Without a further ado, here is a list of lessons learnt/experiences/thoughts while operating a solely Judo business.
Lessons learnt:
1) If an opportunity arises, make sure to not hesitate and seize it.
There was a moment where borders were closed, and opened momentarily. I needed to be in Queensland to deploy some mats to a customer. Had I not made the split decision to book the first flight (there were rumors of imminent lockdown), I wouldnt not have been able to deploy the mats and the result would have been a very angry customer
2) Take the opportunity to get everything done while in the vicinity, especially if logistics are uncertain in the future
That being said there was a separate customer who was happy to pickup from the warehouse in Queensland - he was on the other side of the border, but the delay in getting the mats to him could have been avoided if the mats were deployed at the same time, rather than letting him pick it up. Lesson learnt, but customer was happy that I kept the mats safe for him anyway!
3) Its not about what you know, its about who you know
Great opportunities have been created due to effective networking, through social media as well as attending smaller events
4) Know your worth
There have been times where people look to get a good deal at ridiculous expense to yourself. Do not do things for free, or if it is to be done for free, make sure the exposure if well worth it. There is also no need to associate one's self with an entity that tries to rip you off at first go
5) Lost opportunities from Live Streaming
Live streaming Judo events was a great opportunity and concept, with the added technology of automated tracking being one of its main pluses. As time progressed, events were cancelled due to Covid and so the need of live streaming Judo events seemed compromised.
Future plans:
1) Sponsoring/supporting athletes
There needs to be a specification of what athletes need to do to earn the support of a business. This will be written as I consolidate my learnings of athletes over the past 4 years in business. Athletes that have shown support from the start will be prioritised
2) Sponsoring Judo tournaments
I will be looking at sponsoring tournaments in 2022, starting from NSW, QLD and SA as they have been my main supporters for live streaming.
3) Wallpads and custom graphics
I will be looking into furthering the product range of Australian made wallpads, crashmats as well as custom graphics to help make Dojos more visually impressive
4) Stock quantity
Early 2022 I will be looking into building up my stock with bulk orders (I've been quite restricted over the years) of belts, kids gis and adult gis
]]>Sunny has a simple answer to filter these emails
]]>Sunny shows you how he manages his emails, as well as unwanted facebook messages.
1) For GMAIL ONLY
Create a filter with keywords only marketers and exporters use.
Most (non-legit) markets use either gmail or hotmail.
They also use words like "1st page". or "manufacturer"
Don't worry, if you dont like this process, you can remove the filter and everything is back to normal
2) For Facebook page
Most people who want to sell you something are from China, India, or Pakistan.
For Sunny, it doesnt matter if there are no followers from that region. As a Judo Club, that likely doesnt matter either.
Done!
I hope these 2 will save you lots of unwanted spam.
Click like and share if this was helpful, thank you in advance!
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The answer may surprise you
]]>The answer may surprise you.
I gave people the option of picking preselected options, or coming up with their own option
These are the options I had written:
In total, there were 11 people that voted.
Out of the 11, 9 (82%) of people have chosen point #2,
Give Judokas an option to make a purchase, with $x credit go to their club
1 person (9%) had chosen to give 2 gis to clubs who've supported the business previously.
Another person (9%) also added the option of helping clubs run social media ads to boost membership when lockdown ends
Out of all the 5 options, no one picked to give $X or Gis to clubs directly, whether they had supported the business previously or not.
The remaining options selected remains reasonable for me to implement to help the Judo community.
If you are a club based in SYDNEY and VICTORIA at the moment, and would like to participate in fund raising for your club, please comment on the Facebook using your CLUBS FACEBOOK page, "Count me in" and i will create a code for you.
I have yet to fully work out the details on how much credit to hand out over what time frame, but at least people purchasing from interstate can help cover a bit of the expenses incurred over lockdown
]]>Previously, the kanji symbols for "Taketani DOJO" were made by a local company that did vinyl stickers. However, as you know, the surface of a tatami mat isn't exactly smooth.
Over time, dust started accumulating under the vinyl, and the edges started to peel.
This project did take some patience, as well as well informed research on what to do.
I will summarise how I completed the task:
1) Preparation
2) Spray painting
Firstly, this is by no means an easy task. If you're completely new and not willing to take the risk, do try and find a professional.
From the next few photos, you will see that I am creating a stencil for the spray paint. I cover the old vinyl sticker with some masking tape after making sure that the mat area is clean from dust and dirt.
I then use a stanley knife, to cut around the edges of the kanji character. care is taken to only cut the masking tape, and not the actual mat
The part which used to be the kanji character is then disposed, leaving the void where the paint will then fill. You will then need to ensure that the masking tape is pressed as close to the mat as possible.
Before you start using the paint, ensure you wear the proper PPE and do it in a well ventilated area.
As you will be spraying on the mat, you will want to cover the rest of the mat with newspaper, just in case some wind decides to affect your spray trajectory.
