Dinah Allen (Muffy Skates)
#HaveYouHerd: Rolling into a new month and another #FridayFeature. Today we are highlighting someone whose escapades have led her to do circles around us...we’re not kidding. Dinah Allen, the founder of Muffy Skates, is an Indianapolis native who turned her hobby of rhythm skating into a business! To learn more, keep on reading.
Dinah Allen has always had a passion for skating. After regularly attending adult nights at Skateland, she fell in love with the art of rhythm skating. Rhythm skating is a type of skating where the shoes are designed to allow the individual to dance while skating. In 2005, Dinah joined a skate club called Naptown Real Rollers, where she began traveling the US to national skate jams and performing in parades.
During the pandemic, the desire for people to learn how to skate soared. Dinah knew it was time to put her 15 years of roller-skating experience into action. She embarked on her own adventure and launched Muffy Skates, where she provides skating lessons to anyone willing to: “I took a solo trip to Denver, Colorado, to teach my first roller skating workshop during the pandemic in 2020. Even though COVID-19 was in full effect, I had to take this opportunity. During the workshop, the students expressed how grateful they were to learn from me. Denver's experience helped me realize that my skill set is needed worldwide and validated that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.”
Through the use of her blog, Dinah is able to educate and inspire skaters on a broader platform, while also positioning herself as a skating influencer. She is currently working on launching another roller-skating program that will reach the masses! She can’t tell us too much as it is still in the works but be on the lookout! If you want to sign up for one of Dinah’s classes, click here: https://muffyskates.com/roller-skating-lessons/
Dinah’s advice to those following in her footsteps is to “be prepared to educate yourself on standard business practices and magnify the customer experience. If you want to turn your hobby into a business, understand that you have to treat it like a business and not a hobby.”
Dinah’s passion for taking what she loves to do and turning it into a business is all the motivation we need. Adventures can lead to dreams, and Dinah is living hers. To keep up with Dinah, you can follow her on Facebook (@muffyskates), Instagram (@muffyskates), and her website https://muffyskates.com/.