island, a popular children’s program. She then cultivated her business into a thriving multi-state franchise. Now, Estroff is poised to make Challenge Island a household name; the published author has announced signing a three-book contract to create the Challenge Island book series.
“It’s going to be great for franchise sales because it’s going to give us a national presence,” says Estroff, whose books will be published by West Margin Press.
The first book in the series, co-authored by Estroff and award-winning children’s author Jeff Ross, is titled Escape to “Shark Tooth Island”, which is scheduled to be in bookstores by the summer of 2021. Before the book hits retail shelves, franchise owners will have the opportunity to purchase it at cost and sell it at retail price, generating a new profit center for franchisees.
The books will incorporate the same educational lessons as the Challenge Island program, which focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics), making them attractive selections for teachers as well as parents.
“It was no surprise that multiple publishing houses were interested in buying rights to the Challenge Island series,” says Estroff’s literary agent, Caitlin Blasdell of Liza Dawson Associates.
Since franchise owners of Challenge Island bring the programs to local schools and community organizations, Estroff is expecting strong interest from educators. “It paves the way for franchisees to have relationships with even more schools,” she says. “One of our big differentiators among education franchises is that we are truly created by educators and born in the schools. That’s where we are most at home.”
Estroff expects book sales to not only enhance revenue for franchise owners directly, but she also said she hopes it will help expand Challenge Island franchises to new markets.
“It’s going to be so powerful in building the brand,” Estroff says.
For more information regarding franchising opportunities with Challenge Island, call 404-692-3103, or visit franchise.challenge-island.com.
– Rochelle Miller