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The Business of Boutique Fitness

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?
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Now displaying: 2022
Dec 15, 2022

These are some of the key trends and findings that I’ll highlight in this episode:

  • Which sectors have seen exceptional growth in 2022 (and which ones haven’t) 

  • Why human resources will be the most important conversation we have next year

  • The industry-wide problem with retention rates and what’s on the horizon

  • The sales process that’s our only way forward in 2023

  • The radical shift in digital marketing which affected the studio industry (& what the new marketing funnel will look like in 2023).

If you want 2023 to be the year you witness unmitigated, unparalleled growth, tune in now to learn, assess and understand what’s on the horizon for the boutique fitness industry and start planning for next year ASAP!

Dec 8, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode:

  • How the iOS 14 update impacted advertising and marketing 

  • The rise of in-platform marketing and how it can benefit business owners

  • The best digital marketing funnel strategies to adopt right now (+ examples of what worked and what didn’t for Studio Grow clients)

  • Why your follow-up system is more important than ever before right now & how SMS messaging can play a role in this process

  • The 2 metrics that make marketing on TikTok totally worth it

Y’all, if you’re in the process of building out your marketing strategies for 2023 right now, this is advice you cannot afford to miss. Go grab a notebook and start listening now!

LINKS:

https://www.successfuladsclub.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-zirker-23a24035/

Nov 24, 2022

Here’s what we’re covering in Episode 543:

  • Why it’s important to divide your New Year’s goals into 3 key categories

  • Why your professional goals need to be separate from your business goals

  • The best approach for setting business goals (& understanding what you need to improve to move the needle in your business)

  • How to break your goals into S.M.A.R.T ones (& how further education can help bring them to life)

  • Tips for identifying and overcoming obstacles, starting right now 

If you’re ready to dive into goal-setting for the new year and set goals you’ll actually achieve this time, grab a notebook and tune in now!

Nov 17, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode:

  • A closer look at some amazing Black Friday results for our Studio Grow clients 

  • What “sales stacking” is and how you can get the most out of this strategy 

  • Why a membership-oriented promotion is your best strategy for Black Friday 

  • A few examples of what to offer on each of the 5 days of the “Black Friday loop” 

  • Some strategies that we started testing last year and the results that we achieved 

  • What are the two audiences that you should be focusing on during your Black Friday promotions

  • Where to market your Black Friday offers, plus examples of social media posts that you can use

LINKS:

https://studiogrow.co/blackfriday

https://studiogrow.co/episode541/ 

Nov 10, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in Episode 541:

  • The 5-day Black Friday loop and what you need to know about it as a studio owner 
  • My personal history with this holiday and what I’ve learned over the years
  • Black Friday marketing strategies I’ve adopted with my studios
  • Ideas and case studies you can get inspired by
  • What you can do this week to start prepping for Black Friday

If you’re ready to bring in dozens of new leads this Black Friday and turn them into long-term evangelists, you can’t miss this one. Tune in now to start listening!

LINKS:

https://studiogrow.co/blackfriday 

Nov 3, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode:

  • The real purpose that developing a budget has in your business 

  • The 5 benefits of budgeting for the health of your business

  • How budgeting will empower you as the CEO of your studio 

  • 3 steps to take to start developing your own budget right now 

  • Which categories you should be including in your budget
Oct 27, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in Episode 539:

  • The most common business objections around money and how it could be holding you back
  • The stories we tell ourselves about raising our prices and what you can do to change that narrative
  • Tips for starting a business with debt (and how you can utilize it in your favor)
  • How to incorporate cash infusions into your business right now

If you feel like you’re ready to get out of your way and rewrite the money stories you tell yourself, grab your headphones and tune in now!

Oct 20, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in Episode 538:

  • The key aspects of building an exceptional workplace for your team
  • What to include in a job description (and why clarity is everything here)

  • Do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when posting your job description

  • How to create and use a hiring matrix that helps you zero in on your strongest candidate

  • A list of interview questions that can help you hire better

If you’re ready to get the right people on your bus and build something truly special, start listening now!

LINKS:

Good to Great by Jim Collins

Oct 13, 2022

Here’s what you can expect from this episode:

  • A few basic things you can do right now to protect yourself using insurance 

  • Why insurance is good for day-to-day operations while helping you grow your business {and not just for traumatic events}

  • Some of the insurance products that a boutique fitness studio owner needs to think about purchasing 

  • Common scenarios that could occur that business owners do not necessarily think about, and what should be in place to be prepared for these situations 

  • How to go about finding the right insurance as a new or established business

Curious to know what types of insurance your business needs? Take a look at this Guide by Gild Insurance. It outlines the different types of business insurance and presents the options which may be best for your wellness business.

