It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here; I’ve been a bit busy these days.
I guess running three schools will do that to you, but all is going well and I’m enjoying watching each of the three schools grow.
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kamishinjyo.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml
October was a great month for each location!
The weather was great for handing out flyers and I certainly did not waste the opportunity.
I’ve made references before to “Cross-Pollination” between schools here at Smith’s School of English and it’s exciting to watch it happen more and more as we continue to expand further in Japan.
https://www.sse-franchise.com//200705/29/cross-pollination-at-smiths-school-of-english/
https://www.sse-franchise.com//200706/04/cross-pollination-at-smiths-school-of-english-part-2/
Each franchisees job becomes a little easier every time a new member joins our ranks.
That’s one more member on the T.E.A.M. promoting for all of us!
https://www.sse-franchise.com/team.shtml
I just wanted to share a recent experience in regards to flyers that put a smile on my face.
As you may already be aware, I am the proud owner and teacher at three Smith’s School of English franchisees in Osaka.
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kamishinjyo.shtml
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml
This naturally requires me to move around the city quite a bit coordinating flyer promotion at stations near to each particular school.
Well, earlier this month I was debating whether I should return to a particular station which I had attempted with no success 2 years ago while doing promotion for Smith’s School of English Horie.
It’s a tough station, quite busy, noisy and generally challenging to pass out flyers at.
I had tried this location repeatedly for about 2 or 3 months some 2 years ago, and nothing.
Not a single inquiry, no trial, no students. Nothing.
Well, I decided to give a try again.
Why not?
Just kind of make a guest appearance, so to speak, let the locals know I’m still hanging around in my Smith’s School of English windbreaker, and that I’m always eager to part with a flyer.
I and another “flyer helper” met up at 7:20am for a typical 2 hour run.
The weather was perfect, the station hadn’t changed much; I actually think I recognized some of the faces.
2 hours came and went and we went on our way.
Nothing spectacular, but we gave it a decent effort.
Later that evening I received my schedule, as usual, for the following day and I had a trial scheduled in for the next afternoon at Smith’s School of English Horie.
He came to the trial and I asked as usual “How did you hear of this school?”
You can guess the answer, can’t you?
That’s right, from that station.
Flyer, trial, new student! Simple.
A week goes by and I find myself at Smith’s School of English Fuse this time pondering how I am going to handle the “double-trial” I have booked in that evening.
This means 2 people are coming together at the same time.
I have always felt a bit intimidated by these.
It’s challenging to understand which person is the genuinely interested party and sometimes they are both interested but their levels are far apart, in which case the challenge becomes trying to balance this type of situation while at the same time providing ample opportunity for each to speak in order for you to assess their levels and also determine whether they would be ok to study together.
Anyway, back to the story.
That evening a mother and son come in, he is a university student who has studied a bit of English; she is a beginner, slightly worried about being able to improve her English, but very personable.
The trial was fun, not easy, and I definitely was working.
So…”How did you hear of this school?” The answer…
“Well, my husband received this flyer from you at XYZ Station last week and he knows I’m interested in studying English, so he told me to come!”
It was a beautiful moment for me.
The system had just worked in my favor again!
I’ve spoken of the “web” we are slowing weaving in Japan, and at that moment I realized that I have woven my own “mini-web” within the Big Web.
This time it was one flyer, one trial, 2 new students!
The beauty of this system that I am proud to be part of is that they see to it that you have all the cards stacked in your favor from day one!
https://www.sse-franchise.com/
Alessandro “Alex” Stanciu
アレッサンドロ“アレックス”スタンシュー
Smith’s School of English Horie/Yotsubashi
月謝制のスミス英会話堀江校 / 四ツ橋校
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/horie.shtml 大阪市英会話
Smith’s School of English Fuse
月謝制のスミス英会話布施校
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fuse.shtml 東大阪市英会話
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