Meet Alicia Chong | Global Art San Diego’s Principal and Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Chong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always been fascinated with the world of art. When I was growing up, my mom would spend the weekends investing time in sending me to art classes and participating in various art competitions in town. We also hit various art spots and exhibitions whenever we had one in town. The exposure has always helped me think of the world in different colors, and take an out-of-the-box approach in life. After graduating college with a psychology degree, I delved into the world of training and development for the past decade, primarily in the luxury industry, and have always been able to creatively incorporate art into my work. My artistic background has helped me while developing communication materials, building online learning platforms, and setting up an engaging training environment targeting all the different senses. Although I was loving my job, I also wanted to engage in more meaningful work. Something that helps me spark joy in life. That’s when my friend who started Global Art in the Bay Area, spoke to me about the opportunity of owning a Global Art studio. After much deliberation and speaking with other franchise owners, I decided to take the plunge and merge my passion for art and working with kids!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I first started my journey, I was a new entrepreneur in a brand-new city. Being in those shoes was actually quite nerve-racking. I had to learn everything from scratch, but thankfully, resources for entrepreneurs are readily available. I had to quickly learn all about marketing, financing, hiring, employee management, and customer service. It was a steep learning curve in a short span of time, in addition to learning the ropes of running the art franchise. Building a business in a local community is also about building bridges with the local parents, schools and even other business owners. Being new in the community also means building new relationships from scratch. So far, our business has thrived mainly from word-of-mouth, which is definitely priceless. In running a children’s business, we will always have two customers to please – both the parent and the child. Our biggest reward is when the kids beam with pride upon completing their artwork or craftwork, and the parents thanking you for making a difference in their kids’ life. This makes all our hard work and efforts worthwhile.

Global Art is a global art franchise worldwide and is present in 22 different countries such US, Canada, Australia, and Morocco. Its systematic approach to art progressively inspires kids to visualize and compose their own artwork subject, master the drawing composition, and perspective, and understand color harmony and selection, and usage of different mediums. At Global Art San Diego, we offer illustration-based art classes, which encourage kids to actively develop new concepts and weave their unique ideas into their artwork. It is more than just a drawing class; it is a creative space for innovators. Hence, you will find varying art pieces as each concept is the artist’s own. Students at our art center practice patience and perseverance, and gaining strong confidence with each finished artwork. Many of our students have also won art competitions at school or at a national level with their original art pieces, which is a great boost to their self-esteem too! Our art camp and seasonal workshop are popular choices for kids who want to sample a variety of art projects. Our camps enable campers to try out canvas painting, G-clay (air dry clay) modeling, sewing, watercolor painting, and arts and craft creation. We have a high number of repeat campers who attend our art camp every year, and this year we have campers who have registered for 4 consecutive weeks of art camp, so we have to constantly push the boundaries of ideas. I would consider that the fun aspect of the job! There is never a dull moment. And for the art lover in the family, we host birthday parties at our art studio. It is a great, stress-free event as we take care of the art activity and clean-up. All there is to prep is food, drinks, and the guest list! Plus, the birthday child and friends will have an artwork to commemorate that special day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Diego is a city that is never short of excitement, from its idyllic climate, pristine beaches and family attractions, there’s always something for everyone. My recommendation would be perfect for families with younger children. For me, you can’t come to San Diego and not set foot on its famed San Diego Zoo, also known as the World’s Best Zoo. It’s newly built Children’s Zoo section is my kids’ favorite. There’s ample exhibits to explore, discover and areas of play to get those wiggles out. For theme park entertainment, there’s always SeaWorld and Legoland California with thrill rides and shows for every ages. Love hiking? Torrey Pines State Park offers some of the best hiking trails, packed with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. The hike is child-friendly too. Prefer some action in the water? Mission Bay is the perfect location for surfing, paddle boarding and fishing.
We also love spending our weekends by the beach. Some of my family’s favorites are La Jolla beach and Solana beach. Get a tent out, pack some snacks and sand toys, and we’re settled in for the day. Another great option is Coronado island, a quaint town boasting stunning views of San Diego’s skyline.
What I love about San Diego is its multicultural heritage. That also means that it is a food-lover’s haven! Although there’s always a debate about who’s the best, we love to frequent Oscar’s Mexican Seafood for seafood tacos, and Fernandez restaurant in south San Diego for birria tacos. One can find some really good restaurants in Convoy St – Submarine Crab for cajun seafood boil, or Manna BBQ for delicious Korean BBQ. For that special occasion, check out C-Level for a sweeping view of the ocean while you wine and dine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed with so many supportive people around me. For starters, I want to thank Mr. Mahair Goh, founder of Global Art International for developing this phenomenal brand, and growing it into an international brand today. It is no easy feat to be able to expand a business to one foreign country, let alone 22 different countries and counting!

I am also eternally thankful for the SCORE chapter in San Diego. As a new entrepreneur, I constantly seek input and support from the pros, and SCORE is the main go-to resource for me. There are mentors readily available to support new entrepreneurs, review business plans, and providing tips for common pitfalls.

And of course, all my beloved parents and students, from near or far! I have forged some great friendships along the way. My current pillar is non-other than my marketing consultant – Khara M., a parent-turned-consultant-and-friend, who constantly gives me salient advice, while keeping my sanity in check along the way. Together, we created dynamic solutions to navigate the ever-changing landscape of marketing and communications!

Website: http://us.globalart.world/globalart-san-diego/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalartsandiegopq

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalartsandiegopq

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/global-art-san-diego-pq-san-diego

Other: Summer Art Camp 2023: https://form.jotform.com/globalart.socal/summer2023artcamp

Image Credits
All images belong to Global Art San Diego.