Opening a gym

ttt

Roy,

Thanks for the book recomendations. Two new books that I really liked are Freakonomics, and The World is Flat.

I've heard good things about the world is flat/ Funny you mention Guerilla marketing. A freind of mine said that I should get that book immediately. He was a ceo of a very successful company and now a GM of another.

Pablos,

I have had myy school for about a year now. My advice is to put your work in. A lot of people have schools that are not commercially successful
(and some do not care), but if you do care, then make sure you have an attack plan and stick with it.

Make sure you have a clean gym/school also., My gym is cleaner than my house( that is what I clean)this is only important if you want kids and women in your gym:) Most of my male students seem not to care

Make sure you are always getting new people into your school. I use lead boxes, my website, and a referral program

Learn to sell. Doesn't matter how good you are if you can't get people to sign up

Sorry about all the writing but i was were you are a year and a half ago

JK

Jason,

Good points. I have been to some filthy schools and I will not go back. Amazing that people think they can do business like that!

Especially when they smell. Some wnat a commercial school but they want it to be like a boxing gym. I have not heard of many successful boxing gyms in terms of having lots of members

The problem is, as in most things, people get comfortable and are not willing to push themselves and keep learning. This was hard for me to do( and I am still doing it) I wanted a school and I got one but I have really learned the business side of Martial arts.

The customer is #1.
Give them what they want, or they will go someplace else.
Each customer has indivdual needs, if you (the owner) addresses these needs, then that customer will feel like you REALLY CARE about them, you my just have a customer for life.

Roy,

Here's a question: would you ever share your business with someone else? In other words would you ever take on a business partner?

The reason why I ask is because I notice that some of the more succesful schools in my area are the schools which are run by more than one person.

For example my Bjj school is actually apart of three martial arts schools. The Bjj school has a space of its own and the two other schools, one is a Karate and the other is Muay Thai, share a space. Because the karate school and the Muay Thai school have differen clientel as well as different schedules there is little to no conflict in regards to the use of that space. And obviously because the Bjj school is in a space that is separate from the others there is know conflict regarding schedule and place at all.

Each school is ran by an instructor that specializes in that particular style: Bjj school is ran by a Bjj black belt, the Karate school is ran by a Karate 3 dan, and the Muay Thai school is ran by a cerified Muay Thai coach.

Each school seems to be independant of each other in the way they operate BUT at the same time they share certain operation cost.

Anyway it seem that doing this is a good idea, at least on the surface.

m.g,

WhIle there are certain aspects of my business I would share with
someone else, I could not share my WHOLE business with them.

Here's why: Many in today's world share the same (commercial or
industrial) space. However, the services or products they sell are
uniquely their own. So while training space, hours of operation,
operating expenses and etc... over lap, there are certain aspects of
each business that cannot be shared.

Does that make sense?

Roy Harris

ttt

Running a successful martial arts school boils down to respect and
consideration. In other words, those business owners who become
(and remain) respectful and considerate of the needs of their clients
are the businesses that establish themselves and remain open for
business for years to come. Conversely, business owners who are not
respectful or considerate of their clientele (and are only concerned with
their own agenda) will close up shop in just a few short years.

How does a potential business owner respect and consider the needs
of their clientele? Simple: They ask!

If people are unhappy, then it is up to the business owner to find out.

If people are happy, then it is also up to the business owner to find
out.

If the business owner doesn't know what makes his or her clientele
happy or unhappy, then he or she is the only person who doesn't know
this information (cuz you can be sure that the clients are talking
amongst themselves). Additionally, if the business owner doesn't take
the time to find out what makes his clientele unhappy, it is only a
matter of time before mutiny arrives!

So, for all you business owners out there: Ask your clientele what
makes them happy - and do more of it. Also, ask them what makes
them unhappy and do less of that and more of what they ask.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not of the persuasion that says the
customer is always right - cuz the customer IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.
While it is in my best interest to make them FEEL this way, the fact of
the matter remains - Customers are NOT always right! They make
mistakes and are sometimes VERY greedy and self-centered!

So where is the happy medium? Here it is:

Work your butt off your first three to seven years. Do everything and
anything to make your business a success! Then, when the numbers
are high enough, cut back on the amount of time YOU PERSONALLY
DEVOTE to BEING IN the business, focus more on running, changing
and adapting the business, and then enjoy life.

I wish each of you success in running your own business!

Roy Harris

Speaking for myself only, i can say I am always right!

cdog1955,

I fully understand your position, however, what does your "other-half"
have to say about this? ; )

I write this because I am fully aware of "El Poder de La Mujer."

Roy

hah!

Este poder es MUY fuerte!

Si mi hermanito. ¡Es MUY fuerte!

Roy

Roy,

you're 100% right. I use the 2-4-6 week calls to find out not only how they are doing but what they like. I also make sure for my kids I call the "A " students as well as the "c" students.