Anyas Q & A
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Meet Anya Esser, who explains why she left a career in television to pursue a franchise opportunity with Music Bugs.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have recently married and we have a 17 month old daughter Zoë. We lived in London until 3 years ago and then moved to Bristol as my partner was relocated through his work. As much as I miss my family and friends, I love living in a small city with the countryside on our doorstep. My family mean everything to me and on returning to work I was determined to do something that I could fit around my family life.
2. What did you do before joining Music Bugs?
From a very young age I knew I wanted to work in television. I got my first break working for a small production company who made a children’s programme for the BBC. I absolutely loved it and I was there for 5 years before moving onto various other projects in television ranging from music entertainment programmes to larger event type programmes such as the Antiques Roadshow. I reached a level in my career that I’m really proud of. However the television industry is very inflexible and part time jobs are rarely available for the role I was responsible for. To go back to this would have meant me working full time again with my daughter spending long days in childcare which I just wasn’t prepared to entertain,
3. What attracted you to Music Bugs?
I had been attending Music Bugs classes for a term with Zoë and decided to investigate a franchise opportunity based on our enjoyment of the class and my desire to do something more flexible than the career I had in television. I looked at the Music Bugs website and saw there were franchise opportunities available and discovered that the franchisee who ran our local classes was relocating to another part of the country and was selling her franchise.
4. Did you consider other franchise opportunities?
Yes, I had looked into another franchise based company but decided the initial investment required in order to run the classes was far too high for me to even consider. I had also attended a class with my daughter and personally didn’t find it as enjoyable and stimulating as a Music Bugs class.
5. What territory do you cover?
I cover the territories of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
6. What training and support have you received to establish your franchise?
I spent two weeks attending on the job training with the franchisee whose business I was buying which was fantastic hands on experience for me. I then attended a 3 day training course run by head office which provided me with all the training I needed to get the business going.
7. What activities are you planning for your classes?
I am launching new classes in Bradley Stoke (North Bristol) in September. It is great to be able to bring Music Bugs classes to a new area and I plan to consider further venues in the future. The Christmas period will be a great opportunity to run some themed classes which I very much look forward to organising.
8. What do you think you will enjoy most about being your own boss?
Running my own business, working really hard but working hours that suit me and my family in an environment that respects a need for flexibility around childcare. Running my franchise means that I can own, run and grow my own business with the ongoing support from other franchisees and the Music Bugs head office.
9. And finally, what was your favourite nursery rhyme when you were a child?
How Much Is That Doggy In The Window.
