Longtime Friends Share Plans To Create a Family Environment at Local Workout Anytime

Workout Anytime in Greenwood Square, Kentucky has been acquired by local entrepreneurs Kyle Shirley and John Hammers. The friends of over 15 years had been spending time in the gym when they were given the opportunity to purchase the location from its previous owners. Now, Shirley and Hammers have plans to reinvigorate the gym while still maintaining an environment where members can exercise without feeling overcrowded. 

The partners shared their plans to use their local connections in the community to get the word out and highlighted their focus on making Workout Anytime a family-friendly environment. They plan to spend time focusing on bringing in new companies and individuals during non-peak times to not overwhelm capacity. 

1851 Franchise spoke to Shirley and Hammers about their franchising journey with Workout Anytime. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Hammers: Kyle and I both have a real estate background. And we've known each other for around 15 years. One of the best things that ever happened to me was meeting this guy and developing a business together. Over time, we've become really good friends and have grown a pretty stout portfolio. We were going to the gym together, just as accountability for one another. And while we were going to the gym, the previous owners asked us to lunch. They told us that life was taking them in a different direction. This offer came to us, and we thought it would be really neat if we owned a gym. We started looking at the numbers, income and expenses. The more we looked, the more excited we got. We jumped in with both feet, and we're really enjoying what we're doing. We're doing the best we can to be great gym owners. So far, so good. We're having a great time with it, and it's a new opportunity for us and our families. 

Shirley: Our background is a little different; we weren’t necessarily in the gym or the exercise space. We looked at it as an investment, and we're just kind of at a point in life where I think it's gonna be good for both of us. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Shirley: I don’t think we really had one. We knew what the previous owners had told us, and they had a good view on it. They had bought three gyms, so we knew they had a good opinion of it. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Shirley: The feedback from the previous owners; they were good friends of ours. The guy we bought the gym from actually had a hand in getting me into real estate. So his acknowledgment of the brand and willingness to grow it made me look at it. His words behind it meant a lot. They are helping us with training and support, too. John also has a great relationship with the franchise representative for our area, so it was helpful to get his opinion. 

Hammers: Agreed. They have been excellent for us. Without their education and help, we might have passed on it. Kyle’s relationship with them really secured us moving forward with this. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Hammers: What we want to achieve is a really good reputation. We are going to put the brand first. Workout Anytime knows how to operate a gym. If we follow the guidelines, we will be successful. Kyle and I will put our personal stamp on this. We want to get more folks in there, but not to the point where it is too crowded. We’ve got a lot to learn, but we’ll be successful. We might look at multiple locations one day but want to focus on running this one well first. 

Shirley: Over the last eight to 12 months, the previous owners stepped back a bit so we will be able to give it more energy. It's a pretty stable club already, but there’s always room for growth. We want to focus on going after companies and individuals that will be there in non-peak times. That's the best way to grow and not overcrowd it. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Hammers: We came from a real estate background. He and I have grown our friendship and professional relationship for years. We’re going to give it all we’ve got, and we are thankful for the opportunity. 

Shirley: We want people to know that we’re going to make this a family environment. It's not just going to be the owners. It's going to be our families, and we're gonna make it a family because that's what we care about.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Hammers: There’s so much to learn. For example, advertising. We’ve already met with a local TV station. I feel like our gym has been coasting for a little bit and hasn't been aggressive in that area, so we’re looking to get more education on that and grow in that.

Shirley: Support is where the franchise comes in. They'll be able to help us, and coach us a little bit on the best practices and what they’ve found to be the most effective.