Case Studies
Submitted by maxxadmin on Wed, 21/02/2018 - 14:45
Tonya Babb
Winchmore Hill, East Barnet, Palmers Green and Southgate
"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life."
What is your career background?
Ten years at Interbrew UK, a major blue chip company. My roles included sales and marketing, at one point I was managing a team of ten sales managers. I then took the role as Human Resource Training Manager specialising in leadership, customer care, personal development and people management.
Franchise territory
North London: Winchmore Hill N21, Southgate N14, Palmers Green N13
How many years have you owned a Monkey Music franchise?
I became a Monkey Music franchisee in 2007.
How did you first hear about Monkey Music and the franchise opportunities available?
My daughters attended Monkey Music classes.
How often do you work?
Full-time during the school term, part-time in holidays with own management on flexible hours to fit in around the family.
How does the job fit around your family life?
Flexible working hours, work values and ethics of ‘nurturing a lifetime of music’ mirror home values of raising a family, networking on my area installs a feeling of belonging to the community which includes my family.
What is the best thing about Monkey Music for you?
“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
This is how I feel about Monkey Music: I love teaching, singing, performing, interacting with children and building relationships with adults. Combine this with working for yourself, being in direct control of your turnover and profits and flexible working hours around the family and I feel this job is a winning formula.
What aspects of your ongoing support and training do you value most?
Annual Support Meeting, Curricula Forum, knowledge that I can contact Head Office for support at any time, Facebook Monkey Troop to keep in touch with other franchisees and feel part of a team.
Are there any downsides to the job?
Self-motivation needed to execute the less interesting side of the business such as admin, accounting.
What are your Monkey Music highlights so far?
Recognition of my work by winning the Monkey Music Award for ‘Moving from good to great’, positive reviews from customer: e.g. 5 stars on Facebook with 30 reviews. Customers telling me that ‘Monkey Music is the highlight of their week.’ Dad’s approaching me outside of Monkey Music to tell me they know the words to the Monkey Music songs even though they haven’t been to a class as their child sings the songs at home. Seeing a child with Monkey in the supermarket or park highlighting how much Monkey Music means to the child. Being financially independent and having funds to contribute to my family outgoings and living a comfortable lifestyle.
Zed Tooke
Maida Vale and Marylebone
"The Monkey Music brand never stays still ..."
What is your career background?
My background is Music and Marketing. I toured with my own band in London for over 8 years before going to work in marketing at Sony Music. I have always been hugely passionate about music and been involved in it one way or another for as long as I can remember.
Franchise territory
Maida Vale and Marylebone.
How many years have you owned a Monkey Music franchise?
I started in September 2014.
How did you first hear about Monkey Music and the franchise opportunities available?
I was introduced to Monkey Music by my sister and her husband who run their own franchise in a neighbouring territory and it combined everything I had ever learned and loved about music with the added bonus that you have the incredible fortune of working with young children. I started working with them as an office manager and after a couple of years took the next natural step and began to enquire about buying my own franchise. I can tell you now that it’s the best decision I ever made. I still work with them both as we continue to work as a trio on both their franchise and mine. It’s quite literally a family affair.
How often do you work?
I work full-time and that is a decision that I took very early on when I realised that you get out what you put in. The sky really is the limit and I found that although you can be very flexible with your time (you are after all your own boss!) ultimately if you work hard throughout the term you really will see your customer numbers and profits grow. The great thing too is that you still get the school holidays so you are always well rested in between each term.
How does the job fit around your family life?
The job fits very well around my personal life. As well as having the benefit of working with my family, we have built a good team of teachers who are all so good about covering for each other when necessary. It’s a relaxing way to work each day and means that you don’t bring any stress home (or very rarely anyway!). I prefer where possible to get my work done in the day time but it’s great to have the flexibility where if I need to be out of the office I can work from home to catch up. Equally if you ever need to be somewhere else during office hours you can very easily plan for it and there is always someone to cover for you. You don’t have the stress of needing to get written or verbal permission days or weeks before. You and only you manage your time and there is nothing greater.
Do you get support/training?
You get all the support and training that you would ever need from head office. They are hugely welcoming and support you in every way possible, particularly in your first year where you are supported by your Franchise Manager. Head office are also always ever present thereafter if you ever have any questions or need advice.
What is the best thing about Monkey Music for you?
The flexibility it offers you. The fact that you run your own business and can build a team that you feel utterly comfortable with, makes for such a wonderful working environment. Working with children is obviously hugely rewarding, watching them grow over the years and seeing them develop is massively inspiring and that is all thanks to the incredible (and vast) curriculum that Monkey Music has to offer. The Monkey Music brand never stays still, the company is constantly expanding and developing so as the company grows as a whole, so do you.
Are there any downsides to the job?
I have yet to encounter any but if I had to pick one...it’s that I cannot walk past a buggy now without seeing it as a business opportunity! I find myself wanting to flier and talk to mums or nannies constantly, (even on my days off) so you can become a little obsessed!
What are your Monkey Music highlights so far?
Absolutely, I already do at any given opportunity. It’s a lot of fun, it’s extremely rewarding, it’s sometimes hard work and you are often rushing from A to B but when it’s your own project and you feel passionate about something it’s so fulfilling to see it going well. With my first child on the way I know that Monkey Music and my family life will fuse effortlessly together.