The yoga studio where I take pilates has recently changed owners. And the owner has decided to make the studio more zen and less core/workout focused. So the pilates classes are over and so is my life for now. I understand the new owner needs to make money and so changes come to streamline the studio so it works for her and stays afloat.
However, she’s just lost a good chunk of clients. I walked by this morning at our normal pilates time and the studio was closed. My friend and I took Norm for a walk because we wanted and needed exercise. Two of us (at least!) would have been there giving her studio money. Had there been any class this morning we would have been there.
I understand that the owner and my instructor needed to part ways – but it sure seems easier to keep your clients happy even if you aren’t as interested in the class. Upon hearing this new last week, one woman was asking how to get a refund on her 6 month membership since there weren’t enough morning classes for her now. I had pre-paid for chunk of classes and only have 3 left on my pass. I may use them if I see an instructor teaching something interesting, but they were a bonus (4 classes) when I bought a package, so I’m not really out any money.
I was talking to my chiropractor today (2 doors down from the yoga studio) and his first comment was “doesn’t every business owner know it’s easier to keep the clients you have then try to find new ones.” And my response was that I sure thought so…
I understand that a business can pivot and change. And that’s OK. I understand that not everyone works well together and sometimes people need to move on to the next adventure in their life. But I do have a hard time understanding how you can tell a group of customers that you don’t want to serve them any more without giving them an alternative or ever directly communicating to that group.
Maybe I’ll hear from the studio owner. Maybe she’ll add new classes that are of interest to me. But in the mean time? Our pilates instructor has all our info and can’t wait to tell us when she lands at a new studio. And I can’t wait to give that studio my money.
Today I left an event 45 minutes later than it was scheduled to end. And yeah, I was super annoyed. By now you probably know I’m an organized person (so organized, I married a CPA) and I like events to start and end on time. Nothing annoying me more when networking than an event that starts late and ends late. It’s disrespectful of the event attendees and makes me wonder what you’d do if I gave you my money.
This morning in my pilates class the instructor mentioned that the new owner wants the classes all to be renamed to be more fun and creative. I understand WHY she’s doing this, to bring that uniqueness to the class and studio. BUT, the first thing that came to my mind was that people checking out the studio aren’t going to know what the heck these classes really are!