You will first need to find and research whether a particular spray paint will suit your mat. If you're new to spray painting, practice on something else first and a test sample of the mat to make sure the paint adheres well to the mat
There is a drop of paint in the picture above, which luckily doesn't show on the end result. The can leaked slightly
You want to point your spray can towards your subject but not be too near it as well, spray the mist finely across the subject.
The mat is then left to dry in a well ventilated area
Turned out pretty good, huh! There is a slight difference in shade of blue, due to the lighting. The character itself does not seem to have worn off, or discoloured.
What do you think? Thank you Taketani Judo Academy in Melbourne for letting me complete this project
]]>Lets talk about what my Facebook page, Dojo Mats, strives to achieve when making content. When making content, I have to keep in mind that I want to drive relevant people, i.e Judokas, to my page. I will need to post about Judo stuff. Not BJJ stuff, not martial arts stuff as that will attract people interested to BJJ or any form of martial arts.
Lets say you want to attract MORE children/junior members to your club. You have to understand that kids do not use Facebook, so you will have to convince parents to bring their child to Judo.
I have seen numerous posts about how "Judo is great for children" which is often shared often by Judo clubs. It is a step forward in the right direction. However, I find that this is lacking slightly and isn't great in getting the required targetted attention
Thats not to say that Judo clubs should not post about Ippon videos, etc. However, most of those post will only interest Judokas.
Shared content (often with low-quality pictures) does not draw attention to prospective customers. From my experience with Facebook, the people that share that specific post will share similar traits (Judoka) to people who react to it, and the post will be continued to be spread only amongst those people (Judoka). If you think about it hard enough, parents of kids who do Judo and have nothing to do with Judo, will not be included in this group.
If you want to start bringing in NEW people to your club, I would think about:
In this example, the interest is from word of mouth, and is a warm approach to introducing new people to Judo.
Do let me know what you think
]]>Join my facebook group "Judoka Worldwide" for more social media tips based on my experience
Do not tumble dry the gis, let it dry hanging outside. White gi's always shrink more than the blue, so unless you know what you're doing, plan your drying times with your training sessions
It is often recommended to cold wash the Judo Gi for the first wash. Generally, a hot wash would cause the Judo Gi to shrink slightly more than a cold wash. If you know what lengths the arm needs to be at, and the jacket could use a little bit more shrinkage, use the hot wash option if necessary
Set the spin cycle to 400-600. Setting the spin cycle too high might damage the Judo uniform. 400-600 seems to be at a happy medium.
Do not overload the washing machine with clothes or detergent.
I always try to aim for the washing machine to be about 3/4 full. My washing machine is a front loader that holds about a 7kg worth of washing.
Do not mix a white Judo gi with coloured clothing if you're not sure if the clothing will bleed, we too have learnt that the hard way
]]>Most Judo or martial arts clubs will show you how to tie your belt on the first few days, but if you're the type to want to go in prepared, follow these tips:
1) Find the middle of the belt. You can start by using 1 hand to grab a random part of the belt you think is the middle
2) Adjust till you manage to identify the middle
3) Left over right (picture), then place middle of belt on belly button
4) Wrap both ends of the belt, interchange at back
5) Be sure to adjust the belt so it is tight around your waist
6) Left over right, then left does under both loops
7) Identify the protruding part of the belt
8) Top goes over bottom, then loops in
9) Pull tightly to secure the belt
Click here for our range belts which can be used for any martial arts or here for our range of Judo belts
]]>On some level, these issues or inconveniences contribute to the dissatisfaction of people who are new to Judo, and could likely affect their dedication to support the sport.
Being involved in Judo for nearly 20 years, with majority of that in Australia, I have heard quite a few complaints over the years from consumers of the sport. Years go by as the same issues repeats themselves over and over again. There's no wonder that Judo isnt growing as it isnt being marketed properly.
As an engineer Judoka, I couldnt help myself to work on solutions.
In no particular order,
In general, there are guidelines which you use your height and weight to get a general idea of what size Gi to get.
Solution: We are in the progress of coding up a "Judo Gi size calculator" to take the guesswork out. We have also measured individual Gis, so you know what arm length you should be getting from your Gi, before washing. Some Gi are pre-shrunk, which shouldnt shrink too much, and some shrink at a normal rate
Sometimes things do get out of hand during busy periods.
Solution: In general, we like to keep customers informed. If there is any reason for a delay, we will get in touch. Sometimes the courier company itself might delay pickups, but we try to pack and send your order on the same day if possible, or the next day!
Sometimes goods arent tracked as well as they could be, resulting in "oversold" products, which should not happen on a regular basis. Customers shouldnt need to call to find out that it was not going to be delivered, or some notice should be given in the first place
Solution: Our stock tracking is automated and we have a great overview of the inventory levels in our product range. This means thats we might sell out of an item (we try to reduce the downtime as much as possible), but never oversell!
