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Lee-Anne Simpson co-owner Revive Fitness Bolton, Ont.
www.revivefitness.ca
Photos by Lisa Crispo/
www.lisacrispo.ca
“I invested my personal savings and bought equipment along the way, only purchasing when I had the funds to do so.” ~ Lee-Anne Simpson
If my trainers are happy, there’s no stopping us.
Comb through the books When I became the owner, I was
surprised to discover where money was made and spent. Equipment repair costs were really high. Now I order my own parts and have learned how to re- pair our treadmills and save $200 to $300 for each repair. To increase revenues, I found some
dead space to create therapy rooms for two of my trainers who were practis- ing their other specialities (sports mas- sage therapy and Chinese medicine) at other locations. I take a percentage of their client fees, versus charging rent, to help them during slow months.
Think big The club has been established for 13
years and we have a great clientele and reputation. I plan to open another loca- tion in a year or two. I also plan to start a charity to combat obesity that will be an after-school fitness and wellness program at public high schools.
Stay in touch I’m constantly looking for feed-
back from members and staff. I’m al- ways asking them, “How’s it going?” “What’s new?” “Need help?” I hate to lose a client when it could have been prevented. I don’t want clients taking problems to my trainers or trainers complaining to each other. I find you have to look for feedback, not expect it. Giving feedback to staff is harder
than I thought it would be. Sometimes it’s hard to not be the bad guy, and not everyone is always happy with me – but that’s okay.
Get a life I’ve been blessed by my parents
with a super-strong work ethic; I start at 5:30am and get home at 8pm. But when I go home, I turn off. I don’t like to talk about business or even answer the phone. I love what I do, but your work can’t be your whole life. I know that no matter what happens to my business I’ll be okay because I have my wife, family and friends and a life out- side of work.
September/October 2012 Fitness Business Canada 23
For 15 years Lee-Anne Simpson com- bined a full-time fitness job – in various corporate, commercial and government positions over the years – with free- lance personal training. In 2002, when her roster of training clients was full enough to provide a reasonable income, she leſt her full-time job and opened a small-group and private training studio for kids, youth and adults which she fi- nanced without credit. Today eight em- ployees offer personal training, small group training, nutrition consulting, athletic and sports conditioning, injury rehab, hot yoga, Zumba and more.
Proceed with caution Although there was an opportu-
nity to buy an existing club, I wasn’t interested in borrowing money and going into debt. Instead, I invested my personal savings and bought equip- ment along the way, only purchasing when I had the funds to do so. As for
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