Case Study: Tutoring Business
From educational travel to English language tutoring business, Leigh took control and pivoted her business in response to Brexit and COVID-19.
Background
Leigh launched her educational travel company, The Blue Penguin Company, in 2012 offering high-quality, bespoke, educational and cultural programmes to European students and helping to put her adopted hometown of Worthing on the tourism map.
I started working with Leigh in 2018 after her business partner left abruptly and took 60% of her projected business for the next 12 months with her. We put together a sales and marketing plan which meant that Leigh was able to replace all the income lost in 2018. By making changes to her promotional mix, Leigh went on to increase sales in 2019 by 25%.
Despite increased sales in 2019, it was clear that the Blue Penguin Company’s business model would not be viable once Britain left the EU. We put in place plans to change it from an educational travel to a tutoring business, specialising in group and private English lessons for professionals needing to do business in the English-speaking world. Then COVID-19 hit, meaning that all travel was cancelled, so we accelerated the transformation of the business.
2020 was a tough year, made harder with the challenges of home-schooling three children through lockdown. Undeterred, Leigh set about rebuilding her business, applying successfully for grants where she could, and learning the digital marketing skills she will need for business success going forward.
A Strategic Approach
During our monthly coaching sessions, we followed a similar strategic planning process to the one I used as a Chief Executive. The aim was to answer the following four seemingly simple questions in order to come up with a strategic roadmap and action plan to turn The Blue Penguin’s fortunes around:
Where are you now?
Where are you going?
Which recommendations will best support you in bridging the gap?
How will you measure progress towards that envisioned future?
In Leigh’s Words
“Back in 2018, my Educational Travel business suffered a big blow. I woke up one day to find that my overseas business partner had left me high and dry and had taken 60% of my projected business for the next 12 months with them. To say this was a shock is an understatement, and I went into a state of panic. I had no idea how I was going to meet my financial commitments or how to get out of the hole I found myself in.
I started working with Denyse Whillier, a highly experienced Business Consultant and former CEO who sprang into action and made me face my situation head-on, working alongside me to formulate an achievable plan for recovery and then success. At first, I was ashamed to tell her what state my business was in because I worried that she would judge me, but what I found was the complete opposite.
I found a highly capable, compassionate yet proactive professional who would spend the next 3 years being an absolute rock for me through the many difficult twists and turns that came along in my industry. Denyse's approach to working with her clients is very simple; she wants your business to succeed and she wants to ensure that you make it sustainable. Denyse has countless years of experience to draw from and helps you to put practical and achievable goals in place to ensure you are:
In control of which direction your business is heading.
On top of your finances.
Actively working on increasing your sales and growing your business.
Denyse understands that businesses can be complicated. Every owner has a different skillset and experience. Every company has a different culture. Systems and processes vary. Sectors face very different challenges, especially in these COVID-19 times. Denyse takes the time to understand who you are, what your business is and who your clients are, then adapts her methodology to give you the tools you need to grow.”
Work With Me
Have you enjoyed this case study? Has it helped you to see what’s possible for your business?
If you’d like my advice and guidance to help you on you can build your business strong and safe like Leigh, here’s how you can book a call to discuss how to work with me. I’d love to help you grow a successful and profitable business just like Leigh.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR US?