Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Marek.
Hi Candace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a business owner for most of my adult life, starting my first business at 24 years old. Over the years I have owned multiple franchise locations, worked as an Area Developer, invested in real estate and eventually found my way back to something that had always been a big part of my life: fitness.
I opened AKT Brier Creek in 2020, which was certainly an interesting year to open a fitness studio. The journey since then has had plenty of challenges, but it has also changed me in ways that I didn’t expect. I originally went into AKT thinking of myself primarily as the business owner. Over time, I decided to get more involved and I started teaching classes and taking on Personal Training clients. I fell in love with being an instructor/trainer and being directly involved in creating the experience our members have when they walk through the doors.
Today I teach five days a week and I am very hands-on with everything we do. I love creating workouts, playlists and special experiences, but my favorite part is the people. I get to see our members become stronger and more confident, watch friendships develop and form some very special relationships myself.
I’ve owned businesses for over 20 years, but AKT has become much more personal to me than anything I’ve done before. It’s a business, but it’s also a place and a community that I genuinely care about, and I think that’s ultimately how I got to where I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have owned several businesses throughout my life and AKT has by far been the most challenging. We opened during COVID, worked through a difficult economy and went through major changes within the Franchise, eventually leading me to operate independently.
One of the biggest lessons for me has been realizing that you can work incredibly hard, be passionate about what you do and truly believe in the product you offer, but that still doesn’t mean running the business will be easy. The challenges also constantly change. You can finally feel like you have solved one problem and something completely different comes along that requires you to adjust again.
I think that has forced me to become a better business owner. I’ve had to learn to be flexible, make difficult decisions, try new things and also recognize when something isn’t working and needs to change. I am still learning that today and I constantly try to evolve and do better.
In some ways, the difficult road has made me even more connected to AKT. When you have invested so much of yourself into something and have built relationships with the people who are a part of it, it becomes much more than simply walking away when things get hard. There have certainly been struggles along the way, but there have also been a lot of really meaningful moments that remind me why I continue to do it.
We’ve been impressed with AKT Brier Creek, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
AKT Brier Creek is a boutique fitness studio in Raleigh, NC offering Group Fitness, Personal Training and Nutrition support. Our workouts are challenging and results-focused, but we also put a lot of emphasis on making fitness fun. We use great music, high energy and a variety of workout styles so that coming to class feels like an experience and not just another workout.
Over the years, AKT has continued to evolve. While the brand was originally known primarily for dance-based fitness, today our workouts incorporate strength training, cardio, functional movement, core work and more. I am very involved in creating my own programs, workouts and playlists because I really want every member in my classes to have the best experience. Our Trainers also bring their own personalities, strengths and teaching styles to the studio, which gives our members a lot of variety.
What I think really sets us apart is the personal connection and the community. We know our members, we know their stories and we genuinely care about them. Of course I love seeing someone become physically stronger or reach a fitness goal, but watching someone gain confidence, develop friendships or simply leave class happier than when they arrived is equally important to me. I think the combination of a great workout, a fun experience and genuine connection is what makes AKT Brier Creek special.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I would consider myself a risk-taker, but more of a calculated one. I don’t typically make major decisions impulsively. I like to research, think things through and understand what I am getting into…but I also know that at some point you have to be willing to take the chance.
I took my first major risk when my husband and I decided to open our first business. Since then, we expanded to multiple locations, invested in real estate and I eventually made the decision to leave a business I had spent over 15 years building because I was ready for something different. Opening AKT was another major risk, as was choosing to continue operating it independently after so many changes within the Franchise.
As I’ve gotten older and gained more business experience, I’ve realized there is rarely a perfect time or a guarantee that something is going to work. You gather as much information as you can, weigh what you could gain against what you could lose and make the best decision you can at the time.
I also think there is risk in not making a change. Some of the biggest decisions I’ve made have been a little scary at the time, but they have also led me into completely new chapters that I never would have experienced otherwise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theakt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaktbriercreek/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aktbriercreek/
