Opening up right beside me. Literally, I could hit it with a stone.
Should I be worried?
I know my program is fantastic. I have at least three families to choose from every time I have an opening . . .
But my stomach is in knots right now
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Opening up right beside me. Literally, I could hit it with a stone.
Should I be worried?
I know my program is fantastic. I have at least three families to choose from every time I have an opening . . .
But my stomach is in knots right now
Is it going to be the same kind of establishment you run? A home dayare or a bigger establishment?
I know there are a lot of home daycares in my part of my city yet I am always getting requests for interviews and my ads are never posted. I'm lucky to be near downtown where tons of people work so I'm in a great location.
But I always advise new providers to figure out their niche and advertise their strengths and put them all on their websites. I'm sure since you are already established and running a great daycare you are already doing that. So you can also inform parents at interviews that you know what you are doing because of your experience and the woman next door won't be able to say that.
If I were you I would embrace it. Get to know them, what they do, what they charge, what they don't charge for, sick days - stats - vacation etc. You will find a way to one up them. Be it hours, program, pay etc.
If you have 3 to choose from for every one opening then my guess is it's needed in your area! So I don't think you'll have a problem. The other thing I've noticed is the quality of food is not great in these bigger daycares so maybe that's what you want to emphasize with your ads. Either way, you've been established longer, you have a good client base, I'm sure you'll be fine.
If you are willing to do lots of babies it could be a real advantage as there is often a shortage of infant spaces so you could be a feeder to the daycare in the sense of caring for them till they turn two and there are openings or caring for the infants siblings of kids in the older programs. Some daycare centres also have a home daycare component for just that reason - to take the overflow of their infant program.
I have 2 daycare facilities within a stone's throw of my place (one is actually in the the school my yard backs onto). This is not to mention that my neighbourhood is teeming with home daycares. I'm full and have a waiting list -didn't have too much trouble getting that way. One person made a good point - get to know them. Do it better, do more than them and you won't need to worry. Also, there are a LOT of people who specifically want home care for the personal quality. And yup, take babies....daycares never take them. Don't sweat it, you'll be fine :)
It's good friend of mine doing it. I'm hurt. she has run a home daycare for a while and now she is opening a facility Daycare in the empty building next to me. I run a home daycare.
I send her all the kids that I didn't accept into my daycare. We have worked hard not to create competition between us. I thought so at least . . . .
I think im more hurt that she would decide to open it in my backyard than I am worried about staying full. She is decidedly creating competition between us.
Cadillac, your friend is just trying to earn a living so I wouldn't make it personal. You need to start thinking as a business woman. The other posters had some good suggestions. Her daycare facility will be different than yours. Embrace the differences and promote yours.
I'm SOOOO trying not to take it personally. I know its business.
I think im just way stressed about everything and this just broke my back a little
There are a couple of ladies who live near me who have become good friends and we have playdates together at parks. It's wonderful. When we are full and we are contacted for a space we help each other out. It's great to have the support.
I meet other caregivers at the park who avoid me like the plague because apparently they see me as the competition and I should be avoided! That's not good! As I already said Cadillac, be confident in YOUR daycare and you'll do just fine.
What is wrong with those ladies "together we can accomplish more" why wouldn't they get to know you? Smart Business women see the need to network.Quote:
Originally Posted by Momof4
Cadillac you should be happy for your friend, finding a good space for a daycare centre isn't easy. Her service is a different product than yours. Why not be each others cheerleaders. She could someday have a wait list and that could be the day you need clients.
Also there could be a day where you need back up care immediately and what better place to bring your kids.
Sit down and write out all the amazing positives and amazing possibilities.