In the competitive world of after-school programmes, standing out and managing operations efficiently is a herculean task. We had a BIG day catching up with football athlete, business owner, and Enrolmy customer Adam Thomas to uncover the secret sauce behind his successful venture in the after-school space. Keep reading this inspiring interview to delve into Adam’s journey that marries a passion for sport with the savvy use of software.
The Beginning of Adam Thomas Football
Adam shared his lifelong commitment to football, from playing at a young age to representing New Zealand on international stages. However, it was during his recovery from injuries that he realized the need for accessible sports programs for kids of all skill levels.
Q: Hey Adam tell us about yourself and what inspired your after-school sporting venture?
Adam: "Hey I'm Adam and I've been involved with football for about 15 to 20 years now."
"I started playing when I was very young and football quickly became my whole life haha. I played for some great teams; made the New Zealand Under 17's, New Zealand under 20's team, and then eventually went on to represent New Zealand at the Olympic games in London. But coming back from London, I had a pretty bad run with injuries where I needed to get some operations."
During that time in my life I just really wanted to get back involved with football. I also needed a way to give back some of my personal experiences to youth.
“I thought running a programme that would be available for all skill levels, and boys and girls, could be a worthwhile venture. That's where Adam Thomas Football started."
Q: So coming from an athlete background straight into business must have had its challenges?
"Yeah definitely, one of my biggest challenges at the start was working through all the processes it takes to run this kind of business. Things like payments, registrations, and future plans. How could I keep them all together? My biggest frustration was that I was doing all these processes separately and it was so time consuming. If I got behind I'd be stressing."
The search for a solution led Adam to Enrolmy, a decision that marked a turning point for Adam Thomas Football.
Embracing Technology for Business Efficiency
I thought Enrolmy sounded great so I gave it a go and I haven't looked back since.
Curious about how technology played a role in overcoming initial hurdles, we explored what made Enrolmy stand out as the winning formula for his business.
Q: What kind of solutions did you find that helped you pull things together?
"It's a pretty funny story. I just signed up with another registration software a couple of days earlier, but then I heard about Enrolmy. Dean (Enrolmy CEO) called me and chatted me through what Enrolmy Software was all about. The pricing for my business and easy management of the system seemed like it would work for me. Especially because I'm not much of an IT or technology guy."
Enrolmy sounded easy, affordable for my kind of operation and something that I could start straight away. So I said to Dean, "Tell me more about it." He explained how my business processes could be more efficient, more time effective and more organised.
Q: Did Enrolmy end up solving any of the challenges that you faced as a business owner in the sports clinics & after-school space?
“Yeah I mean when I changed over to Enrolmy, I was able to have all my customers on one database. The struggle with tracking payments became a lot easier; I knew who had paid for their lessons, and where the money was coming from, and I could consolidate all that information in one area. Enrolmy's payment system linking up with Xero accounting software, made invoicing simpler too." "And I obviously started receiving programme payments before the term sessions even started. It means kids can be registered and come along with no worries."
"Even my parents liked Enrolmy. They were really stoked that they could pay by credit card upfront, instead of having to pay for sessions by bank transfer or cash."
Looking Ahead: The Future of Adam Thomas Football
With operations running smoothly thanks to technological support, Adam Thomas Football has seen significant growth across New Zealand schools.
Q: So what's next for Adam Thomas Football?
Adam: “I would love to carry on running really great football programmes in schools. I want to keep expanding into more schools and providing the opportunity for more kids to have a go at football. I obviously want to continue building on our current programmes too, with expert coaches and evolving the sessions with new games and skills. Providing an all around awesome experience for the kids and the parents is my goal."
A New Chapter
Since our interview with Adam Thomas; he made the decision to continue pursuing his own professional career as an athlete overseas. He sold his after-school sports business to another passionate footballer to continue furthering Kiwi-kids football experiences! Despite choosing to pursue his professional athletic career further abroad, Adam's legacy lives on as Adam Thomas Football continues to run after-school sports sessions all across the New Zealand.
Adam Thomas' journey from an athlete grappling with injuries to establishing a flourishing after-school football programme underscores the transformative power of combining passion with technology. Through strategic use of software like Enrolmy, he not only streamlined administrative tasks but also significantly enhanced service delivery—ultimately contributing to the growth and sustainability of his venture.
Adam’s success story shows just how powerful the right tools can be for turning passion into a thriving business. If you're running after-school programmes or managing children's activities, Enrolmy can help you streamline your processes, from bookings to payments, just like it did for Adam. With Enrolmy, you’ll save time, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most—making a positive impact on kids' lives. Ready to make things easier? Get in touch with our friendly team today and discover how Enrolmy can support your journey!