Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauna Nokes.
Hi Shauna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband, Ryan, and I purchased SPENGA North Raleigh about a year and a half ago. Having a career in fitness wasn’t ever actually part of my life plan. But over the years that Ryan and I have been married, he and I have both had experiences that have caused us to take a greater interest in health and fitness. For me, I’m a mom of 4, and I started exercising when I was pregnant with my second child. I was amazed at how much it helped me through my pregnancy as well as post-partum. I wouldn’t say I was a fitness fanatic, by any means. More like I saw the value in it and recognized how it improved the way I felt. But time is also limited for me, so having a routine that is efficient and effective really matters to me. Ryan has had a number of health challenges over the years that have caused him to make drastic changes in his diet, and he found that regular exercise also made a big impact on managing his symptoms. Ryan has always loved martial arts, but as we get older, he was sustaining more and more injuries that he didn’t recover from as fast as he used to. When we found SPENGA, it was such a great fit for both of us. Expert instructors, well-planned workout, fast and efficient, and just the right amount of intensity while still being a low impact (meaning low injury-risk) workout. We loved it and knew we wanted to share SPENGA with our community because it so perfectly balances all the key components of a solid fitness routine. When it came up for sale, we knew we wanted to contribute to that legacy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We had owned other businesses in the past, but a fitness studio was new for us. There was a lot we had to learn. Marketing, customer retention, finding the right employees, etc. We’ve made mistakes along the way, for sure. The marketing partner we started with wasn’t very good and we weren’t as successful as we needed to be at getting our name and service out to the community. This meant that Ryan had to go back to a corporate job, leaving me to primarily run the studio, all while still being a homeschooling mom of 4! It’s been a lot of work, a lot of late nights, and a lot of stress trying to balance everything in life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the majority of the last 11 years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom. Ryan ran his own business in software training and data consulting, and I ran all his back office operations. I was essentially HR and finance. All that I’ve done has essentially been self-taught, but I work hard to learn the skills that helped ensure the details of his company ran smoothly and he could focus on his clients and their needs.
Ryan and I owned a home services business together in the early years of our marriage and I always joke that was my MBA in small business. There were hours of teaching myself to run quickbooks, send invoices, run payroll, onboard employees, and so much more. When we bought SPENGA, the plan actually was that Ryan would run the business and I would support in the background as I always have before, but that’s not how things have played out and I’ve really become the one who is primarily managing the studio. I’m proud of the changes and improvements I’ve been able to help produce in the studio. We’ve really grown the community aspect of the studio and helping people feel connected. It’s been immensely fulfilling to hear the difference that SPENGA is making in the lives of our members. I feel really proud to know that what we are doing really matters to people.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Getting to know people individually makes a huge difference in this business. Seeing people as people and not just as customers goes a long way. I really care about each of our members feeling seen and supported. I encourage my staff to connect personally with those in the studio. I try to know the names of as many people as possible and greet them by name.
Pricing:
- We offer different membership tiers ranging from $99-185 per month
- We also offer packages of classes
- We have special discounts available for teachers, nurses, military, first responders, seniors, and students.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://northraleighnc.spenga.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/spenganorthraleigh
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@spenganorthraleigh
