Inflaaaaaation! Yup. We said it. Many of us in the float world are feeling it - inflation has been an issue for a long while now, and it’s starting to make an impact for many businesses that rely on disposable income spending. From gas prices to the other G word - Groupon - you’ll hear what’s happening across our co-hosts’ centers, including those who have been running strong schedules at capacity for a while. Someone might start driving a truck, someone is giving away services, and someone is l...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min
We’ve said it before, and our guest on this episode proves it’s true - float center owners are a special breed. Sure, we could just own one business and run it, but why do that when we can run MULTIPLE businesses?! Kelly Caldwell, who owns Drift Float Spa in Greenville, SC, joins Kim and Drew in this episode to talk about wearing all the hats, including providing consulting services and selling float pods! You’ll hear all the details about Float Spa pods that drain and filter 100% of the solutio...
May 26, 2022•53 min
Today we visit the UK and meet Will and Sherri, owners of Float in the Forest. We discuss the obstacles they overcame to open their tranquil center located in the middle of a forest, as well as the differences between running a center in the UK vs the US. Finally the couple offer ther advice to float center owners all over the world! Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions [Art of the Float Store](Shop.artofthefloat.com) Support Art of the Float...
May 19, 2022•42 min
Do you remember a time when Drew didn’t want to offer memberships at all at his center? Well, he’s come around, floaty friends. In this cozy, quick episode, you’ll hear a bit about the different seasonality trends each co-host sees at his or her center, how the pandemic has impacted membership numbers, and how they’re recovering. You’ll also hear some quick tips for membership structure, how to offer the memberships without sounding sleazy, and how to nurture those relationships. Sponsors HelmBo...
May 12, 2022•38 min
It’s storytime, salty friends! But first, cover some little ears for the first few minutes of the show, as we dabble in some high-level adult topics that you might not want to explain to the kiddos. Our expert guest, Reba Sparrow from The Mystery Box Show, joins us to share how to create and tell your story, and why that’s so important as a small business owner. Storytelling makes us more relatable, and doing it right raises the emotional stakes with your audience - your potential guests and mem...
May 05, 2022•41 min
Some people have anxiety about turning over the keys to their center (cough, cough, Drew), while others are happy to toss them and run the other way (uh, yeah, Gloria). Either way, having a plan for onboarding is a crucial step to your center’s success, as well as your own mental health during the process. It can make a huge difference in your team’s happiness, engagement, and longevity too! In this episode, Kim shares her high level strategy for onboarding her team since she’s in the middle of ...
Apr 21, 2022•51 min
What makes a good leader? What inspires employees to stay at your business? What makes them care? Our guest on this episode has a simple answer for that: care. Sincerely, authentically, and wholeheartedly - care about your people and allow them to shine. We invited Carolynn Bruce, Kim’s former boss from the corporate world, to join the conversation tonight. You’ll hear a little backstory about how they worked together to shift the culture in a major corporation, and how impactful some simple con...
Apr 07, 2022•42 min
For as much attention as we have put on our floors, we may not be doing enough to keep our customers safe. Dylan shares what has been working great for other float centers to keep our customers salt-water solution laced feet, firmly on the ground. Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Support Art of the Float...
Mar 29, 2022•17 min
As a small business owner, especially of the float center variety, there are always a gazillion demands on your time. Between responsibilities for the shop, self care, family life, and managing all of those extra projects many of us seem to have, it can be overwhelming. In this episode, the crew discusses how it feels to be late and how to prevent it, as well as all of the tools and methods they use for keeping the demands life on the rails. No matter if you’re a software geek like Kim and Glori...
