Student Retention

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone, .

My sister has been teaching Yoga classes for quite a while at recreations, and she’s is considering setting up her own small Studio. What I’ve noticed is that in her classes there is always new faces in the crowd, which can be viewed as both good and bad.

However, ideally once she sets up her own studio, I think she should definitely consider student retention.

Could you plz give me your ideas on student retention? (More specifically: how do you regard retention? And are there any strategies we should avoid OR make greater use of?

Thnx.

#2

Whether your sister is starting a yoga practice, clothing store, or art gallery, she will need some basic business skills that include lead generation, customer satisfaction and retention, referrral, marketing, accounting, etc.

My strongest suggestion is that your sister enrol in a business class, or engage a business coach with yoga experience before starting on her adventure. In order to succeed, the idea of student retention isn’t a question - it is a necessity.

#3

Someone starting a business should incorporate such things into their written business plan. This not only clarifies the thinking and planning now, but it also serves as a guide for the business after is launches both in terms of day-to-day evaluation and reflection back on what did or did not happen, did or did not work.

Retention is very important and it would be risky to move forward without answering the question: “how will we keep students?”.

#4

LOL.

Move to a state where they outlaw those smokers within 25’ of the doorway

Some business owners make a go without writing a thing. More power to them.

Ultimately if you are using the light, manifesting the universal forces, then you will have what you are intended to have - be that poverty or prosperity. But I tend to give pragmatic answers to pragmatic questions.

Yes, please allow students to go home after class.

#5

[QUOTE=Sunyuting;28108]Inner,

I am hoping to get some of those smokers in my class. :-)[/QUOTE]

So you do have a business plan afterall.

#6

I think that having a plan is good. I work at several yoga studios and student retention is our Number One Biggest Problem. Education, Education, Education. The majority of people see yoga as just a feel good activity. You have to educate them on the benefits and why they should be consistent. The trick to this is you have to sound like you are not preaching!!! Workshops that include yoga benefits and education are good. A studio blog or a place on your website to explain benefits is another idea. Discounts for those who come more then once a week etc. Make it easy for them to come back.

A lot of it really depends on the market in your area. There are some areas where people are hard core into yoga and you can just open the studio doors and they will flood in. There are other areas, like where I live, where they really just don’t get it and it takes a while to fill a class.

The basic business rule is that “most businesses fell within 5years”. As long as you have enough money to pay the bills if you don’t turn a profit, than with time, your student base will grow and become consistent.

#7

I don’t think anyone should open a yoga studio without reading “the Business of Fitness” - Thomas Plummer. It practically writes the business plan for you, but it can feel a bit overwhelming, it is a MUST have!

#8

Thank you, Inner Athlete, Iashannasmall, and Concoulor3, and everyone else for sharing your ideas and experiences. We have taken your suggestions to heart, and are in the process of developing a business plan, so that we will be better prepared in dealing with retention.

(I apologize for not responding earlier; we have been extremely busy in organizing and planning for the big day!)

In preparing ourselves, we have spent a great deal of time talking with other studio owners.

With respect to managing our financial activities and overall scheduling (student attendance planner), one studio owner suggested that we use billing software. If I am not wrong, the name of the software was “MindBODY”. They software seems to have very useful features, but I do not know if it will be right for us, as neither one of us is tech savvy.

Does anyone here use Billing/scheduling software? How has your experience been, please recommend any software you think will be suitable for our Yoga studio

Here are some useful tips we have received from other studio owners:
In marketing your studio, your focus should be on educating students on the benefits of yoga, as opposed to advertising your address or class list

Once again, I cannot thank you all enough for helping us out

#9

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#10

We use Mind Body at both studios I work at. It is not intuitive but it is pretty good.