Judo Gi are mainly made of cotton. Sometimes it is 100% cotton, and sometimes made with a mixture of synthetic material. In general, any Judo gi will experience shrinkage, from about 1-3cm. 4cm is pushing the limits. Anything more (by arm lengths dropping 2 sizes) should be classified as unacceptable
Solution: Pull out products which had any history of extreme shrinkage rates. Educating customers to wash in cold water for less shrinkage, and hot water for more shrinkage. The pre-shrunk Judo gi should not shrink much at all and should fit your body size well, provided that your body size is for that size Gi
There have been quite a few instances of this, with video footage being quite blurry, choppy, laggy and mobile friendly
Solution: One hurdle is to figure out how to stream with Australia's data network! - Australia's data network is not the greatest. However, we believe we have found a basic 1080p solution and will work on developing the solution over the years to provide everyone a better viewing experience, so you can support your friends/family, whether it may be their first Judo tournament, or 100th. Please do get in touch if you'd like for us to work with you to livestream your Judo tournament. Whether or not we may be the official guys to livestream the event, we will still do out best to get there!
A one-size-fits-all backpatch doesnt work for the smallest kids with the biggest adults.
Solution: working on a solution to get a custom perfect fit for kids and adults, this is currently in the works. If there's a way to custom print different names on a backpatch, there should be a way to get different sized prints too!
Since the introduction of black tipped- belts with dual colors was raised in Australia, which calls for manufacturers to make more-custom belts. Some shops have decided to not sell black tipped belts altogether given that Judo isnt exactly popular in Australia
Solution: As a small business, we're looking into getting the less common belt sizes! in the future everything for Judo in Australia should be stocked, as we're working with a good factory which can handle custom orders with smaller quantities.
As per the previous points, inventory management and some supply-and-demand comes into play.
Solution: We try and keep the common sizes in stock, and if need be, keep the downtime as low as possible. As a dedicated Judo store, we aim to keep everything in stock, when you need it.
Some may claim that thin belts are easier to tie for the younger kids, but some have found issues with the thinner belts.
Solution: We have found decently quality belts, which are of great quality but not super thin. We believe that the quality of a belt/gi contributes to the overall experience felt by the user, so we go with the quality products that bring a more positive experience.
I personally have not encountered many complaints from consumers regarding the price of Judo Gi, but there are numerous quality affordable options outside of branded Judo Gi.
How did I go? Do you have any other issues faced in your country that isnt in the list above?
]]>Being able to live stream a Judo event is great for anyone looking to support their mate or close ones when they cant be physically present to support. It might be their first Judo tournament and a hurdle in removing the fear of going to competition. It might be a Judoka's 50th Judo tournament and looking to make a statement about being the strongest. Either way, people are looking to support their friends/family and can do so by watching a live stream.
A short survey conducted on my facebook page showed that people much preferred a decent quality stream with no dropouts in connection over other qualities offered.
Our test below will determine whether it can be done.
3 different mobile phones were taken to get the file size of a 5minute video recorded in 720p, which is the lowest decent quality I have selected. I will take the average of the file sizes, and the maximum to give a range of data required to stream the actual event. The brand name of the mobile phones are not released.
Mobile 1: 255mb - [5min - 720p]
Mobile 2: 378mb - [5min - 720p]
Mobile 3: 442mb - [5min - 720p]
Average = 359mb - [5min - 720p]
Highest = 442mb[5min - 720p]
Lowest = 255mb [5min - 720p]
Lets calculate the average expected usage:
The data usage for 4 mobile phone per day (8hours) on average, would use: 4 * 8 * 60 * 359 / 5 = 137 856mb = 137GB per day
274GB for 4 mobiles over 2 days on average.
Lets now calculate the highest expected usage
The data usage for 4 mobile phone per day (8hours), would use: 4 * 8 * 60 * 442 / 5 = 169 728 mb = 170GB per day
340GB for 4 mobiles over 2 days for the highest usage.
If you're using a portable wifi hotspot or someone's phone, data charges will apply:
Looking at Vodafone's largest data plan, 35GB roughly costs $50AUD.
This means that you will looking at about $390 - $500AUD per event.
The simple test shows how much data is consumed when taking a simple video. For a 2 day Judo event, it might take 274GB - 340GB worth of data.
Also good to note that other factors such as the actual cost of 4 mobile phones and whether the mobile phone's battery can handle long term broadcasting arent discussed. Other factors that affect the cost include: upload speed, price of the stands to hold the phone, as well as the relevant attachments.
From my experience, mobile phones battery can not handle long videos even while simultaneously being charged due to heating
]]>In this blog post, Sunny will describe 3 main considerations when choosing your first Judo uniform
]]>Picking your first Judo uniform can be tough. So many different terms - weaves, gsm, models, can be confusing. Our guidelines will give you a few considerations on how to select your first Judo uniform to get the greatest value for your money..
Judo uniforms generally come in 2 colors - white and blue. Sometimes your club can have rules on which to wear but it is rare. If you are unsure, go with a white Judo uniform.
When are looking for your first Judo uniform, you have to ask yourself how much you are looking to spend. Are you fairly certain that you will be sticking to Judo for a while? Financials play a huge part in your decision.
There are different quality considerations when choosing your first Judo uniform, and the better quality Judo uniforms are generally more expensive. If you know for sure that you will be attending Judo lessons frequently, invest in a double weave Judo uniform.
