MAXIMIZING BRAND INFLUENCE

My first gym was a nightmare before it was a dream come true.

It took us 17 months to gain our first 1000 members. It was painfully slow.

But by month 50, we had grown to 100,000 members. And I could achieve this only because I tuned out armchair experts telling me to compromise on my training model.

Starting your own gym based around training at its core and focusing on the quality of your product is easier said than done.?

With high investment costs, inflation on the rise, stagnant membership fees, and the sheer difficulty of establishing your brand amidst long-standing industry giants, I completely understand the hurdles that are inevitable on any entrepreneurial journey, especially for the physical activity sector.

But after going through the machine and coming out the other side thriving with multi-continental gym chains, I want to let you know that it absolutely can be done and it is well worth the perseverance.

Now, I want to share my experience in creating and scaling businesses from the ground up, with invaluable insights from guests who have done the same around the world.

My new podcast, the Samir Kapoor Show, is out now and believe me when I tell you I wish I had access to this knowledge back when I started out.

And who better to inaugurate the show than the Founder of the world-renowned fitness and supplements brand MARCHON?

My latest sit-down with Oliver Marchon left me with quite a few lessons on how growing a business in the fitness space is more than just real estate or equipment; it’s all about the people.

The Art of Community

On our way to film the podcast, my crew and I received 6 free coffees at The Yard in Harpenden – all because we told them we’d be joined by Oliver Marchon for our podcast.

This is just one example of how Ollie’s created not just a business, but an entire community of supporters.

But it’s more than just the local community that roots for him, members around the world vouch for MARCHON? and what the brand represents. I dove deep into how Ollie’s managed to transform his business from its humble first gym in a Harpenden cattle shed to a worldwide hit with fans around the world, and found gold nuggets of entrepreneurial advice that resonate through most industries today.

• Dream teams are created, not recruited:

Businesses need talent. Finding people who want to work with you is the easy part, retaining true talent that’s aligned with your goals is harder.

Developing and nurturing skilled employees who can foster the ROI that you and clients both want is the business' responsibility.

We talk about the effort that Ollie took to ensure every coach they hire meets MARCHON’s elite standards and helps their clients achieve their fullest potential.

• How prudent planning prevented pandemic-failure:

While many still debate the validity of online training for an ultimately physical activity, MARCHON’s mixed online-offline business model demonstrated how members can keep supporting the business without leaving their homes, even in the fitness industry.

• World class success needs a world class product:

Creating a globally successful brand means understanding exactly what people want. Fitness is an umbrella term that encompasses a lot more than physique.

Helping your clients involves understanding the What, Why, How, and When of their goals to escort them from where they are to where they could be.

The result? A successful product that clients stand by and would be more than happy to recommend to their network.

• Personal branding pays off:

While MARCHON started off as Ollie’s brainchild, it’s now grown to a large team of people developing their personal brands even in niches like nutrition.

This helps the team experience personal growth and informs the world that MARCHON is a growing brand with expertise in all areas related to the core product.

• Hustle mindset:

Today, as entrepreneurs are split between ‘hustlers’ and coat-tail riders, we talk about the detriments that hustle culture manifests in the people who aren’t sufficiently determined and often lack the predisposition needed to grind, and the potential benefits that could come from leaving no stone unturned to ensure your brand tastes the success you know it’s meant to achieve.

• Fitness isn’t reserved for the ‘physically elite’:

Ollie and I discussed how fitness can look different for everyone. While 10K marathons and HYROX are a fitting goal for some, simply regaining full-body movement could be the best goal for others.

Having a product that can help anyone, no matter their requirements, adds to why members around the world love MARCHON.

• Standing out in saturated markets:

The supplements market has long been oversaturated, but a well-researched high-quality product, uniqueness, and most of all – branding has helped MARCHON? stay on top of the game despite tough competition.

Our conversation touched upon advice that every entrepreneur needs on how brands can truly connect with their people and have more than mere members, but a community of their own. Ollie sums it up best:

Tune into my new podcast to hear Ollie’s journey and how he nourished MARCHON into the powerful brand it is today. Catch the secrets to setting up successful businesses on The Samir Kapoor Show out now on YouTube, Spotify and Amazon Music.