Gravity doesn't bring Kovalcik & Walsh down

General hours for businesses are normally 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. But for Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh, co-founders of Gravity Vault, that just isn’t enough time. 10- and 12-hour days are what these gentlemen put in to make sure their indoor rock climbing franchise is running on all cylinders. Opening a rock climbing business has been a learning experience for both Kovalcik and Walsh from the very start. Early on, the two decided that they wanted to open a couple of gyms before signing their first franchisee, meaning that they spent many years and countless hours of planning to reach their goal. Nine years later, the duo’s love for the sport has translated into ongoing success, including the successful launch of the franchise, the signing of their first franchisee, and being named New Jersey State Small Business People of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. “We are blessed to have a fantastic staff at Gravity Vault — surrounding yourself with great people and placing your employees in the best positions to excel is vital to all operations,” says Walsh. “Sometimes it’s tough for business owners to understand that they can’t be good at everything, and I think we've done a good job putting the right people in the right places.” In addition to a fantastic staff, the community plays a huge part in Gravity Vault’s success. Kovalcik and Walsh said they are always looking to give back to the community that has given so much to them. “Doing what you love makes the days, months, and years more enjoyable,” said Kovalcik. “Working long hours and staying on top of the rock climbing industry is actually enjoyable for us. The general population has learned to love the sport as much as we have in our nine years of business, and we appreciate that.” Kovalcik and Walsh continue to climb to the top as they look for more passionate business people to join them in their expansion plans. By always keeping catalogs of tasks that need to be completed, it’s only a matter of time before they cross their biggest goal — opening Gravity Vaults across the country — off their lists.