Mar 17, 2022•53 min
Some things simply come full circle, especially in the float world. In this episode, you’ll journey around talks of beards and the Fluxstache, to pivotal moments with suffering mental health to burlesque and the reactivity of the immune system. With such a colorful variety of topics, there’s no doubt who our guest is - Dr. Flux himself! You’ll hear the story behind the name, “Dr. Flux”, from the beginning with GoGo Harder, all the way to the present day with our own predictions for completing th...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min
With all of the excitement of launching the new Art shop (and the longest intro ever), get ready to pick up some tips for where to get your own merch printed or how to do it yourself. Where do you turn when you need some sweet float gear? Well, now you can hop over to the [Art of the Float website](shop.artofthefloat.com) to load up on sweet AOTF gear, float merch, float and testimonial videos, and more! Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Links [Art of the Float Store!](shop....
Feb 24, 2022•34 min
Drew sits down with James Harder of the FTA and the two chat about major changes that have taken place within the FTA. Find out about what you can get from the FTA now and what they are building for the future of the industry. Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Support Art of the Float...
Feb 17, 2022•57 min
Let’s get controversial, floaty friends. He’s in the news, so we had to weigh in on the impact “Joegan” has had on the float industry and where the latest happenings are landing with each of co-host. The crew chimes in with a few passion points, the impact Joe’s love of the float has had on them, and where each stands on the current issues (or not). You’ll hear about pulling ads, staying Switzerland, and knowing your “whys”. And if you don’t really care about the whole thing, you should still ch...
Feb 10, 2022•33 min
It’s a new year, and we have some fresh faces to share! If you haven’t heard, you can tune in to WATCH The Art of the Float Podcast on Youtube now! The crew took a few weeks off to recharge, enjoy the holidays, get sick, get a black eye, and then appreciate a sweet reunion that you get to witness. You’ll hear about our holiday adventures, how to move a ferry boat when you don’t need it anymore, and why you might consider moving to a new location, buying your building, opening a second location, ...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 28 min
Another wild year is coming to a close… in this episode, the crew shares how their holiday sales are going - including some recording-breaking days and someone who didn’t do a single thing for Black Friday or Small Business Saturday and has no regrets about it. Each person reflects on how the year has been professionally and personally, and how important it is to set strong boundaries, stick to your priorities, and remember your own self-care. You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating becau...
Dec 16, 2021•48 min
Warning: There's a bad word in this episode! It’s a hot topic… to raise your prices or to not raise your prices. With the cost of goods rapidly rising, many float center owners find themselves wondering if now is the time to raise the cost of admission a bit. Dylan, coming up on ten years in business, shares how price increases have gone for him over the years, as Kim recently implemented her first price increase in three years. You’ll hear some tips and strategies that helped Drew feel more con...
Dec 02, 2021•35 min
Adult Language Notice! Joey and Grace Le Penne from Mountain Float Spa are fresh out of the float center ownership world… they closed on the sale of their center just a couple of weeks ago, so they joined the crew to share how their float love story started, how it grew and evolved, and why letting it go was the best decision for them after 8 years. From love at first float to navigating tense moments and the stress it added to their marriage, they share their journey of getting burned out, less...
Nov 15, 2021•59 min
What happens when you explore the power of “pulling aside the veil”? Dr. Victor Zelek, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist joins the pod crew to talk about the power of the brain. Dr. Zelek shares a little history about how floating was used to treat alcoholism in Russia in the 80s. As a self-described “psychonaut”, his work dives into the depths of exploring altered states of consciousness, with the use of psychedelics, including tools beyond the scope of substances. He descr...
Nov 04, 2021•40 min
If you’re thinking about buying an existing business… or selling yours, there are some key things to think about in order to increase your chances of success. In this episode, Amy Reed, who actually doesn’t own a float center, joins the crew to talk about her acquisition of a well-established yoga studio. Her heart-centered approach is one to which many float center owners can relate. Amy shares the behind-the-scenes decisions she had to make when evaluating taking over, why “staging” is importa...
Oct 28, 2021•48 min
We all talk about how special the float industry is, and the “Mid-Atlantic Float Association” is living proof. A handful of float centers across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the surrounding area have come together to truly walk the talk. They meet regularly, share supplies, and truly support each other in a way that only floaty people would understand. We invited Jeanne Mills of Ocean Elements and Dawn Goldbacker on to share some stories and talk about why and how they came together. ...