Click here if want to learn more about Gild and how it can help you future-proof your business!

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

https://yourgild.com/insurance

Oct 6, 2022

Here’s what you can expect from this episode:

  • What a CRM is and why it’s necessary to use one in your business

  • The big questions to ask yourself to make sure you choose the right CRM for you

  • The 3 core features to look for in a CRM, and the elements that people tend to overlook in this process

  • The best ways to manage leads so that they don’t “fall through the cracks”

  • What will kill your referral program and how you can prevent this from happening

  • Key metrics that studio owns should be looking at and how they should show up in your CRM 

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare 

https://momence.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vojta-drmota-84b493166/

Sep 29, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in episode 535:

  • The 3 common reasons behind cancellations and the best way to address them

  • How to put in place communication systems that can handle and prevent cancellations

  • How to build the foundation for preventing a cancellation from Day 1

  • The best way to respond to a cancellation you can’t prevent

Remember, just because someone came in to cancel doesn’t mean they always need to. Tune in now to learn all about how you can retain members when they’re right on the brink of cancellation!

LINKS: 

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

https://fierceinc.com/fierce-conversations/

Sep 22, 2022

Here’s what we’re diving into in this episode:

  • The very first thing to do when setting boundaries in your business

  • How we are always in control of our own boundaries

  • What Beth does to establish boundaries with her team and clients

  • Why it’s a good idea to have clear guidance on response times for your support team

  • Beth’s thoughts on payment and cancellation boundaries

  • Ways to start creating physical boundaries and tips for working at home

  • Why it’s perfectly okay to remove things that aren’t serving you or your business

  • Steps for building new boundaries today

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

Sep 15, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in Episode 533:

  • The mindset shift you need to consider as you prepare yourself for selling your studio

  • What I do differently when I view my business as an investment

  • Why you need to have an exit plan and how it shapes every business decision 

  • How your tax strategy will need to change as you prepare to sell your studio

  • How to approach and nurture prospective buyers

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

https://www.facebook.com/studiogrowco

Sep 8, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode:

  • How Shannon got involved with Profit First, and what inspired her to specialize in the fitness industry

  • A look at Profit First and Why and why she recommends it so strongly for small businesses to use

  • What she sees the most when implementing Profit First with her clients

  • Shannon’s recommendations for studios just starting out or ones that are operating from paycheck to paycheck

  • How often you should do an expense audit as a studio owner and the main metrics that owners need to look at regularly

  • Ways to make reviewing your finances a part of your routine

  • Shannon’s top tips on budgeting, how to find a good bookkeeper, and what to do to ensure profitability for your business

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

https://risinggoddessfitness.com/

https://www.instagram.com/michelle.tenuta/

https://fitforprofit.com/

Sep 1, 2022

Here’s what they’ll be covering:

  • The trajectory of Michelle’s studio and the moment she realized that she needed to focus more on the business side of things

  • A step-by-step look at how she built her first organizational chart and different questions to ask yourself when building yours

  • Tips and advice for a smooth transition from you teaching the class to having one of your instructors take over

  • What to consider when making decisions involving more overhead costs

  • Michelle’s advice for hiring teaching and non-teaching staff

  • Why you’ll want to make profitability your main focus

Tune in to learn how to systematize your studio (and save yourself time, money and energy!)

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare

https://risinggoddessfitness.com/

https://www.instagram.com/michelle.tenuta/

https://theroom.ae/

https://www.instagram.com/peterpastijn/

Aug 25, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in Episode 530:

  • Why it can be harmful to not know your numbers

  • The big mistakes studio owners make around cash flow in business

  • How to get over the mindset of not paying yourself until everyone else is paid

  • What a “profit first” mindset looks like and the first steps towards getting there

  • What Peter realized once he started tracking his payroll and staffing costs

Tune in now to learn how you can become passionate about growing a thriving and sustainable business!

