Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Marek

Hi Candace, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started running my own business when I was 24 years old. I opened up a Franchise in 2004 with one location and then eventually opened up 3 more locations and became an Area Developer of that Franchise. In that role I sold new licenses and trained the new Franchisees as they opened with ongoing support and training. After being a part of that Franchise for over 15 years I decided I needed change and I ventured into real estate investment properties for long term and short term rentals. This was very much behind the scenes and I realized how much I missed being in the public working with people everyday.

A year later, I decided I wanted to do something I was truly passionate about so I leaned into the world of fitness, as it had been a part of my life since I was 16 years old. I researched different fitness brands and found AKT and decided this would be something I could embrace and felt others would feel the same.

In December of 2019, I purchased the franchise license to operate AKT and planned to be open a couple months later. Unfortunately in March of 2020, the world was hit by COVID and the brakes were pumped on the opening, as well as what our opening was going to look like. We finally got the green light to open in our state in September of 2020, but it was with limited occupancy due to the rules. Opening a gym during a pandemic, let alone a gym that was unheard of, was quite the challenge but I pushed through it. I was in a call group with many other AKT owners that were in the exact same boat as I was and we leaned on each other for support. This business venture was the most challenging experience I have ever been through professionally as there were so many obstacles with the pandemic and many other unexpected surrounding circumstances. I witnessed many other gyms, including all of the AKT’s close down b/c they just could not get it off the ground running. I kept my attitude as positive as possible, tuned out the white noise and fought to stay open.

Here I am over 4 years later, being the only remaining AKT out of over 30 and still going, however I am no longer a part of the Franchise and have branched out on my own. I am fortunate enough to have the passion for what I love, the business experience to work through the hard times and the drive to not let it defeat me. I truly love walking into my business every single day, working with my team and members and I feel so lucky that this is where I am at in my life.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every business has had its challenges no matter what the business.

In my first Franchise, things were so great initially, but the peak of that industry had shifted and what was popular when I first opened, was no longer the case.

In my rental properties, some of the rental rules changed along the way and it became very difficult to rent in the way we used to. So I had to figure out ways to change and get through it, which included selling of some of my short term rentals since that was no longer making business sense.

In my current business, we were faced with COVID, construction delays, inflation, internal changes, etc.,. and I have had to constantly figure out how to keep surviving and getting through it.

With owning your own business, it’s rarely a smooth road but if you can get through the bumps, it will be what keeps rewarding you in the end.

As you know, we’re big fans of AKT Fitness Brier Creek. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a fitness boutique that focuses on Group Fitness. We started out with offering 4 signature classes that were Dance focused, which is what we were eventually known for. We have since then branched out into many other fitness styles and have multiple types of classes to offer. What sets us apart from others is our sincerity and passion that we have for what we do and how we treat our members. We really care and we show up and people usually recognize that about us. I am most proud of our relationships we have with our members, the content that we create and deliver, and the community and environment that we have created in our studio. We also offer personal training, private classes, retail shopping and space rental.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Never give up and fight for the things that you are passionate about.

Pricing:

• We offer Memberships starting at $79/month
• We offer Class Packs
• We offer Private/Personal Training

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theakt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaktbriercreek/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aktbriercreek

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