Today we’d like to introduce you to Clint Avery.
Hi Clint, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We needed swim lessons for our infant son ( Andrew ) since we had a pool added to our home. There was only one instructor in South Carolina. My wife, Melissa suggested I look into Infant Swimming Resource ( ISR ) to become an instructor. Since I had always coached the kids in other sports. She had a friend in Georgia that was an ISR instructor. 6 panel interviews later and 10 week training course in Florida, I became a certified instructor. it started in 2010. In 2016 i modified my lessons structure to something I felt was better and formed my own brand to SINKorSwim School. I taught adults how to do what I learned over my years of teaching children. I couldn’t meet demands as only one instructor and so many students couldn’t receive lessons during the season. I started with 3 instructors.
in 2019 we found a home for SINKorSwim in Summerville to make our home in one location rather than chasing backyard pools or renting commercial pools. We refurbished a commercial pool on an acre lot and now we get as many as 800 students a year! Plus we. Now have 11 instructors and 20 employees We also rent the pool out for pool parties. It’s truly a family business! Melissa ( wife ) assists with admission and pool parties, Britton ( oldest son ) manages the website, Anna ( daughter ) instructor and social media, Andrew
( son ) pool party attendant and instructor. Trish Ladson is our lead instructor and manager. She is like family to us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have a saying around here. If you wan to wear BIG boy pants, you’re going to have BIG boy problems. In the past We had HOA management shut us down. Our rental pools cancel on us. Rebuilding a broke down commercial pool during COVID. Or simply dealing with owning and operating our own pool has had plenty of obstacles. I am also the DHEC pool operator. Another challenge can be staying on top of your lessons and making them better.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a swim school. Our slogan is “We swim to survive”. Specialized with infants and toddlers and we teach survival swim and self-rescue swimming. We prepare the students for scenarios like “what if’ and how to roll back to the float fully clothed. 85% of people that fall into a body of water are fully clothed and didn’t have plans to swim that day. We teach stroke as well, but infants and toddlers can’t swim stroke until usually the age of four. I am proud of our success of 17 years of business and constant of new and old families keep coming back. We have several students that have started as an infant/ toddler and now are top swimmers on their swim team and or training for a Jr Triathlon! I think many things separate us from other swim schools. We own our pool. We don’t use floatation devices. Most our lessons are 1:1 student and instructor and our groups are smaller than other swim schools.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would advise any business owner to be patient. It might take 3 years to get established so don’t expect to profit or make big money immediately. Try to avoid a partnership. Always have a professional approach to your product, appearance and team. I wish I would have known more about marketing and technology when I got started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sinkorswimsc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinkorswim_school/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DF8sxxiTC/
- Youtube: sinkorswimschool409
