Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Baccaro.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve worked with business management my whole life and I’ve learned that we should always benefit from the opportunities that show up along our way rather than trying to plan everything ahead in this fast-paced world full of changes and growing competition.
The idea of opening The Cage club came from its location opportunity. In early 2016, there were no Kickboxing gyms in Brickell. At the same time, the popularity of martial arts as a workout for regular people had been raising due to its benefits, such as weight loss, muscle toning and entertainment.
If we would look back 10 years ago, most people would go to conventional gyms to lift weights, but we started to realize that better results could be obtained in shorter time while having fun in a class style workout where you can explore different sensations, interact with other people, and stay protected from any risk of injuries.
Brickell is growing fast and today is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Miami. The spot at 1060 Brickell Avenue where The Cage is located is perfect because it is right in the center of Brickell, with easy access to anyone that works or lives here.
The Cage today is a community of people that share the same ideas, enjoy having a healthy lifestyle, and has the gym as a routine destination, where they can release their stress, meet friends, and stay comfortable on a laid back environment.
From beginners to experts, nobody is ever exposed if can’t complete all repetitions or if is still learning the techniques. The classes are structured to be extremely challenging, with short breaks, keeping everyone with a high heart rate while providing an intense full body workout in 1 hour. This style pushes anyone to bring their best.
Besides having a unique and astonishing workout, our prices are extremely lower than the average, always being fair to our customers. We also offer free valet for everyone’s convenience. The Cage innovates on each class and brings everyone together with social events for members to network with like-minded individuals.
Has it been a smooth road?
I moved from Brazil about 2 years ago, so I am still kind of new in the area. Making the right connections took time. The biggest challenge I have faced so far was finding the right service suppliers, especially marketing partners to affiliate with. I end up in the hands of companies that are strong in sales but literally don’t provide what they promise. In our business model, 90% of our members come from referrals. Nothing replaces a happy member. If I had to rely on marketing companies, my business would probably be closed today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Cage Boxing & BootCamp – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
One of our biggest differentials is having our classes taught by professional fighters. Most gyms use personal trainers that lack fighting experience so they don’t have the background to teach real techniques and how to apply it to real-life situations. Students also end up running the risk of injury due to their lack of expertise and guidance. Any exercise needs proper orientation by someone with expertise and certification and that’s something we strive to provide our members. We are also the only gym in the area that provides free gloves and wraps rental. We are truly committed to our members’ safety and satisfaction. We believe anyone that comes for a free trial class should be able to experience our workout with proper equipment in a commitment-free environment that forces them to make an expensive purchase for gloves and wraps. Besides that, parking in Brickell can be scarce and expensive yet we offer free valet. Our schedule is also the largest going from Monday to Sunday; adapting to the busy lifestyles of our members and encouraging them to take even more classes. Even with everything extra that we offer, our price is significantly lower than our competition.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Miami is a dream city. Everything here cannot be better. The people are so warm and happy. Brickell is beautiful, full of interesting places to go. You can easily walk everywhere and find all you need. I have no complaints at all.
Pricing:
- Membership for unlimited group classes: $128/month
- Package of 10 group classes: $192/no expiration date
- Page of 10 private classes: $800/no expiration date
Contact Info:
- Address: 1060 Brickell Avenue – Mezzanine Floor – Miami FL 33131
- Website: www.thecageboxingclub.com
- Phone: (305) 395-8676
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecageboxing/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecageboxing/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCageBoxing?lang=en
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cage-boxing-club-miami
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
