Does technology give you the warm fuzzies?
No? Well, it gives Krupinski Academy of Dance a big case of the warm fuzzies.
Before you ask if I’m crazy, please read their story.
About 4-5 years ago, Krupinski Academy of Dance implemented online registration for their classes and programs. The driving forces for doing this were cash and time. It was costing the Academy at least $1000 to print and mail registration forms to area families. Add to that the cost of 20 man hours to do the mailings and data entry that resulted from all of the returned forms. Add to that the cost and time of hosting 4-5 open houses per month to make open registration available.
It’s obvious to deduce by these details that their standard paper registration system for classes was a money- and time-intensive registration method.
Compare the manual method to online registration which costs zero additional dollars and allows registrations and payments to pour in with minimal staff involvement. Students are automatically registered into their classes of choice. Payments for classes can be taken in the same process if you choose. There is little need for open houses from the registration/payment perspective. The small percentage of parents preferring not to register online could probably be quickly registered over the phone. Online registration is immediate, automatic and – even when you count man hours and credit card processing – with minimal expense.
Not feeling any warm fuzzies yet?
How would you like to host only two events per registration period? One is an open house for welcoming new students and the other is a welcome back party for celebrating the start of a new season for existing students.
Because you can focus on fewer events, you can really blow it out!
For new families, you can give tours of your facility, introduce yourself along with the entire staff and instructors, and help students to become acquainted with their class peers and other students at your school. Familiarity is an amazing thing for staff members and families. Everyone leaves the event with a warm feeling of belonging to the family.
For existing families, you can have a fun celebration! Bring on the fun with snow cones and a bubble bus! Use the opportunity to open up your facility to the community so those around you know what a fantastic place your school is.
Pictures from this year’s Open House at Krupinski Academy of Dance
Krupinski Academy of Dance hosts both of these events, and it is amazing for them. They use social media and some traditional advertising to promote their events. The comradery is inspiring. Younger students meet older students whom they might not otherwise meet. The same dynamic happens between staff/owners and students/parents. Students bring friends and proudly show off “their” school. Amazing things happen.
“Our events have become fantastic opportunities for everyone to get acquainted. We love for students to be familiar with us and our facility so that their first lesson is all about dancing!” Abbey Wagoner, Office Manager, Krupinski Academy of Dance
You should be sensing some warm fuzzies by now.
By being tech savvy through offering online registration, you can get the business of registration out of the way so that you can focus on introductions and relationships.
Krupinski Academy of Dance has done an amazing job capitalizing on its use of online registration. Their efforts have helped them share their unique and inspiring culture and grow quite rapidly to attract families from across 50 schools. They’ve also developed relationships that help them be better stewards of their community and have launched a giving back program that culminated in 8 community service projects in celebration of their 40th year in business.
The warm fuzzies should have completely consumed you by now.
Krupinski Academy of Dance has helped to prove that technology is far from cold and impersonal but can actually be the amazing tool that helps you build and nurture the relationships you have and want to have.
