Entrepreneur InterviewEntrepreneur Interview

Entrepreneur: Jo-Ann KoEntrepreneur: Jo-Ann Ko

By: Morgan ValleeBy: Morgan Vallee

Jo-AnnJo-Ann

Graduated from Markham Graduated from Markham District High School and District High School and then went to Humber then went to Humber college to become a college to become a Pharmacist TechnicianPharmacist Technician

There are no other There are no other entrepreneurs in her familyentrepreneurs in her family

Before opening Kicks Before opening Kicks Dance Studio she was a Dance Studio she was a Pharmacist Technician at Pharmacist Technician at East General HospitalEast General Hospital

On average she works 10-On average she works 10-12 hours per day12 hours per day

Background Information on Background Information on BusinessBusiness

Name: Jo-Ann KoName: Jo-Ann Ko Owner of Kicks Owner of Kicks

Dance studioDance studio 50 Bullock Drive 50 Bullock Drive

Unit#6Unit#6 (905) 294 2618(905) 294 2618 Website: Website:

www.kicksdance.cawww.kicksdance.ca Year venture Year venture

began: 1984began: 1984

Starting up…Starting up…

Kicks was first opened in 1984 Kicks was first opened in 1984 The financing came from her husband at the time, The financing came from her husband at the time,

George NivenGeorge Niven The biggest challenge was to find a location that The biggest challenge was to find a location that

was large enough and yet, easy to findwas large enough and yet, easy to find She first started in the basement of a church on She first started in the basement of a church on

Main Street MarkhamMain Street Markham In her first year Jo-Ann had only 13 studentsIn her first year Jo-Ann had only 13 students The next year she had 50 students and then 100 The next year she had 50 students and then 100

students the following yearstudents the following year Soon after her husband’s financial help was no Soon after her husband’s financial help was no

longer needed and Kicks moved to a plaza on Hwy longer needed and Kicks moved to a plaza on Hwy 77

GoalsGoals

At the beginning of At the beginning of the venture Jo-Ann’s the venture Jo-Ann’s goals were to achieve goals were to achieve self satisfaction and self satisfaction and see a positive end see a positive end result in her students’ result in her students’ dancingdancing

Her goals right now in Her goals right now in her business are for all her business are for all her students and her students and parents to be happy parents to be happy with the service they with the service they are gettingare getting

Strengths and WeaknessesStrengths and Weaknesses

Jo-Ann’s strengths:Jo-Ann’s strengths: Good ListenerGood Listener OrganizedOrganized TrustingTrusting UnderstandingUnderstanding Good Public SpeakerGood Public Speaker

Jo-Ann’s Weaknesses:Jo-Ann’s Weaknesses: Too SensitiveToo Sensitive

Advantages and Advantages and DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Advantages:Advantages: Chooses her own hoursChooses her own hours Sleeping in is an optionSleeping in is an option Jo-Ann can take time off easily knowing her studio Jo-Ann can take time off easily knowing her studio

is still running smoothlyis still running smoothly

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Work is always on her mind Work is always on her mind She will spend time on work at home as well as at She will spend time on work at home as well as at

the studiothe studio Schedule varies depending on time of yearSchedule varies depending on time of year

Advice for Aspiring Advice for Aspiring EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs

Take as many business courses as Take as many business courses as possiblepossible

Marketing and advertising courses Marketing and advertising courses will be very useful as wellwill be very useful as well

Location is the key part of opening a Location is the key part of opening a business. Focus attention on finding business. Focus attention on finding a proper locationa proper location

Skills needed for venture: artistic Skills needed for venture: artistic talent, dedication and self-motivationtalent, dedication and self-motivation

Aspects of owning Kicks Dance Aspects of owning Kicks Dance StudioStudio

Rewarding aspects:Rewarding aspects: Watching her long term Watching her long term

students grow up students grow up Seeing students’ happy Seeing students’ happy

faces when on stage and in faces when on stage and in classclass

Having her students share Having her students share her love of danceher love of dance

Least Satisfying aspects:Least Satisfying aspects: Having students move to Having students move to

other dance studios other dance studios Having students that do not Having students that do not

take dance seriously and take dance seriously and waste their parents’ moneywaste their parents’ money

Dealing with drama in the Dealing with drama in the studiostudio

Leisure TimeLeisure Time

Jo-Ann enjoys to:Jo-Ann enjoys to: Swim in her poolSwim in her pool Walk her dogsWalk her dogs Spend time with Spend time with

her familyher family Watch “So You Watch “So You

Think You Can Think You Can Dance”Dance”

PicturesPictures

ConclusionConclusion

I have learned many valuable things I have learned many valuable things from interviewing Jo-Annfrom interviewing Jo-Ann

One day when I hopefully open my One day when I hopefully open my own studio this information will help own studio this information will help me a great dealme a great deal

I have learned that owning a Dance I have learned that owning a Dance Studio takes a lot more work than I Studio takes a lot more work than I thought it didthought it did