Oct 14, 2021•47 min
It’s mid-October. Do you know what your holiday promotions are? NO? Don’t worry… neither does the crew! But don’t worry, you’ll get a smorgasbord of ideas to jump start your own brainstorming process. From member incentives to gift card discounts and gifts to nurture and show appreciation for your most loyal guests - you’ll surely spark some ideas to get a jump start on your holiday planning in this episode. You’ll even hear why one co-host is anxiously awaiting the next big winter storm, and wh...
Oct 07, 2021•41 min
You know the old saying, “when it rains, it pours into Kim’s center”, right? In tonight’s episode, Kim tells the watery tales of flash floods causing water to pour through the front doors during a new employee’s 3rd shift alone. The old, historic building has presented many water challenges in the past, but like running any float center, it often feels like a game of whack-a-mole. As soon as one issue is fixed, another one pops up, as is the case with the water flooding into the reception area. ...
Sep 23, 2021•36 min
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Just depends on where you were to experience it all… yep. This episode, we’re going behind the scenes to find out what really happened at the Float Conference in Milwaukee this year, and just what happened to cause frustration for some virtual attendees. Gloria and Kim, both Float Conference board members, attended the event live and provide a recap of some of their favorite talks and workshops. This was the 10th annual conference, and it brou...
Sep 16, 2021•56 min
Jeremy Joins the pod once again! Jeremy shares some keys to thriving during a pandemic, a tease for his latest speech and of course the story of falling in love with his wife <3 Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Support Art of the Float
Aug 24, 2021•51 min
Join us for another Float Conference Special episode! today we sit down with the illustrious MC Flux! We find out how he first got into float research, speaking at float conferences and how he deals with stress. Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Support Art of the Float...
Aug 19, 2021•26 min
Drew and Dylan chat with Stephen Johnson about how he started speaking at the Float Conference, how floating provides an opportunity to view your own consciousness, as well as psychedelics. Join us for a fun insightful conversation! Get your Float Conference tickets now at floatconference.com! Sponsors HelmBot I-Sopod Float Tank Mindfull Solutions Support Art of the Float...
Aug 12, 2021•31 min
Continuing in our marketing series, the crew chats about the different marketing strategies for reaching new audiences versus retaining existing customers. You’ll hear about why you may want to run paid campaigns to reach your members, but how your message will need to be completely different from what you say to new clients in a paid ad. You’ll also walk away with a few tips about how to encourage booking the next float, how to cull your email list, and why segmentation is a powerful approach, ...
Aug 05, 2021•43 min
In what section of the bookstore would you find your ideal client? It’s an intriguing question posed by our guest in this episode, Lauree Ostrofsky. Lauree is a business coach and marketing consultant who helps women build strong businesses and feel more confident putting themselves out there in a bigger way. She’s the author of Simply Leap: Seven Lessons on Facing Fear & Enjoying the Crap out of Your Life and I’m Scared and Doing it Anyway, a book about her brain tumor diagnosis at age 28. ...
Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 6 min
As we kick off our float center marketing series, we invite some industry leaders to join us. Experts they are, but picking just a single client demographic to pursue? They failed. Graham and Ashkahn from Float On are back on the pod again to share their unconventional advice on finding your target audience. You’ll hear about the “best customer profile” at Float Sixty, The Float Shoppe, NH Float, Sukhino Float Center, and Float On - sort of. The crew dives into the differences between your socia...
Jul 22, 2021•34 min
Everyone’s favorite podcast crews are all together at once! This week, the infamous Grashkahn - Graham and Ashkahn join the Art of the Float to talk about the upcoming Float Conference! This is the TENTH annual event, so we asked them how it feels to be on year 3 of releasing the conference into the wild. Because it’s been a minute since the whole salty crew has been together, we also had to travel through time to see how pandemic life has been for the dynamic duo - sharing a household and three...
Jul 15, 2021•51 min
