Exploring Life & Business with Alexis Lech of Ignite Fitness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Lech.

Hi Alexis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband and I began as personal trainers for an apartment community in Cary many years ago. We had a great set-up to offer personal training sessions in a large semi-private gym setting with no overhead costs, but eventually the company sold the apartments and we had to find a new place to continue training our clients.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Getting started was our greatest struggle. We had always dreamed of opening our own studio but had little money for startup costs and there was so much we needed to learn about operating a business that we didn’t know where to start. So we never did. Our dreams remained only dreams. Fortunately for us, we were ripped out of our comfort zone with the sale of the apartment community and had no choice but to figure it out!

Finding a space for our gym was difficult. We knew nothing about leasing space, picking a location, obtaining permits, etc. Fortunately, one of our former clients was a commercial realtor and was able to help guide us through the process. It’s amazing how wonderful people can be when you ask for help. We were rejected by a few places for various reasons, but eventually, with only two weeks to spare, we found a space on Craigslist from someone who needed to get out of his lease. It turned out to be the best location of them all.

After a year and a half of very long weeks and some painful lessons, we finally found our groove! We paid off all of our startup costs, added more trainers and finally felt like we had some room to breathe. And then coronavirus hit.

Being forced to shutdown after working so hard was devastating. We spent some time dealing with all the emotions many of us felt: anger, sadness, fear, etc., but managed to overcome these and avoid additional stress by having an emergency fund, which absolutely saved us. Instead of spending months in a panic, we were able to rest and recharge and think clearly about our path forward.

When the restrictions were finally lifted, our studio began performing well again. As a private personal training studio with an average of only 3-4 people working out a time, we weren’t hit nearly as hard other fitness businesses. We’re now stronger than ever and planning to move into a larger facility this year!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ignite Fitness?
We specialize in one-on-one personal training and work with all ages and abilities. Group fitness studios are hot right now and probably the better business model, but we’ve always preferred the individualized approach. Each client has our undivided attention, allowing us to build stronger relationships and learn about their needs in great detail. We build our clients’ workouts according to their specific goals, strengths, and limitations and have plenty of time to fine tune their form so they aren’t just mindlessly going through the motions. We do really well with beginners and the over 40 crowd who have struggled at other fitness centers or felt their needs haven’t been heard or addressed.

There really are many great places to workout in the Triangle, but one thing that sets us apart from other fitness businesses that our customers really appreciate is our clear, pay as you go pricing. We have one simple rate regardless of how frequently the customer is able to attend, and there is no minimum purchase required to get a favorable rate.

This is basically unheard of in the fitness industry, where unposted, variable pricing, 3-12 month commitments or recurring memberships with 30 days cancelation policies are the norms. Our customers continue to choose us because they enjoy the workouts and are happy with their results, not because they are locked into a contract. We earn their business every time they walk through the door. And in uncertain times, new customers are able to try us out with no pressure and zero risks.

Pricing:

• 60-min personal training session: $56
• 45-min personal training session: $42
• 30-min personal training session: $28
• 30-min initial consultation: FREE

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://ignitefitnessapex.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignitefitnessapex/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ignitefitnessapex