ComputerXplorers Network Meeting 16 February 2013

1. ComputerXplorers Network Meeting16 February 2013

2. Network Meeting 16th February 2013 ‘Creating a successful business’

3. Where are we? Not where we want to be!

4. Original plan was • Build to 20 Franchise Owners • Add 3-4 p.a. • Maximum of 50 Today we have 15 Franchise Owners

5. Number of reasons • Recession • Different market place • Longer runway • Some couldn’t get to grips

6. However, strangely we are a stronger body today • Better (more appropriate) Franchise Owners – not enough • Little direct competition • Massive market • Huge potential

7. Our aim… To be (or become) the stand-out provider of technology and computer skills lessons to 3-13 year olds enabling children to explore and learn new abilities in a fun and thought provoking way

8. We do this • We do it well • We need to do it more!

9. The business is low cost Offers high margin Delivers all the ‘work from home’ benefits Unlimited by potential or competition

10. There are challenges Agenda • Administration and systems • Creating curriculum • Growing the business

11. Administration and Systems

12. Admin overview spreadsheet

13. Setting up classes

14. Admin and systems

15. Focus area: pupil info/payment/register • EPP users – limited use • In search of the holy grail – alternative solutions • Review meeting • Focus: pupil details/payment/registers • Different motivations – what to pay for/what not to pay for • Progressing Prestashop/Team Visual but…. • Export issues! • Costs: set-up; merchant agreement; card charges etc

16. Creating curriculum that works for the business

17. Developments and trends

18. Creating curriculum that works for the business • US/UK – a special relationship! • Recent curriculum development • Weebly web design • 2Simple DIY – video game design for KS1 • KidPix 3D – free copy to all • AcousticaMixcraft – music technology KS2 • App Inventer • Previous proposals still in the pipeline… • Raspberry Pi • Current proposals… • More later

19. US/UK – special relationship • New team – clean sheet – willing to move forward together • Curriculum Focus Group • Grass roots input • Strategic approach with practical implementation

20. Strategic Approach … Practical Implementation

21. Computer Explorers curriculum quality criteriaSome suggestions…

22. Curriculum Winners?

23. More curriculum…

24. Promoting individual classes: positioning and descriptions • Consider how to position • Generate some headlines • Short description to create interest and desire to sign up • Extended information can be added to the website • Three groups • Which courses? • Outcomes?

25. LUNCH

26. Promoting individual classes: positioning and descriptions • Consider how to position • Generate some headlines • Short description to create interest and desire to sign up • Extended information can be added to the website • Three groups • Which courses? • Outcomes? • Feedback – 5 minutes per group

27. Current curriculum development proposals • Programming apps for smart phones – revise the existing curriculum and/or create new curriculum with a new program egAppshed(http://antsict.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/app-shed-get-your-class-making-their-own-apps/) or Stencyl(www.stencyl.com) • Game programming curriculum using Koduor Gamemaker, Gamesalador Jumpcraft– which gives us the greatest point of difference from existing curriculum? • Next stage programming – beyond Scratch – what’s the best next step towards ‘proper coding’? Html? Objective-C? (NB Stencyl supports Objective-C)? Greenfoot Java(www.greenfoot.org – can create android based apps) • RaspberryPi– what can we do with it? (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/27/feature_raspberry_pi_in_schools/page2.html) Consider combining with Scratch (http://blog.codeclub.org.uk/blog/) and MakeyMakey(http://www.firebox.com/product/5609/MaKey-MaKey) or with Makey and Makey and other device such as RC car or something else? (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/07/cheese-rc-car) • Minecraft(www.minecraft.org/) (http://www.ahpminecraft.com/http://massivelyminecraft.org/)– including emphasis on various curriculum areas (science, environment, geography etc) • Creation of iPad curriculum for school age children egAurasma– augmented reality app for use on ipads. See ideas for use in classroom: http://www.innovatemyschool.com/industry-expert-articles/item/231-case-study-augmenting-reality-in-the-primary-classroom.html?utm_source=Innovate+My+School+Weekly+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4509dbdaa0-Weekly_newsletter_14_June_2012&utm_medium=emailI have a list of lots of other school age apps. • Kerpoof (www.kerpoof.com) – online and suitable for the younger age range so particularly of interest. But need to explore what the curriculum content/angle might be to ensure it gives us a point of difference. • Engineering based programme – eg based on Data Harvest Products such as their Computer ControlPack: http://www.dataharvest.co.uk/products.php?g=tec&ppg=tec&a=sec&ppa=sec&t=cd&code=KX79017PK • Update/refresh Crazy Talk curriculum to take account of new features in Crazy Talk 6 and 7 • Proper stop-motion animation curriculum (not the current moviemaker curriculum) using a well specified program such as Zu3Dwww.zu3d.com • Updated curriculum for all QX3/5 curriculum to QX7 • Conductive Ink and Robot Card Kits – electrical circuits etc, need to integrate with other material – great for KS1.

28. BETT - Fran’s highlights! • Feedback from BETT – ask someone to give us a review – maybe Fran. Consider what we want to highlight • Present some of the options that are on the table (not in detail)

29. What’s on your wishlist? • What are your priorities?

30. Break

31. Growing the business

32. Generating revenue If you want to grow your business then focus on three things: • Marketing • Marketing • Marketing

33. Generating revenue In this business: ‘Kids is Cash’ No kids no income - simple

34. Our objectives are straightforward • More franchisees • Higher turnover • More franchisee profit

35. Your objectives similar • More schools • More classes • More kids • More revenue

36. Together we want • Higher Income • Greater Profit • Robust Business

37. However there’s… • No silver bullet • No magic wand • No central sales resource

38. Generating revenue If we are serous about generating revenue then it really is about levels of activity.

39. YDGBSOYA

40. In the words of John Major we need to go ‘Back to Basics’

41. Back to Basics Consider four areas 1. Awareness

42. Awareness You need people in your schools, your nurseries, your local authorities to know who you are • postcards • leaflets • mailers • letters • phone calls • PR

43. Awareness Ripple in a Pond

44. Business Prospecting The more prospects you see then the more business you will generate Crudely this is a numbers game!

45. Business Prospecting We have a system – it works • Identify • Verify • Aware • Follow-up • Appointment • Class • Develop R E P E A T

46. Business Prospecting Questions If you attend 10 appointments how many would you convert to class? How much would each class be worth? How many appointments did you attend last year?

47. Business Prospecting Our targets: • 100 mailings • 10-12 appointments • Some do better

48. Business Prospecting • If each 6 week class = £500 • 12 appointments x 80% conversion = 9 classes • 9 x £500 - £4,500 • Average 1.5 classes p.a. = £6,750

49. Business Prospecting • Not about single classes • Not about one off income • Lifetime Value of School

50. Business Prospecting Lifetime value requires a lifetime relationship