Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alain Guillot, owner of Dance Conmigo, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a dance school located in Montreal. We specialize in social dance, Salsa, Tango, Ballroom, West Coast Swing, etc. The kind of dance a person can dance with a partner in a dance club.
Tell us about yourself
We are two partners: Alain Guillot and Cheryl Williams. Both of us had a passion for dance that we wanted to share with our friends. Eventually, we ran out of friends to entice into dancing, and we created a dance school to offer our services to a wider audience.
What motivates us to do our work every day are the smiles on our student's faces when they finish a dance class. We sell the drug of happiness. When our students leave our dance floor, they leave in a better mood than when they came in.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We have been in business for about 15 years. Our biggest accomplishment is our consistency. We continue evolving as dancing and the dance world evolve, but we are there every day, providing happiness, regardless of age, gender, race, or any affiliation. It is our goal to provide everyone with equal opportunities for happiness.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Marketing. As soon as we start a class, we have to begin promoting the next one. It's like Mcdonald's. Everyone knows Mcdonald's, but Mcdonald's never stops advertising the latest items on their menu. It's the same for us... We are well-known in the dance community, but as soon as we stop marketing ourselves, we will quickly go into oblivion.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Love what you do. If you don't love your craft, you might make money at the expense of happiness.
- Consistency. People like familiarity. If they know about you, they will eventually use your product/service when the occasion arrives.
- Treat your customers with respect and courtesy. Give the customer the benefit of the doubt even if they are not always right.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.danceconmigo.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danceconmigomontreal/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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