Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Reilly.
Megan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My sister and I were teaching Tippi Toes in college as a way to have a part time job. It was natural for us to teach dance since we grew up dancing, but we never imagined that by the time we each graduated that we could both make a career out of the classes we were teaching. Our approach was different than many dance classes because we focused on a high-energy and kid-friendly dance class that built confidence at the same time teaching choreography and proper technique. We were also unique because we offer dance classes at schools, preschools, YMCAs, recreation centers, etc which adds a layer of convenience for busy parents.
I went to school to be a dietitian and got my Masters’s degree in nutrition and children’s health has always been a passion of mine. Pairing my schooling with teaching & operating Tippi Toes was a very natural combination for me.
After ten years of teaching classes and starting new Tippi Toes classes in the various cities my sister or I moved to, we decided to franchise our business.
When we saw how well our business operated as a franchise, we decided to continue to expand and today, we have 35 franchises around the country. There are around 9,000 Tippi Toes dancers around the country today and we are always adding new classes with plans to expand internationally in 2020.
Today, I spend my time helping our franchise owners build their businesses. Our group of franchise owners is a very elite and unique group of all women who make a huge impact in their communities and in the lives of children. I also spend a great deal of time building the Tippi Toes brand as we continually expand. We have written and produced five children’s albums which have made it to #1 on iTunes charts and have been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as a top franchise and appeared on Shark Tank in 2012.
In addition to running Tippi Toes, I am also starting a podcast called Who Is Your Momma which is where I interview moms of amazing people to learn more about how they raised their children in hopes of providing another tool for parents. The podcast will be released in early 2020.
I am also a speaker with a specific focus on entrepreneurship, female entrepreneurs & working parents. After 20 years in business and ten years of helping others build their business all while growing my own family, I hope to share a message that the path to success varies as much as people do and that there is more than one way to do everything. I am proof of that!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I learned early on that no road is ever smooth and the most important thing is to react to adversity with energy and grit. When we first started franchising, we had to break down so much of what came naturally to us and it was a challenge but the adversity actually strengthened our business as we were required to go through every step with a fine-tooth comb. We made so many additions and edits over time and continue to do that today.
Also, serving customers means that sometimes you can fall short or a customer can become upset even with all the effort in the world. I learned that listening to customers, in all circumstances, gave us an opportunity to get better.
To this day, I discover so tasks that are a challenge for me or requires me to learn a new skill & I have learned to not let any obstacle stand in my way. With my podcast, I had to really stretch myself in logistics and the technical pieces, but today I have learned so much and am grateful for the challenge because I can now better evaluate my needs.
My advice for any other women is to embrace struggles because that is where all the growth actually comes from. If you aren’t failing regularly, then you need to try harder! You can always adjust the sails once you see problems arise, in fact, plan on it. I tell our franchise owners all the time running a business means you have to be great with people and problem solve. I welcome obstacles because it is a chance to learn and it filters out any competitors that don’t want it as badly as I!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Tippi Toes® Dance Company or Tippi Toes® – what should we know?
My business, Tippi Toes® offers dance to boys and girls who are 18 months – 12 years old. We offer our classes in schools, daycares, churches, YMCAs, etc as well as some Tippi Toes studios. We have franchises around the country so we are able to serve thousands of children via our amazing franchise owners.
We are known for positive and super fun dance classes that build confidence and dance skills. Our classes are so unique because we have produced our own music which makes our classes imaginative, kid-friendly and very educational for our students. No other dance company in the country produces it’s own original music.
As a brand, I am most proud that we are more than dance. We receive countless notes from parents about how they have seen their child’s confidence skyrocket or how children with physical limitations have seen improvement in motor skills or other children who haven’t been able to make friends have a new group of friends in class that have changed their life.
We also bring a great joy to parents because we take very good care of their precious children which is vital and impactful to their parents. Moms & dads have found a new community of love and support in Tippi Toes.
I am proud that we offer great work to hundreds of people who teach our dance classes. Many are dancers, but many come to us with a love for teaching children and no matter what the background of our teachers, I am happy for them to experience work and a company that gives them opportunity for growth and a great foundation for whatever lies ahead for them.
Finally, I am also extremely proud of the business opportunities our franchisees have with Tippi Toes. Women all over the country have found a home with Tippi Toes and are building thriving businesses that bring joy to the families in their community. We are a company filled with support and leadership and our franchise owners are phenomenal ambassadors for our brand. Many Tippi Toes franchise owners are raising their own family while building their business and the support we all offer each other is second to none.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Take action, don’t worry what anyone else thinks & work harder than anyone else. If you do these three things, then you will separate yourself from the pack and can chase any dream! And of those three things, the most important thing is to TAKE ACTION! No one can do it for you and no one cares about your dreams as much as you. Believe in yourself and bet on yourself and go after it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TippiToesDance.com
- Email: MissMegan@TippiToesDance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganlreilly/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.reilly.5205
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeganLReilly
- Other: linkedin.com/in/meganlreilly-tippitoes
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