For 2 years I have been developing robotics in Russia. Probably loudly said, but recently arranging an evening of reminiscences, I realized that during this time, under my leadership, 12 circles were opened in Russia. Today I decided to write about the main things that I did during the opening process, but you definitely don’t need to do this. So to speak, concentrated experience in 7 points. Extracted only the juice. Enjoy reading.
1. Open immediately in an expensive room, which puts the entire financial model on the blades, located in a shopping or business center.
Open strictly in a residential area, near their customers. If you live in a very small town, open near schools. You can always find the right place. Over the course of my journey, I looked at at least 50 rooms for a robotics circle and always managed to choose one that was outdated in terms of basic parameters.
2. Hire a teacher with no experience working with children.
At first, I thought that almost every handy man could be a teacher, and I took them to work. My first teacher is a former police officer with a correspondence law degree who paints cars. A small city imposes great restrictions on the search and choice of a teacher, but you can find it.) Believe me, you can definitely find it. You just need to look ahead. It is best if you yourself conduct the lesson at first in order to feel the inner kitchen and keep your finger on the pulse in the future.
3. Do not use interactive in class.
In the modern world, knowledge is far from the only reason why children come to a technical circle. In Soviet times, there was a competition for recording in the stations of young technicians and other institutions. Getting there was not easy. Children were fully taught cool things and gouging the way there was closed. Now the situation has changed radically - you have to fight for each client, and very often not all clients are of the quality you need. I very rarely kick kids out of school because of bad behavior. But there has not yet been a single circle in which I would not expel children. Their impudence greatly exceeds my pedagogical skills. The key to the solution is interactive in the classroom. Before teaching children, sat down the most important step - to interest children. First, the entourage of the room and the story that you will tell during the recording. In the future - interesting classes, in which 80% of the practice.
4. Choose the wrong class format.
Have you ever tried to join 50 people in groups for 1 hour 2 times a week? One of the basic rules of business is to make money easily. We are often afraid to test some moments, referring to fictitious reasons. This is called a limiting belief. We delayed for a long time with the transition to the format of classes - once a week for 1 hours. They thought that it would not work, that a significant percentage of children would stop walking. As a result, they worked 3 days a week. It happened that there was only 6 lesson per day, while you need to spend time on the road. The schedule wasn't very encouraging. When they switched to the format - once a week, 1 hours, while they taught only on weekends - only a few children fell off, while many more new ones came. You work 1 days a week - you also work 3 days, but at an expensive job.) Or you relax. In general, such a schedule is much more pleasant.
5. Don't count finances.
It would seem, why maintain a financial model with a turnover of 100 - 200 thousand rubles? And so everything plus minus is clear. 20 for rent, 000 for consumables, something for taxes, the rest in your pocket. Yes, that's just such an approach will lead you into a cash gap. On such a small turnover, it will be quite small, but still. Do you take into account that there will be some kind of prosest in revenue in the summer? And in January? And the fact that in December there will be practically no new recordings? That you will spend your advertising budget on a badly set up advertising company? - how will the money be spent, but customers will not come? Maintain a complete financial model from the start. It will save you from the most gross mistakes that you will not see point-blank.
6. Ill-advised to buy equipment.
The equipment and tools in the circle should be with a small margin, and this is understandable. However, many already at the start of the circle are thinking about buying CNC and laser machines, soldering stations and much more. As a result, the budget for the essentials is not enough. Children come to classes, new beautiful soldering stations are waiting for them on the tables. Yes, but did you buy all the consumables for them? Solder, flux? Have you made a hood with charcoal filters? Did you buy safety goggles? And a first aid kit with ointments for burns? Strippers and wires? Third hands? Braid for soldering? And this is not a complete list. How not to forget to buy all the equipment? When the circle is ready, sit down in it for a couple of days and do all the projects for half a year in advance that you will give to the children. Look at the instrument you will be using, multiply by the number of children in the groups. Write down and buy what is missing. On the one hand, you will be sure that there will be no shortage of tools and equipment in the classroom, on the other hand, you will receive models of projects that children will do. Can you demonstrate them. The level of involvement in this case will be an order of magnitude higher.
7. When signing up for classes, sell the classes to the parent.
What is the main product of your robotics club? It's important to understand that you're not selling class memberships, you're selling a solution to a client's pain. What is the pain of parents who enroll their children in classes? If you understand this right away, then absolutely everyone who called you will come to class. 100% conversion! How are you? For example, in our classes, the child is engaged in 80% of the time in practice. At the first trial free lesson, he will already work with the instrument. Find out what types of saws are and what to saw with what. What is the difference between sandpaper and which one is better to grind wood, how does a bolt differ from a self-tapping screw. Learn to use a square, ruler and tape measure. And that's just the first lesson. Can you imagine what will happen in a month when we add reading drawings and programming to these skills? Machine work? Pike. We will grow all the skills of an engineer in your son on real projects. You will notice changes within a week. At the time of graduation, your son will know exactly where to go to study further, because. in our circle, he will try and learn all areas of engineering.
What else?
In fact, there are a lot of questions regarding the opening of the circle. I have identified 22 issues that need to be worked out in detail before, during, and after the opening. Only by studying each question in detail will you minimize the risks of failure of your circle. Over the past year, I have received many messages and applications asking for help in various aspects of the opening. This year I had several difficult periods associated with a cash gap of 5 million rubles, and at that time I openly leaked requests for help, but at other times I was open. Therefore, I am ready to help in any of your endeavors.)
Actually 22 questions that need to be worked out when opening a robotics circle:
Concept and traffic
1. Market analysis
2. Search for a location
3.Calendar opening plan
4.Advertising
5.Points of contact with target audience
6.How to sign up for classes.
7. Sales
Financial planning and equipment
8.Financial model
9.Pricing
10. Purchase of furniture
11. Purchase of electronics
12. Purchase of computers
13. Room decoration
14. Repair and placement
Legal Affairs and Curriculum
15. Format of classes
16.Study programs
17. Opening IP
18. Age groups
19. Contracts with parents
Finish
20.Robo day
21.First lesson
22. Hiring teachers
Each question is a topic for a separate article. Perhaps someday I will be so charged that I will draw up detailed articles on each item, but I can’t promise.) Understanding that there is interest in this topic will definitely help, so you are welcome in the comments.
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Would you like to open a robotics circle, pass on your experience to younger ones, and earn money at the same time?
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Yes, I've been interested
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Yes, already opened a circle
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No, why do I need all this
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Your choice in the comments
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Source: habr.com