How Word of Mouth Increased Our Customer Base By 100%

Meenakshi S

•

Published: April 12th, 2022

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Meenakshi S

Founder, Art Splash Academy of Fine Arts

$2K

revenue/mo

Founders

Employees

Art Splash Academ...

artsplashadyar.wixsite.com/music

from Chennai

started September 2015

$2,000

revenue/mo

Founders

Employees

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Want more updates on Art Splash Academy of Fine Arts? Check out these stories:

1. How I Left My Job To Start A Music, Vocals, Dance And Art Academy (2020) ➜

This is a follow up story for Art Splash Academy of Fine Arts. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published about 4 years ago, check it out here.

Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.

Greetings from Meenakshi, Founder of Art Splash Academy. So wonderful to reconnect here with all readers.

I have been successfully running a music and dance school for kids and adults since 2015. Our online presence has helped us reach out to many countries including Germany, Singapore, Ireland, Canada, US - California, Texas, Australia, UK, France, UAE, and more.

Our clients include Junior, middle, and high school students, undergraduates, working professionals like Doctors, Architects, IT professionals, Businessmen, Homemakers, Corporates, Schools, gated communities, and more.

We train kids, teens, and adults on vocals, dance, instrumental music, arts, and more. In most cases, we follow the western syllabus recognized by Trinity College London and the Indian syllabus for the Carnatic style. We provide the best training on Piano, Keyboard, Guitar, Drums, Vocals, Violin on the Western syllabus, and Bharatnatyam, Carnatic vocal, Violin, Mridangam, and Tabla in Indian style. We also train Hip-hop, Jazz, and special choreography for corporate events and occasions. We provide Zumba and yoga sessions for fitness as well. Arts we have an exclusively wider range from sketches to acrylic to Tanjore art of Kerala Mural to coffee painting and more.

Tell us about what you’ve been up to! Has the business been growing?

It's been a total double-up since we last connected. Almost a 100 percent increase in customer base.

Take calculative risks, stay alert, and deal with things calmly.

Most increases were through word of mouth and existing references.

We have been providing monthly feedback to improve and evaluate the progress of every customer. This has helped us.

Several newcomers to the music business have interacted and collaborated with us in more of a franchise way.

I had to double up staffing as the work has increased 100%

A 24hr support system has been kept in place to manage the time differences at different locations that we serve. A technical support system during our sessions has helped to keep zero downtime.

What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?

On the personal front, I utilized this opportunity to get a little self-time. My long-term passion is to resume Bharatnatyam and I finally started with a very overdue fitness regime to ensure better health and weight. I am doing walking and Zumba regularly. Personally have posted a few videos on our YouTube channel. Please take a look.

Due to the big leap few reminders quite rarely that I share with customers got missed. I made sure there is a backup and support system in place.

Definitely would attribute the growth to consistent efforts, efficient planning ahead and quick decision making, and proper backup.

In a few cases where buying an instrument was a concern I have also provided rental options to help with initial high costs at the customers' end.

Conducted Facebook live to make sure students not only learned but also performed online on live sessions. This is a very important aspect for any budding artist to get exposure and also build confidence.

What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?

I am looking for more franchise and local tie-up in India and overseas.

Would need to collaborate with online media promoters to motivate students' performances. Looking for a regular tie-up.

Have you read any good books in the last year?

I read stories of successful entrepreneurs online regularly.

Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?

Take calculative risks, stay alert, and deal with things calmly. Make sure you never repeat a mistake. If you are wrong accept it and correct it and move on. Dedication is the key. Think of it matters in the long?