

The Business of Boutique Fitness
Lise Kuecker
I’m Lise Kuecker, a long time Studio Owner turned founder here at Studio Grow. Just a few years ago, I was building my studios the hard way cause I didn’t have the team, the budget, or most importantly the time. If you speed up to today, I sold my wildly profitable studios in the mid-7 figures while serving my community in ways I could have only dreamed. Now, I work with thousands of boutique fitness studio owners in over 40 countries and am so blessed to share some of the best tested strategies for our industry every single week. I created this podcast so you’d always have clear, actionable processes, tried and tested Facebook advice and some good ole fashioned inspiration so that you can take simple actionable steps to grow your studio and turn it into a powerhouse empire, just like I did. If you’re a studio owner who's ready to impact your community and see major growth in the process, or you’re prepping to become one, then you are in the right place. So let’s kick this off, shall we?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 26, 2023 • 14min
583: Retention: The Reality and How to Change It
The hosts discuss strategies for improving member retention by building community, implementing referral programs, and tracking KPIs. They explore the impact of retention on mental health, importance of strategic planning and club culture. They also discuss strategies like goal-setting sessions and providing roadmaps for member retention in boutique fitness studios.

Oct 19, 2023 • 51min
582: Lise Interview Felicia Alexander
Felicia Alexander, Founder of Box Union and strategic brain behind Title Boxing Club's success, shares insights on long-term planning, sourcing the right stuff for your studio, pandemic pivot strategies, franchising tips, and building a die-hard community in the boutique fitness industry. Tune in to learn how to scale your studio into something epic.

Oct 12, 2023 • 38min
581: 180 Degree Turnaround for Boutique Fitness Human Resources: Your Teachers, Trainers and How To Avoid Wanting to Fire Them All
This podcast discusses the importance of building a strong team in the boutique fitness industry and the challenges of managing instructors. It emphasizes the need for effective leadership, clear job descriptions, and a streamlined hiring process. The chapter also highlights the importance of training and onboarding fitness instructors for long-term success in the industry.

Oct 5, 2023 • 19min
580: 180 Degree Turnaround for Boutique Fitness Human Resources - The Front Desk
This podcast discusses the significant role of the front desk team in boutique fitness studios, including their impact on brand perception, revenue generation, and client impressions. It explores ways to empower and hire the right front desk team members, as well as the importance of comprehensive onboarding and training programs. The podcast also highlights the role of the front desk team in creating personalized experiences, fostering client relationships, and contributing to client satisfaction and retention.

Sep 28, 2023 • 15min
579: 180 Degree Turnaround for Boutique Fitness Human Resources - the Sales Team
Learn the secret sauce for a killer sales team in the boutique fitness industry. Explore the importance of processes, soft skills, emotions, and the perfect blend of discipline and flair. Discover the role of regular practice and training, as well as role-playing development, in achieving sales success.

6 snips
Sep 21, 2023 • 24min
578: 180 Degrees of Boutique HR - The New Org Chart
Explore the challenges of building a successful team in the boutique fitness industry. Learn about the different stages of studio development and the roles needed at each stage. Discover the importance of a marketing director and a regional director in sustaining growth. Understand the demands and challenges of working in boutique fitness. Gain insights into the transition from being a studio owner to delegating tasks and the role of a virtual assistant in alleviating workload.

Sep 14, 2023 • 24min
577: Studio Surge - Unveiling Growth Strategies and Transformative Insights around a Multi-Studio Expansion
577: Studio Surge - Unveiling Growth Strategies and Transformative Insights around a Multi-Studio Expansion Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode: Beth Potter introduces the upcoming series on boutique HR and shares a personal story about her husband's growth in the industry. Brent shares his experience of growing from 5 to 13 studios and the challenges involved with integrating new teams and processes. Brent explains the leadership strategies he implemented, such as accountability ladders and lead trainers, to develop his team. Brent emphasizes the importance of replicating processes and the member journey to maintain consistency across all locations. Brent discusses how his team overcame the influx of membership cancellations during the pandemic by focusing on building relationships and culture. Beth asks Brent how he manages his dedication to his team and provides advice on communication protocols and work-life balance. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-potter-5a990461/ https://www.instagram.com/studiogrowco https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-potter-6a6b98193/ https://studiogrow.co/

Sep 7, 2023 • 29min
576: A Journey of personal and business growth. Meet Kim Paxton who is building a classical pilates business in Australia.
Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode: Kim explains how her training in classical ballet informs her approach to classical Pilates and why she prefers this method. Kim discusses her desire to become a business owner, her lack of prior business experience, and the challenges she faced in opening and growing her Pilates studio. Kim emphasizes the importance of staying true to the tradition of classical Pilates and passing on an authentic product to clients and future generations. Links: https://au.linkedin.com/in/kim-paxton-95592a17 https://www.thepilatesstudioblackwood.com.au/ https://studiogrow.co/

Aug 31, 2023 • 39min
575: Forging a Place For Female Leadership in Fitness: Meet Andrea Bell, Inspire Brands Asia Partner and Anytime Fitness Master Franchisor and Learn What's Factors Are Driving Success For Women in Fitness
Ever had one of those days where juggling even a handful of fitness classes feels like a whirlwind? Oh, trust me, I've been there, and I've got the coffee stains on my shirt to prove it! But imagine, just for a second, being the driving force behind 340 fitness studios. (Mind-blowing, right?) In EPISODE 575, we’re entering the world of Andrea Bell, the wonder woman who brought Anytime Fitness to Asia. And no, that's not a typo - we're talking about 340 locations! Here’s what we’re chatting about: Anytime Fitness Takes on Asia: Andrea's journey of turning a dream into 340 bustling Anytime Fitness clubs. It's a story you won't want to miss. The Real Deal on Team Building: The highs, lows, and absolute "did that just happen?" moments. Boutique Fitness Vibes: Discover the unique rhythm of fitness in Asia. (It's not what you'd expect.) The Ownership Tango: Owning 30% of those fitness hubs? Yep, it’s a tale with twists. US vs. Asia - Fitness Showdown: Different continents, contrasting cultures. Intrigued? I thought you might be. Dive deep with me into EPISODE 575 and let's uncover these stories together with a dash of excitement and a sprinkle of curiosity. With Grit and Gratitude, Lise PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! Links: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/andrea-bell-97275bb4 https://www.inspirebrandsasia.com/about-us/ https://studiogrow.co/

Aug 24, 2023 • 49min
574: From Investor to Acquisition: Meet Desiree Guillard-Young and Walk Alongside Her Path to a 3 Studio Acquisition and New Role As Director of People for FitLab
574: From Investor to Acquisition: Meet Desiree Guillard-Young and Walk Alongside Her Path to a 3 Studio Acquisition and New Role As Director of People for FitLab Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode: Lisa Kueckerintroduces her guest, Desiree Gulliard-Young, as a powerhouse and a leader in the fitness industry. Desiree discusses her athletic background and how it prepared her for her professional career, as well as her experience in corporate America, specifically in talent acquisition and leadership development. Lisa and Desiree discuss how Desiree became an investor in Sanctuary Fitness and how her background in talent acquisition and leadership development prepared her for her role as Director of People Operations. Desiree discusses some of the lessons she's learned in leadership, including the importance of meeting employees where they are and adjusting leadership strategies accordingly. Desiree discusses the challenges and opportunities she faced when transitioning from corporate America to a startup environment, including the importance of assessing current state and learning the business before making any major changes. Links: http://www.linkedin.com/in/desireeguilliardyoung https://www.instagram.com/desi_spice49/ https://studiogrow.co/