INDEPENDENT
operator
INDEPENDENT
OPERATOR
FOCUS
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OPERATOR F
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Endorsed by
edited by caroline wilkinson. email:
carolinewilkinson@leisuremedia.com
PEO
PLE P
RO
FILE They
michelle meade
said it
couldn’t
Meade, the founder of hardcore strength
be done.
facility Ripped Gym in Harlow, talks about So we
the company’s launch, fi lling a niche, and her
did it.
plans for future developments
Who founded Ripped Gym? strength facilities’, but it was diffi cult to
Ripped is jointly owned by myself, my fi nd a gym to satisfy both my husband’s
husband and my brother. The facility needs for heavy weights and mine for a
started life as Musclemass Gym in mix of classes and cardio. Those sorts
2007, but on refl ection we decided it of facilities seemed few and far between
was a bit of a mouthful and changed and we felt there was a defi nite market.
it to Ripped. We took tenancy of our Both my father and brother run their
1,486sq m (16,000sq ft) facility in Harlow own businesses, so I guess being
in June 2008 and it’s been a long and entrepreneurial is in my blood. In addition,
hard road with regards to the build. while working for Ocean Media, I was
Ripped is now an offi cial Life Fitness lucky enough to work for a director who
Hammer Strength Training Facility, took the time to mentor me. Being
featuring 73 pieces of strength equipment. privileged enough to watch gifted people
We also have the Cybex VR3 Heavy in business meant I learnt a lot, not only
Weight range and 26 pieces of CV kit. about how to run a company fi nancially
Other facilities include a boxing cage but about how important people are.
with an MMA matted area, nine punch
bags, a boxing ring and a martial arts What drives you?
facility called Ripped Fight Club. We also Ambition. We want to open three
have a juice and shake bar. sites in the south-east of the
country within the next 10 years
How have you set the facility and are looking to open our second
apart from the competition? facility within 12 months. Once
We’ve employed some of the best that’s done, I will have fulfi lled the
personal trainers on the circuit for objectives I’ve set myself thus far.
Wattbike is the first exercise
our niche clientele, including a British I am proud of what we have achieved
bike to be endorsed by British
heavyweight body building champion, so far, especially since building a business
Cycling because it gives
a super middleweight and a light was something completely foreign to us.
accurate and comparable
middleweight champion – so they
measurements of power
know what they are talking about. What would you do differently?
output in watts, can be used
Next time we launch a facility, I
by anyone and feels as realistic
What pushed you to open the club? think we will hire a project manager
as indoor cycling gets. And it’s
My husband and I have always trained rather than try to cut costs by doing
affordable too.
in what I would describe as ‘hardcore everything ourselves. It pays to be one
step ahead of building regulations and
Wattbike, the result of seven
to foresee issues before they arise. We
years work and a brief British
did absolutely everything ourselves
Cycling said would be impossible,
this time around, from employing
is already helping them take
people to learning about building
cycling to the next level.
regulations and structural calculations
When you’re not working,
what do you enjoy doing?
At the moment there isn’t a time when
I don’t work. My husband and I are at
Ripped 6am–10pm all week. We even
www.wattbike.com
The fi tness team at Ripped Gym work out there with our members.
08448 759 547
may 2009 © cybertrek 2009
Where will
Wattbike take you?
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