If you are doing Judo casually and have yet to represent your state or country in Judo competitions, there is no need to get an IJF Approved Judo uniform.
Generally, when looking for a Judo uniform, you will see a number associated to the model which describes the material density on the title or description. For example, single weave Judo uniforms range from 290gsm, 350gsm, 450gsm, 500gsm.
I would recommend going for a 450gsm Judo uniform for beginner kids, or small adults as it is a very decent quality for a starter Judo uniform. Depending on your size, anything less might be very thin for a grappling sport and may rip easy. Check out our single weave 450gsm Judo uniform here
For the larger adults, you will be putting the cotton material to the test if you go for a 450gsm Judo uniform. Denser Judo suits would be a better recommendation. For example, 500+ gsm.
Depending on your training frequency, you might need an extra Judo uniform. Double weave Judo uniforms (600gsm, 750gsm, 850gsm, 950gsm) take about 1-2 days to dry, depending on where you are from and its humidity.
If you have Judo training on Monday and Tuesday, chances are you will need it to dry quicker. If you have Judo training on a Tuesday and Thursday, you can afford to have 1 Judo uniform to let it dry before the next lesson.
For hygiene purposes, please do not train in a sweaty Judo uniform.
Check out our double weave Judo uniforms here
If you're going for competitions, it might be worth your while to not have excess material where it is not needed. Judo uniforms tend to get slightly more expensive when the uniform is well designed to the body shape - as opposed to having a "general one-size-fits-all" type Judo uniform.
There you go, 3 main points to help you choose your first Judo uniform. Hopefully this will guide you into making an informed decision on what to purchase.
Check out our IJF Approved Judo Uniform here
]]>Before I started the Dojo Mats business, I knew little about social media and how it works. Over time, however, I've read up on how Facebook works and have gathered quite an understanding of the platform and how it can be used to gain traction for your Facebook page. I currently have about 4000 followers within 1.7years on Facebook and can humbly say that they are quite an engaged audience. I have had posts that were shared 1000+times, and some (at the start) which had about a measly 7 likes.
A more popular Facebook page = more attention = more likelihood of visitors for your Judo club.
This would mean that a less popular Judo Facebook page definitely struggles in its early stages. Fortunately, it gets easier as the page gains popularity
In this blog post I will be posting advice/findings for pure Judo clubs and their mistakes, and the reasoning behind it. As a mixed Judo page (MMA+JUDO+BJJ) have a mixed audience, the rules change slightly.
2010 - 2019 has been a fairly socially connected decade, and it is portrayed by the amount of social media applications available used by millions. Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook etc allows people to look up in seconds what the person has been up to without even talking to them. Gone are the days where you'd have to send an email/letter and ask the person directly. What this means for clubs trying to gain followers, is that you need to be smart about what you post as it can be easily accessed/seen.
The points below do not follow any order of any kind and should be used as a general guideline. Facebook changes its algorithm often to suit the needs of its users, but your attempts at gaining organic (unpaid) followers boils down to a few things.
Facebook needs to learn about your target audience. When someone reacts/engages with your post, the more likelihood they are associated with your page.
Tagging, mentioning, "checking" into places are all things you can do to improve facebook's ability to organically target people interested in your page
Uninteresting, unrelated posts drive potential likers/followers that would otherwise provide your page with social proof. Generally, interesting facts about Judo are pretty popular.
Sharing content can be tricky. You can get up to 1% reach of audience depending on how much the post relates to the audience! Facebook is a business, and if they detect you're trying to share a promotion, they'd mark it down so you'd need to "boost" it.
Posting frequently drives more traffic to your page when posts are commented on, reacted to, and have a great sharing/comment/reaction ratio
People cant see your posts if they arent awake, or are busy at work
Facebook marks down posts like that, as posts like that arent great experiences for the viewer. Facebook generally favors posts that invoke engagement from the user.
I have seen some posts complaining about the lack of attendance, which isnt a great sight for potential customers!
Language that invoke a negative light. Language like "oh you're fat? need to work off the excess?" is generally frowned upon.
Fuzzy pictures generate little interest. Nice, well shot pictures of Judoka are great
Posts that dont fall in line with viewers values. For example, If i'm following your Judo page, why is there a video of a dog in it? is it Judo related? Do I like your Judo page enough to care about it?Videos that are unrelated to your page harm public interest.
It might be worth the money to hire someone to do the graphics design for promotions, or events. If not, don't expect that there'll be a lot of attention if your post doesnt line up with Facebook's terms and conditions!
"Screw it! lets go to F*v*rr and just purchase likers! They seem fairly cost effective and seem to know what they're doing. 1000likes for $5? great!"
Likers who are purchase might contribute to social value, i.e wow this page has 50,000 likers, but when every post has 2 likes, its a bad look and represents the page poorly. No one really believes that 3598 people have checked into a business which has just started 1 year ago.
If you're unsure on what to boost, you might be wasting your money. Targeting the "Judo" interest might seem like its the most obvious choice, but if you're looking for cold customers for your Judo page, the "Judo" interest might not be the audience you would be targeting for
General Social Media Etiquette
Tagging visitors of your Dojo (or from other clubs) is a great way to gain attention from your page.
