What I hate about Christmas!
I felt alot of pressure around Black Friday to offer a sale. Honestly the pressure to discount as a business owner and to buy as a consumer is the part I hate most about Christmas. I hate Black Friday and all it stands for, so I chose not to engage with it all this year. I wrote another blog all about this.
Who decides what value means?
Advertising screams words like BEST VALUE at us, but who decides what value actually means? From my point of a view as a business owner if it's my lovely customers like yourselves, then that's a lot of variables and a very vast and ever changing concept depending on who's purchasing from Ebb & Flow - each customer or student is different, with your own set of beliefs, internal values and preconceptions.
So if the value of what I do and offer is based on customer perceptions, well it's a very movable and subjective feast and I will be forever tying myself up in knots trying to do better and worrying about if what I do and offer is of value or not.
As women many of us were raised to be of service to others - take care of your brothers, clean up the house, mind the younger siblings. When I was trying to decide a future career I was told I’d be best as a nurse or a teacher - caring professions. Being an entrepreneur or a senior manager in a multi-national weren’t cards on a woman’s table 25 years ago, I had to forge that path for myself. Our value seemed pre-determined by how helpful, kind and of use we could be to others. It is no wonder our sense of self can feel like it floats on the tides, unmoored, unsteady, unfamiliar.
So it seems like the most sound and grounded approach is for me to value myself and what I do, to root myself in my own inherent values, beliefs and ethics and drop anchor there, rather than being swayed by how others may or may not perceive me and my business. It's not to say business owners shouldn't care about what their customers think - of course we do and rightly so! We care sooooo much, but this comes down to how I show up in the world, how secure I feel in myself and what I do.
I have not increased class prices since 2019. In fact I lowered them after Covid to help us all recover, in every sense of the word. I thought I was offering great value, but in hindsight is it really good value when I feel like I've undervalued myself? I chose not to do a Black Friday offer this year for this very reason. I didn't want to undercut myself or other local teachers in the area.
I'm good at what I do
I've been teaching for over 8 years now and have invested thousands of euros, hours and alot of energy into learning and developing as a person and as a teacher & guide too, so to discount that just because it's Black Friday, feels really out of alignment with my constant journey toward trying to value myself properly.
I messed up
I make this sound like I've it all sorted - lol! It's a learning journey and this has been on my mind alot recently because I messed up. Truth bomb.....I offered really unique Yoga events here at my home this Autumn, like "Into the Woods" and "Forest of Stars" for €25. A noble idea, but I really underestimated how much time and effort I always put in, to make them as special and memorable as they were. Each event took me over 2 days of work - literally physical toil, to turn a barn and field into a magical fairy light kingdom, with a campfire, homemade food & treats, mulled apple cider, hot chocolate and toasted mallows, bespoke practices, cushy mats, blankets, lanterns, lights - you get the idea!
I was so proud of them, they were AWESOME and everything I'd dreamed of and exactly what I want to be doing! But I barely broke even financially and it took me days to catch up on myself afterwards being so tired from it all. The feedback was fabulous and everyone seemed to love the experiences. And for me, what I took away, was a potent reminder to realise my own value and that of the work I do.
Price increase from 22nd December
I have not increased class prices since 2019. In fact I lowered them after Covid to help us all recover, in every sense of the word. I thought I was offering great value, but in hindsight is it really good value when I feel like I've undervalued myself?
What I do is unique, because it comes from my heart, my head and my experience and expertise, my ideas are quirky, my events different and special and part of my journey is not just to type these words; but to really hear them and invite them into my heart. With all of the above in mind, I am increasing class prices for the first time in years.
This small rise will take effect from 22nd December 2024, where classes will increase by €1 each and all classes will move from 60 minutes to 70 minutes officially (I always run over, so now it can be intentional!). As treasured customers I'm giving you a heads up in advance, because up to the 21st December you can purchase any January classes for the current price of €72 for 6 classes or €120 for 12. From 22nd December, that changes to €78 and €132. Yoga for Back Pain Relief is exempt from this.
Scholarship Opportunity
This year I am also offering one scholarship per term, so if anyone is struggling financially but would like to avail of yoga or pilates, please pop me an email at ebbflowyogaireland@gmail.com - no questions asked or explanations needed and I will gift you 6 Yoga or Pilates classes (Yoga for Back Pain Relief is not included) beginning from 8th January 2024.
This has taken more than a few drafts to compose so if you're still with me here, thank you so much for reading my manuscript!
And thank you for understanding and for your continued support.
Le grá,
Maeve x