Until about 13 years ago, we did not get any inquiries from distant locations such as foreign countries, other states in the USA or other distant cities in California. And the majority of inquiries came only from local residents living in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley (San Jose area) because we made advertisements only on the local telephone book.
However after the internet became popular we became to receive inquiries from distant locations.
We launched our website back in 2000 and started marketing on the internet in 2001. Although there were not so many inquiries at the first beginning stage, we became to get lots of inquiries from various locations especially after beginning the promotion of the website and submission to various search engines, directories as well as variety of sites introducing floral artists and flower design schools.
This trend was even more enhanced after the introduction of BLOG system that can be used by anybody for free. After we began to use BLOG to increase awareness of our school, the number of inquiries from distant locations was further increased.
What I was surprised is we got many inquiries from foreign countries such as Philippines, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico and of course from Japan. These days even from Europe people give us inquiries. In the United States, there were approaches from Guam, the East Coast and South California etc. etc.
Many people asked us about whether or not we offer online program using internet operation. And some of them requested us to send instructors or floral designers. Quite unfortunately we do not offer any distant learning program using internet and also we cannot send any instructor to foreign countries.
Since the internet helps increase the visibility of our school, many people can find our school online and some of them show interest in our programs. However our policy is to offer hands on training of ONE ON ONE instructions based on ACTUAL small group class system limiting number of students no more than six per class only because we believe it is so difficult for people to earn decent skills of floral arrangement through the internet distant educational program.
In the State of California, we are often approached by prospective students who live in Los Angeles area. Unfortunately it takes more than six hours to drive from LA to the San Francisco Bay Area. Even if they fly, about one hour is required only for flight time. Therefore it does not sound realistic for such students to sign up for our classes.
Once we had a student from Guam. She took a lesson of silk flower arrangement by flying to our area from Guam. Also from the country of Colombia, we had a student who learned Fresh Flower Arrangement and Wedding Party Floral Arrangement. From Malaysia a well experienced student visited our school and she got a certificate of Fresh Flower Arrangement Advanced Course. Also from Japan, Korea and Philippines we had students who learned at our school. Most of such students who came from foreign countries had opportunities for visiting and staying in our area and they took a chance of taking lessons at our school.
Some inquiries from foreign countries are not related to lessons but regarding the possibilities of establishing cooperative relationship between the parties so that they can develop flower arrangements through our support. We could not comply with these requests quite unfortunately.
From time to time, we have students from Santa Cruz, Monterey, Napa, Fresno, Sausa Lito, Santa Rosa etc. It usually takes more than 90 minutes to commute to and from our school. In this kind of case, we always try to offer extra lessons on the same day in order to minimize the frequency of their commutations.
If you are very enthusiastic to learn floral arrangements, we can help you earn practical skills so that you can be a floral artist. You can join our class located at San Jose (Silicon Valley) or Burlingame (San Mateo County close to San Francisco Airport). From a WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS, you can choose the most favorite course well considering your private schedule and convenience. If you have no previous experience and want to start from affordable program, why not join Introductory Trial Budget Program which only costs less than $100. For more information, please contact info@california-academy.com We help you make a difference in floral art.