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/dare 

https://theroom.ae/

https://www.instagram.com/peterpastijn/

Profit First for Microgyms: A Simple System for Healthy Cashflow by John Briggs

Aug 18, 2022

Here’s what I’m talking about in Episode 529:

  • Whether you need to raise your prices because of inflation, and if so, how high is too high

  • Shifts in the commercial rental markets to be aware of and how to adjust your business model accordingly

  • Why scholarship-based programs will be so important moving forward

  • Ways to adjust your employee compensation plans and team positions to fully benefit your business model

  • Why having a focus on retail will be so crucial during this upcoming recession

  • Two big things to do now to move your business forward
Aug 11, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in this episode:

  • A closer look at what an exit plan is

  • Why having an exit plan is one of the most important things for you to put into place right now 

  • 6 steps to planning your perfect exit plan

  • What the philosophy of “hire well and train even better” is and what it will allow you to do when executing your exit plan 

LINKS:

https://training.studiogrow.co/challenge-optin

https://studiogrow.co/episode526/

https://studiogrow.co/episode526/

https://studiogrow.co/episode525/

Aug 4, 2022

Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode:

  • 2 pathways for beating your competitors (and why focusing on customer experience is always the best option)

  • How to use customer feedback to improve customer experience

  • Tools that Beth and Heather use to gather feedback

  • How to strike 1-on-1 conversations with members to make them feel seen and heard
  • 4 key areas to focus on when building your client journey.

LINKS:

https://studiogrow.co/episode526/ 

https://studiogrow.co/episode525/

Jul 28, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in Episode 526:

  • What initially led Heather to the fitness industry

  • What she feels is the most influential thing you can do as a leader

  • The tools she uses to help her team establish or pinpoint their strengths

  • Why Heather treats independent contractors the same as employees and the ways that she motivates them to participate in the business

  • How she brings new team members into the mix and has them instantly feel like they are part of the team

  • Actionable steps you can take and start
    implementing today to become a better leader

LINKS: 

https://studiogrow.co/episode525/ 

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Jul 21, 2022

Here’s what we’ll talk about in Episode 525:

  • How the meaning of “lead yourself” has evolved for me over the years 

  • The fundamental differences between a manager and a leader

  • A deeper look into the concept of leading one’s own self
  • The mindset shifts that can help you truly lead yourself

  • What is the Enneagram and how it can help you in this process

You can’t lead others if you don’t lead yourself first. Tune in now to know more about how you can be your own leader, and I’ll see you next time on Part 2 of the leadership series!

Jul 14, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in Episode 524:- 

  • What’s really possible for your studio when it comes to revenue

  • One of the biggest fitness industry myths and how it might be holding you back

  • The monthly breakdown of studios that are hitting 7-figures or $83,000 a month

  • The metrics you need to focus on to measure (and maximize!) your studio’s revenue

  • How I calculate retention and conversion rates and why these numbers matter so much

  • The big mistake most studios with 1:1 clients are making

  • The one number that matters EVEN MORE than your revenue

  • And, why 7-figure revenues don’t matter unless you’re also hitting this one financial goal
Jul 7, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in Episode 523:

  • Why the million-dollar mark may not be the best metric to celebrate

  • What studios with over 50% profit margin look like

  • What are ancillary services and a powerful example of what we did for the studio owners we work with

  • Why the number of clients shouldn’t be the main measure of success for your studio

  • What clients really want…

  • How to calculate the appropriate pay for your teachers, red flags to look for and a whole lot more!

 

Jun 30, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in Episode 522:=

  • A look at what Nia Yoga is

  • How to know when you are ready to host a retreat and where your participants will come from

  • Tips on choosing a location and venue, along with possible red flags to look out for

  • Advantages and disadvantages of doing retreats with other facilitators versus solo

  • Finding a balance in your retreat itinerary

  • Preparation time and theme importance

  • How to create a sense of community between participants

LINKS:

https://www.embodycentralia.com/

http://ibodydenver.com/

https://www.themvmtlab.com/

 

Jun 23, 2022

Here’s what we’re talking about in Episode 521:

  • The four different personality types to market to, and their unique buying characteristics

  • How knowing who you’re selling to will make your marketing easier

  • Spontaneous types base decisions on emotion, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not thought out

  • How do you “seed the experience” to get spontaneous buyers excited?

  • Methodical buyers will go to any length to ensure due diligence when buying

  • What professions tend to attract methodical people?

  • The two things you need to make sure of if you’re doing a one-day sale

  • Humanistic types are swayed by the story

  • Case studies, whether by email, Facebook ad or live stream, are effective ways to tell stories

  • The most important thing you can do with a competitive buyer aka “a deadline dancer”
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