Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Nohr.
Jay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been a certified trainer for a little over six years. I’ve worked at both private gyms and corporate gyms. I changed to a new big name gym back in November of 2019. It was then a few months later, I met a new coach who, at the time, was a retired professional boxer. Her and I really liked each other’s training styles and had clients that would do both strength training with me and boxing training with her.
Then COVID comes. Like many other trainers and gyms, we got laid off around April 2020. Because we became friends at the gym, we continued to train with each other and others outside at the park. I can’t exactly remember who it was, but one of us joked “wouldn’t it be cool if we opened our own gym?”
A few weeks later, I got the opportunity to do just that. I asked her “you remember when we joked about having our own gym? You want to?” We found a space and started the build out of the space. We did the build out mostly ourselves. Spending sometimes 12-14 hours a day creating a gym for clients and trainers to bring clients, built by trainers. Six weeks later, we officially opened July 13. 2020…right in the middle of a pandemic.
Of course, there was some speculation. While gyms are closing down, we were opening one up. A private training space for trainers and clients. A service that requires you to be with people. Believe or not, the demand was there.
With gyms closed people went out and starting building their own. Turning spare rooms and garages into fitness studios. However, people new to fitness didn’t exactly know where to begin. Aimlessly picking up weights doing a few reps and some HIIT programs they saw from an influencer on Instagram. As trainers, we knew people would want some guidance. That’s where we could fill that void, that need. We strictly adhered to COVID guidelines which also set us apart from other private training facilities and gyms when they started to open. I firmly believe it was our ability to offer quality training (all coaches are CPR certified, go through background checks, and certified or have fight/competition experience) at an affordable price in a safe, clean, and private space that led to our initial success.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening any new business, there always going to be challenges and obstacles. Opening during a pandemic created many more.
Initially, it was how are we going to get equipment? With gyms closed, there was a huge demand for fitness equipment. Many places being sold out or selling for far above retail. Being a small business which we funded 100% out of our own pocket. We had to be conscious of prices. Often times there was many late nights. Scouring the internet at 3am, 4am, even 6am in the morning looking for flash deals and outbidding people. We did it though, we got what we needed to open the gym.
Another challenge was, how are we going to get people to come here? It’s a pandemic. Guidance being to avoid many people and prolonged exposure to people. Yet to really focus on your overall health. Financially people were struggling. Having to cut things they thought were maybe ‘luxury’ items, personal training certainly would be on the chopping block for those who did it before and those who wanted to start now. People had concerns with gyms opening up and there being a lot of people in a space. Those who have been training and those who wanted to start improving their health were eager to get to a gym. We were able to answer that call on that we offered a private training space and affordable training.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a private training space that offers quality, affordable training without you having to donate a kidney. All of our coaches are CPR/First Aid certified and our certified personal trainers or have fight/competition experience (for our boxing and martial arts coaches). We offer services ranging from strength conditioning, sports performance, weight management, self-defense, martial arts, boxing, youth programs, and training for adaptive athletes.
What I’m very proud of is our brand is very welcoming. Some can feel intimated walking into a gym. Since we’re a private training space, its the client and the coach. By providing a personable experience we really set ourselves apart from other gyms and training spaces.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love about Miami is the variety. Different cultures really bring a level of intrigue and excitement into a city. From the food, experiences, and so much more!
What I like least, the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Email: admin@ironfistgymllc.com
- Website: ironfistgymllc.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/ironfistgymllc
