Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Torres and David Laws.
Michael and David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
HP was started out in 2016 out of Cole Creek Park on the northwest part of town. We had a friend that owned a Pilates studio nearby that would let us use her space to train a few people but it was very small, so we held our Bootcamp’s at the park. We did this for about six months. The Bootcamp wasn’t producing much cash flow and we now understand it was from lack of knowledge For the business. So, with our business failing and dreams slipping away, we made a decision to look for another location, I found a building on 45 North between Calvacade and Patton. The building was in horrible shape, and it was only about 1,000 sq.ft. but the potential was there. We leased the space and renovated it within two weeks. We pulled together all the connections we had to make this happen and any money we had saved. While this was all taking place, I got fired from my job because I was so focused on the gym, I wasn’t doing what I needed to be doing to maintain employment, which was what was currently paying my bills.
David and I were grinding all day every day as if we were broke (which I was). The business took off in a way to where I couldn’t imagine but at the same time I couldn’t see it ending any other way because there was no plan b. We stayed at that building for about 18 months and made a name for ourselves. We nearly hit capacity when I knew it was time to move on. So, I started looking again, I found a 10,000 sq.ft. building less than 2 miles away right off the freeway which was once furniture store and was now a failed indoor soccer arena. I immediately knew this was it. We bought out of our current contract for the building we were at, took out a loan and bought more equipment that we could fit in the new building. Once again, we were broke, with more debt than ever but again, we saw the potential. All of our clients followed us, but now we weren’t just a PT gym. We also were an open gym which made us very unique to the area in which I grew up in. We offered personal training, group training, online training, boot camp, meal plans, meal prep, and supplementation. We offered everything you need to get healthy under one roof from two young men that both grew up with less than we needed. It was a dream come true and still is. As we continue to grow, we continue to get better at what we do. We strive to create an amazing customer service experience that you cannot get anywhere else and that’s what continues to make us stand out and be successful on our mission to get as many Houstonians healthy as possible through proper nutrition and exercise.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
•Not having the proper funds to make things like we wanted/needed them
•Landlords trying to raise the rent after they see a successful business
•Trainers quitting and stealing clientele
•Hiring the right person for the job
•Fixing lead generation issues to continue to bring in revenue for the gym.
•Slow months, praying to make payroll
•Maintaining clients long term
•Clients breaking contracts
•Having to hold friends to contracts and making them understand this is a business
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hero Performance – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Hero Performance is an open gym. We specialize in changing lives physically, mentally and emotionally. We offer personal training, group training, online training, nutrition plans, meal prep service and supplementation. HP has accomplished many things but what I’m most proud of is the number of people we’ve helped get healthy. We’re in Houston where the food is amazing but having that balance and showing our clients how to maintain it is the real win. When you walk through our doors, you are greeted by every employee you cross paths with. We take full responsibility for our mistakes which you don’t see much these days. We give each client the attention they deserve. We’re consistent with what we provide. We strive to be the best in our market place and it definitely shows.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We want to open multiple locations across the city but we have to push this location to max capacity before moving forward. We have around 250 clients, 500 clients would put us a capacity. Within the next six months, there will be a fully functional outside area for outdoor workouts with Turf, squat racks, etc.
Pricing:
- Personal Training $60 per session
- Small Group Training $40 per session
- Large Group Training $159 monthly
- Online Training $100 monthly
- Nutritional Plans $50
- Open Gym $31 monthly
Contact Info:
- Address: 4114 north freeway
Houston, Tx 77022 - Website: Healthclubhouston.com
- Phone: 2819403752
- Email: heroperformance1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hero_performance?r=nametag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeroPerformance1/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/qTKq/SLQgejueJV
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