Have an overseas Judoka visiting? Take a group photo and tag them in it. Chances are that their friends will see and react to the page too. Their overseas friends might even visit you one day for travelling. I feel that the clubs with the not-so-technologically-sound owner/Sensei might forget about doing so, but building a network on people interested in your page isnt done in a day, it takes some effort.
Sharing posts (not copying and making it look like its yours - thats stealing) not only helps define the audience that you are related to, it helps characterize the post as a quality/worthy post. Sharing a popular post already contains information that it is a value post and Facebook tends to leave it around for longer. Copying and pasting would reset the "interest" count and might not give you the same exposure as sharing.
Next time, tag your Judo friends and check in when you visit a tournament by checking into the tournament area.
There's a lot to do! But do it bit by bit, starting from posting consistently.
Summary
What do you think? Have you been making any of these mistakes?
Check out our comments left on the facebook post for any interesting tips left from other people. here
If you'd like me to share your event or post, do get in touch! I am happy to do so if it lines up with my values, and if I feel like it contributes to the interest of the page followers. As mentioned above, it might not be worth doing so if the post is unrelated/designed too casually. Generally, If you agree to share an agreed post of mine, and we both have something to gain from it, I'd be more than happy to do so!
]]>For those who don't know me, my name is Sunny Chua. I've started Judo in year 2000 and have visited numerous clubs in Asia and Europe. I've seen clubs of a small mat area with more members than it could fit, and clubs with too large a mat space than was needed. I have had numerous conversations with people I've met all over the world as to why they've stayed or left a club, or continued to do Judo. I've started this small business in 2018 to promote Judo, in my own way. Check out my facebook page www.facebook.com/dojomats if you havent already.
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In Part 1, I mentioned that reducing the wait time and engaging a person quickly has its benefits in forming a good first impression.
In Part 2, I mentioned the type of person you should choose (might not need to be yourself) to be the face of your club
In Part 3, I will cover a micro experience which you can easily alter to give a better customer experience: Payment
I have assumed that the said person is not so experienced in Judo (or not at all). He/She will be referred to as the "new-comer"
The blog posts are all part of my experiences being a major part of a couple of Dojos and visiting others throughout my journey.
Regardless whether you're running Judo classes as a business, or not for profit, you're taking up an important resource you wont get back. That resource is time.
Being compensated for your time (via means of money/currency) means you can generate an income, pay bills, further your passion, maintain and improve the club.
Generally I have found Judo clubs to be slightly relaxed on payment, which is great in some cases, but bad in other cases.
When it comes to being a visiting/travelling Judoka, especially if you have some knowledge/skill to impart, clubs have generally not required payment for one off visits.
This could be due to the fact that they're a smaller club and any help (in terms of technical ability, bringing in a different style of randori, or just having a new face to do randori with)
Travelling Judoka doing 1 off visited generally leave with a good impression that they've made a difference as well as got their share of Judo sorted out. Good impressions leaves room for recommendations in the future
This is part of the topic i'd like to place more focus on:
Delaying payment for classes
Often, due to the hustle and bustle of running a club, payment discussion might often be shifted to the end of class.
The chosen time-slot to have a discussion on payment isnt the greatest, as:
- people are packing up to go home
- there is an expectation that the discussion is done quickly so that everyone can go home
This results in the customer either:
- having to rush to pay, leaving them fumbling looking for cash/card to pay
- oh you can just pay another time
Both of which are not a great experience for the customer to have.
Assuming that a newcomer WILL turn up the next session, regardless of how they went, is generally not the best mentality to have. This is portrayed by the language used in conversation.
Notes:
Newcomer is obliged to come next time (What if they don't want to?)
Newcomer needs to carry cash (It's 2019, how often do people carry cash?)
Newcomer is weighed down over the next few days between training sessions regarding payment of the fees.
Notes:
Newcomer not obliged to come next time, but if they had a great experience with the club, you would definitely see them next time round)
Newcomer doesnt need to carry cash (Easy)
Newcomer isnt weighed down regarding owing people money
Therefore, it is better to prepare that the newcomer will not turn up the next session, and be pleasantly surprised when they do. Assuming that a newcomer will turn up next training session is slightly emotionally manipulative ("Oh just pass me the money on Tuesday" (next training session)) and generally leaves a slight burden in the back of the customer's head
In year 2019, people can generally expect:
Food delivered in a few clicks -
Payment is done fairly immediately - no waiting
Getting from 1 place to another in a few clicks - Uber
New information within seconds at the tip of hand - google/smartphones/tablets/laptops
The burden of waiting for something to be done is not present, and people in 2019 expect to not be weighed down by trivial things like being expected to pay in cash.
Merchant fees should not affect the club's ability to provide card services in 2019. The benefits of providing card services outweigh the negatives of not having card services.
Which is part of using a company's service for helping you collecting money. Generally, merchant fees are about 2% of what you charge to the customer excluding the setup cost.
