We opened Ampersand in November 2014 with a private loan.
The loan came from a mentor we’d asked to invest in us and our dream. After several attempts at a business plan, he finally said yes. He loaned us a fraction of what we’d asked him for and said make it work. Our loan was personally guaranteed, which means… whether you make it or not, you owe that money back. We felt like we hit the lottery, we were excited, but the risk was scary. We had to make it.
Our small budget (especially compared to what it would take to open a typical big box gym) was actually an advantage: Instead of focusing on all the fancy equipment and mirrors, we could only afford to buy the basic equipment and focused our efforts on our coaching and our community.
Since we didn’t have the means for a marketing budget, we relied on giving great coaching and the best experience possible to help spread the word about Ampersand! And that meant we had to DELIVER.
The day finally came. We got our equipment. We started painting, moving heavy flooring, and we got to work.
We made a lot of noise, we programmed fun workouts, and we got people FIT!
We’ve been open for years now, and while we’ve upgraded some equipment, you still won’t find rows of “typical” gym machines. Instead, you’ll see people doing burpees, squats, pull ups, deadlifts etc… Because that’s what actually works.
When you come to our gym, you will see a lot of open space. You may ask yourself, “Why?” or “Where are all the machines?” Results require movement and movement requires lots of space! If you want to get fit or healthy you are going to be moving a lot and it doesn’t require fancy equipment.
Everyone who comes into Ampersand has, at some point, visited or been a member at another gym. When we sit down and talk about their goals and their struggles, almost all of them say, “I enjoyed it for a while, but I just didn’t see any results.” There were lots of things that drew them to those gyms… Maybe it was the fancy machines, or the super swole guy at the front desk, or it was the cheapest option… But eventually they had to make a decision for themselves, and that was to find a coach.
Real coaches, professional coaches… the ones whose livelihood depends on getting results for their clients use things like bodyweight movements, rowers, barbells, boxes, and most importantly science based nutrition strategies. They chose what works over what’s “typical”. They adjust workouts and movements to fit each client, based on their needs and goals.
At Ampersand we have everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
You are in and out in an hour. No wasted time, no wasted space, and lots of coaching!
We are glad we started basic and focused on results. Because the results speak for themselves. Our clients are doing well and are far more fit and healthy than they were when they were at those budget big box gyms. We may not look like a traditional “gym” but thats part of our secret. Come in and see for yourself!
Inspiration provided by Catalystgym.com