We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Drake a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?
I was just having this conversation with someone the other day! I come from a pretty extensive customer service background so good customer service is important to me. It doesn’t take much to smile, make eye contact and be engaged, right? I had a job in Los Angeles that was pretty heavy in customer service and it was difficult when dealing with people who seemed like they just wanted to be mean. I always give people the benefit of the doubt though…maybe they were having the worst day and didn’t mean to be treating me this way. No matter the situation, I would smile and treat them how I would like to be treated and, in some rare cases, it was reciprocated and welcomed. I’d even go so far to say that it may have turned a few of those bad days that people were having into good day. That being said, whether I’m on a set and everyone seems to be stressed and rushed or I’m at my business having a conversation with a potential new customer who may have just had the worst day I always treat people with respect, kindness and a smile.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve been kickboxing for close to 20 years. I’d always appreciated and respected the art and when I was given the opportunity to open a studio with my business partners it was a no-brainer. In the (almost) 5 years that we’ve been open we’ve created a safe space for people to get a great workout, learn a skill and feel empowered. I feel like we pride ourselves on the fact that we make everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. We want every person who walks through our door to feel like they’re a part of our Rise Kickbox family. I truly think that sets us apart from the rest. Again, it all boils down to good customer service.
I’ve been interested in the art of acting since I was quite young! I began my journey in the theatre and slowly transitioned to tv and film. When it comes to my job as an actor, I always treat people with respect and kindness, whether it’s during the casting process or on set. It’s a fun job to have but at the end of the day it is just that…a job. I am always grateful for any opportunity to be cast in a project and understand how difficult the process is to get to that point.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
So, my ex husband and I had planned to open a Commercial Kitchen. At the time there were limited spaces for chefs and bakers to rent out in order to work. When dealing with selling prepared foods through a third party you have to prepare those foods in a certified commercial kitchen. I had (and still have) my own little baking business that I do as a side hustle so we thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to create a space for others that I can also utilize?” Little did we know that there were a lot of hoops to jump through in order to make this happen so we decided to drop that idea and look for a space to open a kickboxing studio instead. The woman helping us look at spaces mention that her husband was actually looking to do the same thing since the gym he trained at just closed down. She asked if we’d be interested in meeting him to talk about potentially sharing a space and although I was hesitant at first I agreed. 20 minutes later her husband arrives and 6 months later we opened our studio, Rise Kickbox!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Most of our clients find us through Google, actually! They type in “kickboxing near me” and we pop up. We also get a lot of people through our door with our signage. We’re on a fairly busy street with a lot of traffic so many people drive by, see our sign and eventually stop in. Word-of-mouth also helps! We provide a great service and our members tell their friends…it’s a great formula and pretty simple!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://risekickbox.com/
- Instagram: @risekickbox
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risekickbox/
- Twitter: @risekickbox
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RiseKickbox