For a $10 class, the merchant fee is about $0.2
For a $20 class, the merchant fee is about $0.4
$0.40 reduces the emotional burden for the points mentioned above, whose full membership is worth about $500-$1000 a year? Worth it.
Once the newcomer is serious about joining up as a member, direct transfer to bank is a better method to use and there are no merchant fees.
If you're looking for an easy payment to setup, i recommend Square up:
Here is the referral link: https://squareup.com/i/DOJOMATSAU
Setup costs about $19 (Basic swipe) or $59 (tap) depending what hardware you use, and they charge about 2% for processing fees, which is great for small business owners like myself, or club owners.
Using the link will give me some free processing fee for the recommendation
Please read up whether your phone/tablet devices are compatible, as i have found the interface setup quite direct and easy to follow
A club does not offer different payment plans can often backfire on them being "Too flexible" on payment.
This means if the club only accepts cash payments, on a per session basis.
The argument is that the club does not want to force people into doing Judo by making them pay for 3 months worth of class in advance.
The counter argument is that:
Every since time a customer takes out their card or cash, you're giving them an option to change their mind regarding returning the next session. This means that if a customer has to pay cash every lesson, for 20 lessons, they'll have to justify the value achieved from training EVERY lesson, for 20 lessons.
This means that if for some reason they cannot make a training session, there is an excuse to not make the next one, thus justifying the need for training if they havent already paid.
However, if there was a payment plan which covers 20 lessons or visits at a lower cost, the customer only needs to pay ONCE. If 1 session was skipped for whatever reason, they would still need to get their money's worth of training left, reducing the excuses for missing training.
This way, the club can both benefit by having some payment upfront, as well as helping reduce the hassle of the newcomer paying every visit. The club should think of it as helping the newcomer bring better value to their training sessions, rather than being forced to go for training because of the prepayment
Notes: Newcomer has requested payment details, and it is taking a while
Same concept, customer has received the service, and is in the right frame of mind to make a payment.
It is better business practice to send payment details to the customer quickly, especially when they have requested so. This allows them to make payment when they're in the right frame of mind.
If this is done too late, there is an option for them to rationalise that maybe they do not enjoy training afterall. The more time you let someone rationalise their purchase, the more chance you might lost a customer.
I would imagine that as a Judo club, your purpose would be to help people enjoy Judo. By easing up the payment methods and frequency, there is less burden of the administrative stuff and more headspace for the Judo
If you have read till the end, please comment on the facebook comments if your club only accepts cash payments, and if you have any payment plans/methods to help members get on with their Judo.
Next post I will be discussing other micro experiences you can improve, which makes a great difference to the customer journey of your potential customer
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Do check out the rest of my site and look out for the TEAM SEOINAGE/ TEAM UCHIMATA tshirts, which is available for pre-order now! Mens, women, kids, baby tees available for international order
Sunny
]]>Introduction
For the past 10 years, I have been working with my local club to recruit more members. In my experience, recruitment is the simpler part which is discussed in this blog. Retention of members is the harder topic which I would discuss about in a later date.
I highly doubt any club owner would reject the idea of having more members. Therefore this blog post assumes that the club owner is continually looking to improve its presence for expansion, and the sake of promoting Judo within the community
For those who don't know me, my name is Sunny. I've started Judo in year 2000 and have visited numerous clubs in Asia and Europe. I've seen clubs of a small mat area with more members than it could fit, and clubs with too large a mat space than was needed. I have had numerous conversations with people I've met all over the world as to why they've stayed or left a club, or continued to do Judo. I've started this small business in 2018 to promote Judo, in my own way. Check out my facebook page www.facebook.com/dojomats if you havent already.
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In Part 1, I mentioned that reducing the wait time and engaging a person quickly has its benefits in forming a good first impression.
I have assumed that the said person is not so experienced in Judo (or not at all). He/She will be referred to as the "new-comer"
The benefits include:
- Having more time to learn, do uchikomi, randori, etc without the initial awkwardness of meeting someone when partnering up.
If the new-comer is meeting your current member DURING class, 2 scenarios can happen:
1) They start chatting and less time is spent on drills. Chances are, the newcomer's partner has their fair share of learning to do too and is wanting to get things done. Chatting during the drills almost allows for incompletion of the task.
2) They immediately go into drills and have yet to fully establish a familiar connection with their partner
As you can imagine, both cases are not ideal for the newcomer as well as the person taking care of him/her
- Having a go-to person in a foreign (new) environment.
Rolls? Handstands? Back breakfalls? The first few Judo lessons might include movement that the newcomer has never done in their entire lives. If the newcomer doesnt know how to do a certain activity, they would be able to ask someone familiar instead of embarrassing themselves trying to do it themselves. You will have to assume that the newcomer has the potential to be shy (or not so self confident in a new environment) if they're between the age 15-30 or even more
In conclusion, establishing a connection quickly allows you to get more done during training while also allowing the newcomer open up quickly to the members of your dojo.
What can be done?
You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression
Recently I've found myself reading an article about micro experiences and how it affects brand loyalty. The article mentions that small experiences can add up to the decision on whether to stay loyal to the brand.
