Meet DeMarco Howard | Owner & Founder

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

Hi DeMarco, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At an early age, I knew that I wanted to have a business of my own. After working for other dance studios in Abilene, Texas and Missouri City, Texas, I knew that there was a way to combine the great things that I experienced at one studio while remembering the not so great things I witnessed at the other. I wanted to create a fun and educational space for the entire family to come an express their creativity. Each student that walks through the door is greeted with a kind face to make sure they know that there is someone there that truly cares about them. Starting a business came from following a passion. Finding different programs that give our kids what they need while appealing to what they want is our goal. Generating revenue from a passion is what we consider a win-win as everyone takes something home from the experience.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Now being one of, if not the largest aerial and circus arts studios in Houston, Texas, we pride ourselves in offering a variety of disciplines that includes fabric, trapeze, lyra, hammock, wall running, cube, rope, chair, ladder, and a host of others. Our staff provides entertaining material while keeping safety in the forefront. We entered this business as students. My wife said she was going to take an aerial class, I decided to join her and we took classes together for 4 years. Soon after we took a break and had our first child, we got a call from the owner stating that she was ready to sell. Soon after we bought the assets from the business and The Artz Houston was open for business. What we didn’t know is that we were taking over a struggling business with barely 20 students coming on a weekly basis. Since then we have grown the business to over 80 students coming on a weekly basis, a kids program that only had two students to now being the biggest kids aerial program in the city. Transforming a business that had not grown in years to what it is today took an extreme amount of work and a lot of effort from our team. While developing a new brand in the shadows of the old company that was here, we had to create an awareness that things would be different. We had to rebuild the business from the ground up and make it known to others that the aerial community would be better with our new approach to circus. Our brand stands for family, community and cre8tivity. We put our heart and soul into everything we do and we realize that we are nothing without our community and all the learning experiences they provide to us as a business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are many great places to visit in our area. I would start our the say by going to get a bite to eat. In this area, there are hundreds of places to eat, some local and some national food chains that can provide whatever you need. In this case I would get a smoothie from a Jamba Juice as they have one of my favorite drinks. We might then go hang out at the Houston Zoo or somewhere interactive where we can later get a bite to eat. and of course we would end the day with a great workout to burn all the calories off at The Artz with an aerial class. Just walking around the Heights area, you will find all sorts of interesting things to check out and new places to explore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without the support of the people who introduced me to the skills and thrills of what I do everyday, I would be stuck behind a desk doing something I had no passion for. Monica Josette was my first dance teacher and for the times I spent in shiny purple and silver sequins, although it was itchy, I’ll never forget the experience I had learning how to move in a creative way with control. Teri Wilkerson changed my life forever. Pushing me to explore how I began my teaching, encouraging me to develop different aspects of many programs, trusting me to lead when others had their doubts. To this day, hands down the best teacher and mentor I have ever had. Emma Foster who introduced the world of aerial to me in a way that challenged me to want more and forced me to come back week after week. You sparked a fire in me that remains lit until this very day. Lori Rutledge gave me the confidence to go after being the best that I could be. Also a teacher that continues to push me on a regular basis, when I actually have time for class, seeing that I now own the studio in which I started taking classes. Charles Howard, Gwen Howard, Terry Strauder, and Marcella Strauder ar the best group of people a guy could as for when it comes to advice, support and just being able to look out for our families and out business. Tara Howard is by far the biggest support system I have and without her, our business would not be where it is today. She puts in over time when she does not have to ans makes sure the business stay in business. To these men and women, I thank you because you have made me what I am so that I could make our business what it is.

Website: www.theartz8.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartzhouston/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theartz8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartzhouston
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS0qFrwOoVg9ejRsrfkvCw?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Cre8tive Interpretation, LLC