Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcia Strange.
Hi Marcia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My husband and I were living in Mobile, AL for his job in the US Coast Guard when I stumbled across Crew Fitness. I attended the very first 5:30 am class at the original Mobile location and was addicted. My husband and I became instructors a year later.
As our time in Mobile was coming to an end, we decided to take a chance and open a location here in Houston. After a long journey of permitting and build-outs, we opened our Heights studio in March 2019. We had a great first year building and enjoying our community before we were hit with a pandemic.
It’s now been two years of navigating our small business through a pandemic, and we are finally feeling some relief. It was tough but with the support of our members and staff, we worked tirelessly to provide a safe space where we could all continue to maintain our mental health and fitness through a period of uncertainty.
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?
Our first struggles came with permitting and build out. I was a teacher for 15 years so entrepreneurship was new to me. We signed our lease for the studio space in 2017 and fought the permitting battle until we opened in March of 2019.
Our biggest struggle has been navigating the fitness space through a pandemic. From streaming workouts during lockdown, to creating COVID protocols, and now working to meet our pre-COVID membership goals when people’s fitness routines have changed. We are optimistic that people are finally ready to ditch their at home workouts and get back into a group setting.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the owner and operator of Crew Fitness Mobile. As the manager of the studio, I wear quite a few hats. I manage and train all of our instructors and front desk employees.
I oversee the programing of the workouts and create playlist to compliment the workouts.
I manage sales and memberships.
I coach 10+ classes a week.
I coordinate events and collaborations with local businesses.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you are looking to start your own business, my advice would be work on building a strong team. Curate a group of like minded individuals that are just as excited to be a part of your dream as you are. Remember that you are most successful working “on” your business and not always “in” your business. When you can get to that point, you can truly start to grow.
Pricing:
- First Class at Crew Fitness is $10
- New Clients can row their 1st month unlimited for $99
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.crew-fitness.com/crew-hou
- Instagram: @crewfitness1
- Other: Spotify: Marcia@Crew