This means that if the brand is the Judo club, it isnt always about the Judo which compels the person to stay. Reducing the wait time is classified as a micro experience.
Often club owners take it for granted and assume that a newcomer is only in it for the Judo which results in putting no effort in convincing the newcomer to be part of the club. At this point of time, the newcomer holds the leverage of potential business. The newcomer has already expressed interest in joining by taking the time to attend a single session. If done right, the newcomer will continue to give your club business throughout the years. The newcomer might even bring along their friends to try out from the positive experience. Therefore any opportunity to impress has to be taken.
I have found that allocating at least 1 person to meet and greet (if the Sensei is busy) easily solves any initial awkwardness
This person must/should be:
- a fairly approachable personality
- a regular member of the club. This way, there is no recurring worry about not knowing someone in the second lesson. Could be a parent of a child waiting for them to finish
- be able to introduce the newcomer to the Sensei and other members
- clear any questions/concerns regarding the club
This person(s) must understand the responsibility of putting the club in a positive light even before class has started. Sure it is the Sensei's club, but the club will collectively benefit and get stronger from the presence of 1 extra person as they improve throughout the years. Their selfless action to help their Sensei welcome members might be a turning point for the club.
A typical conversation might go like this:
Sunny: Hi there, I haven't seen you around before. My name is Sunny. I am a regular here/(im an assistant here)
Newcomer Adam: My name is Adam
Sunny: Oh have you done Judo before?
Newcomer Adam: No I havent, its my first time here.
Sunny: ok, why is it you want to start Judo?
Newcomer Adam: etc etc etc
Sunny: Sensei is a bit busy at the moment but I'll introduce him/her to you later on. Let me know if you have any questions and i'll try and help as much as possible
Newcomer Adam: Oh I dont have a uniform, is this ok?
Sunny: yes thats no problem at all, you can borrow one for now. Take this and i'll show you how to put on the belt
... (later on)
Sunny: Sensei, this is Adam, he's looking to tryout
Sunny: Adam, this is Sensei Jim
If you have read till the end, please comment on facebook roughly how many adult newcomers you get in a week, or a month. In this way, we can ALL get an understanding how often opportunities present themselves in a certain region/country
Even if this number is 1 a month, or 1 in 2 months, it is still 6 - 12 potential members per year.
Working a successful recruitment rate of even 50% results in 3-6 new members in year!
Next post I will be discussing other micro experiences you can improve, which makes a great difference to the customer journey of your potential customer
=============================================================
Do check out the rest of my site and look out for the TEAM SEOINAGE/ TEAM UCHIMATA tshirts soon to be released which can be sent worldwide!
Sunny
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I highly doubt any club owner would reject the idea of having more members. Therefore this blog post assumes that the club owner is continually looking to improve its presence for expansion, and the sake of promoting Judo within the community
For those who don't know me, my name is Sunny. I've started Judo in year 2000 and have visited numerous clubs in Asia and Europe. I've seen clubs of a small mat area with more members than it could fit, and clubs with too large a mat space than was needed. I have had numerous conversations with people I've met all over the world as to why they've stayed or left a club, or continued to do Judo,
Like it or not, people come and go. They get extremely excited an endeavor and the next minute they might change their minds. The same goes for a setting up a club and attracting members. The trick is to leave a lasting impression so as to not hinder their increasing passion for the sport.
Once that impression is formed, the member might move on to join the club, or decide that Judo is not for them. Therefore a good first impression is the key to recruiting a potential member. A person coming to "try out" Judo is already a strong indicator of interest, as they've took the time and effort to get to the dojo. After a first visit, the second visit will likely solidify a potential member's intention to join. The justification is that if so much time is spent getting to the dojo and doing the class, they must really like doing it (Judo)
This blog post will cover a number of easy things you can do to improve your club presence. (Not including technical ability - that you will have to improve yourself) This comes from my experience travelling and visiting clubs worldwide
1) Club cleanliness
Without a doubt, hygiene is paramount. Dust, bloodstains, water leaks, a dim lighting, cracks, uneven painting, dark surroundings and loose rubbish should be cleared. To clean and disinfect the dojo, do not use soapy water as it often leaves a residue and someone could be allergic to it. You can also use wet wipes, or some weak alcohol like isopropyl alcohol (Fairly affordable) to disinfect the dojo. Ring worms and illnesses should be under control for the wellness of the club members. For a good scrub of the mat, the cloth used should go WITH the grain surface of the tatami mats, not against.
2) Club cleanliness on an individual level
Members should wear a uniform that is fitted for their size. An oversized unfitted sweaty gi often found in Judo is less of a flattering look than another martial art (You know, that one) that has nice cool designs and is well fitted. It SHOULD NOT be the case but retail therapy is a serious industry and people like to purchase things that look nice on them. This should be a consideration when wanting to attract a potential member.
3) Take better pictures
With better lighting in 1), you have the ability to take better pictures.
