.nl in the spotlight: justswim.nl

What made you decide to start your own business after ten years as a swimming instructor?

"Having done this kind of work for a decade, I had been mulling over the possibility of a business venture for a while, when I heard about someone who had a swimming school and wanted to sell up. We made contact, talked it all through, and arranged that I'd take over the business on 1 April 2022."

Teaching kids to swim is something you really enjoy, then?

"I started when I was fifteen. The secret is understanding how little children see the world and asking, how can I introduce swimming to their world? It never gets boring, because every child is different. You're doing something for a child, which will give them lifelong pleasure."

What plans do you have for your business?

"I'm taking over a healthy going concern. Just Swim is a well-established business, with a good team. So my aim is simply to make a few child-centred improvements and to expand the business."

Does the pandemic have implications for your plans?

"Fortunately, children's swimming lessons have been allowed to continue. So the pandemic hasn't impacted Just Swim too badly. All the same, I'm a bit nervous whenever I hear that new measures are being announced. I watched the last press conference live, which was rather tense."

How did you come up with your domain name?

"I considered various possible domain names before settling on this one, because it's simple and catchy. It's important to have a name that people will remember. Once I heard 'Just Swim', it stuck in my head. I checked that it was available as a domain name, but waited a couple of months before deciding to go for it."

How did you build your website?

"A friend of mine is a professional web designer at Metaheroes. So I asked her to make me a site with an attractive, child-friendly vibe. I came up with the content myself, and I maintain the site using WordPress. The domain name and website are hosted by Antagonist."

What role do you envisage the website playing?

"I'll be relying largely on word-of-mouth advertising. The website is there mainly so that a parent who hears about Just Swim from another mum or dad can find us and sign up for lessons. The website has to make people familiar with the name, reputation and logo."

How are you planning to promote your business online?

"I'll be trying to build up a social media profile, but I'm not planning to invest heavily in promotion in the short term. Demand for the period ahead is healthy, so we don't really need to drum up interest. In due course, we may want to grow the business, in which case we'll be working to increase our profile in the wider region."

Where do you hope to be with your enterprise five years from now?

"Hopefully the business will be bigger, with more instructors. But first there's lots I need to learn. Of course, I already know a lot about swimming instruction. But I'd like to think that, in five years' time, I'll know a lot about running a business as well. And about how to motivate others and communicate my passion for teaching children to swim."