Nowadays, you dont need to take pictures with an expensive hand held camera. Mobile phones are a good affordable alternative and some provide really good resolutions
Before you take a picture, make sure that you will be getting a clear shot.
Light has to be shining on the people, not behind the object. Otherwise you will be in a situation where the photos will turn out dark and or blurry.
Blurry photos on social media arent a good look.
You can also look into image editting apps (for android/apple) that will make your pictures look fancy. It isnt necessary though. For android, I would use Lightroom CC, Photoshop Express or Snapseed. They have free versions which are relatively simple to use.
You can also choose to "Crop" the picture to suit facebook's size restraints. A square picture looks good, a rectangle will be automatically adjusted in facebook to suit its layout limitations.
With better pictures, followers who arent part of your club can gain confidence and have a better idea at what is happening.
4) Customer flow analysis
As a niche sport in Australia, potential members don't present themselves everyday. Therefore once the opportunity presents itself, you need to make sure that your potential new member is having a good experience and is not hindered by your recruitment process. Did you know that big telecommunication companies actually track their customer experience on phone calls? "This phone call may be recorded for training purposes" to ensure they're having a good experience and learn from past mistakes
For the most part, I will assume post Judo clubs do not have a receptionist. The next time someone new comes to visit the club, take a look at how long someone engages them in a conversation. Assuming that a potential member who knows no one might be excited to try out a class has arrived early, would you like them to wait around? Imagine ordering a coffee, and needing to wait in line for 30minutes. Is the wait justified for an average/great coffee? "Its been 15minutes, and really want to try this out. who do i have to talk to and who can help?" is a thought that a potential customer shouldnt have in their heads. The more chance you give people to doubt why they are trying Judo in the first place, the less likely you'll see them the next time round.
However, they could be in a position where they're happy to wait and look around till class starts, but that assumption cant be made until someone engages them in a conversation and they've no more questions to ask about the club.
I will make more blog posts in the following weeks on what I have used successfully to create a process which is highly effective in getting new members. Waiting time is only 1 area you can improve if you dont have a receptionist to attend to their questions. Reducing this wait time also allows potential members to form the impression that your members are communicative and approachable, rather than having members just come in, ignore the new person and go about in their normal group.
These 4 concepts (Especially the last) is what I utilise to help my local club, and have seen quite an improvement to getting first time visitors to visit their second time.
I hope this blog post has given you a better insight on what you can do attract and form a good first impression, because if you're not taking these into consideration, some other clubs will :D
Please like/react the facebook post if you read this far, it is much appreciated!
I'll do my best to get a weekly segment on how to improve your "customer service" skills to attract and retain new customers
Sunny
p.s read our previous post on the main reasons why people do Judo here
we can ship gi/belts/hats/books to singapore/malaysia/phi/europe. do get in touch on facebook and i'll do my best
To go to part 2, click here
]]>Had recently run a poll on whether users of the facebook page Dojo Mats did any exercise outside of Judo. 68 People had participated in the poll.
Out of the 68, 35 of the participants voted that they engage in heavy weights at the gym.
It is interesting to note that half of the participants lift weights and lead a fairly active lifestyle, with Judo included!
Out of the 68, 87% of the participants voted that they are active outside of Judo, and engage in some form of exercise. This means that it safe to conclude that if you start Judo, you will likely start another form of exercise outside Judo, to either supplement it, or to continue the active lifestyle
This small poll produced fairly interesting results and I would be keen to set up an online competition involving weights for Judoka worldwide.
]]>There were about 82 people who actively participated in the questionaire. There were others who chose to "like" and "react" to the posts, but those did not assist in providing more insight to the question.
Identifying why people want to do Judo is a good way to promote your club to suit your potential members. For instance, if your club has a strong competition team, your club might not be the most attractive to people new to Judo looking to "meet new people" and "develop some confidence"
Perhaps you might have this concept that solely being a welcoming club you would attract the most members in your area. However if your first impressions do not fit the expectations of the potential member, chances are that they might be on their way to finding another club.
The results
1-2 people voted for I and J categories respectively, which was to develop confidence, being forced by parents, learning judo in its truest form etc.
However the interesting part lies in the area where majority of the people voted:
A - I want to get fitter. 19/82 = 23.2%
C - I want to challenge myself. 15/82 = 18.3%
B - I want to learn respect and discipline = 12.2%
D - Blow off steam = 4.9%
The top 3 reasons above make up a total of 53.7% why people do Judo. I've included "Blow off steam" as it implies there is a physical element why they do Judo. Therefore, if your first impression does not surround "getting fitter", chances are (~60%) that you are not meeting the expectations of what they have arrived for.
Traditionally, I have seen numerous clubs focus on the technical side of Judo for the first lesson. This often involves being placed to one side with a coach or instructor and being taught breakfalls and simple throws, sometimes without even breaking a sweat
Is this customer journey sufficient enough to retain the potential member after their first lesson?
In the following weeks I will touch on what I have experienced personally as a Judo coach for one of the clubs in melbourne, Victoria, and how I approach membership retention which has worked very well.
]]>In the next few weeks, we will look into this technique with a bit more detail
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