Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Spindell.
Bobby, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I guess story starts in Tallahassee FL where I had played division 1 football at Florida state university and unfortunately ran into a career ending back injury. As my pro football dreams came to a screeching end I redirected my attentions to my lifting and education. Graduating from FSU with a BS and exercise science I quickly entered the fitness industry as a personal trainer at Best fitness in Chelmsford, MA. Finding a solid niche there and pumping out upwards of 45 sessions a week I quickly found myself in management and eventually in a director’s position all within a year’s time. Wasn’t long before the corporate fitness world left me feeling unfulfilled as my aspirations laid more in helping clients/athletes accomplish their fitness goals and less about make fancy gyms lots of money. After about 3 years in the corporate world I shifted my practice with about 5 clients, to a small dance studio out of Westford, MA (studio rhythm). I initially branded my product Keystone Fitness and operated during the off hours of this super cute dance studio, in a pink room mind you. After about 2 years and building my client base from 5 to 20. I took the leap and pulled out my first loan and began building my own little studio and rebranding my new gym as Spindell Strength and conditioning in doing so shifting my training style to a smaller strength and conditioning studio with more of an emphasis on performance and less on general fitness, (true to my roots). My clients/athletes were now starting to get more excited about their deadlift numbers and 40-yard dash time and less on the cosmetic fixations. Love it when a plan comes together. After continued growth and interest the gym grew and within 3 years I was ready for my next move. Open my own gym! Some space in my building became available so I took out another loan bought even more equipment and pulled it all together. I built my own gym and not just any gym, but a strength sport performance gym or to those fellow meat heads out there, a “hardcore gym”. Going from 1500 sq. feet to 5500. I now had the space to not only expand my classes but also invite other likeminded iron heads to come and use our facility to help them prepare for the multitude of upcoming competitions.
Be it strongman/powerlifting/Olympic weightlifting. We cater to all their needs. Stones/bumper plates/yokes/power racks/platforms we have all the tools these athletes need and if we don’t we will soon enough. These Athletes are often discriminated against in commercial gyms and are often forced to traveling long distance to other hard to find performance based gyms such ours or build their own at home gyms usually out of their garages. Although these athletes are a minority and like by basic business model standards considered a bad investment. I’m happy to have built it! The way I see it, it’s Bobby’s house of toys when I buy new equipment for the gym it’s like shopping for a new toy. What’s more exciting than that? the business decision I made to build this gym may have seemed like a gamble to some but to me it was a no brainer. I never expected to make a ton of money this was simply about continuing the dream doing what I love and having faith that there were enough people out there like me and it would all pan out. It has nicely I’m thankful for that. As they say, if you build it, they will come. HUGE thanks to all you SBC members!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Basic ups in downs financially. Fitness industry is very much like that. Somewhat seasonal. I learned early however to pay attention to the bottom line and was always made aware that my business was growing. Slowly, but it was growing that’s what I focused on. I believe my faith in that and patience kept me relatively balanced and true to me cause. Like I tell my athletes it’s consistency over time that yields results.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are an open Barbell club specializing in strength sport performance. Unlike CrossFit we focus more on the 3 strength sports strongman/powerlifting /Olympic weightlifting. Gym has extended hours for those with funky schedules and has no black times. Members are allowed unlimited access. We offer coaching, private and semi-private sessions, Barbell therapy and are regularly offering clinics to continue educating all athletes interested in the surrounding area
What were you like growing up?
Shy, caring, deep thinker, little short tempered at times until I discovered my passion for lifting heavy stuff which seemed to balance me. Also had an affinity for build things be it with a pencil and paper or a hammer and nails. I had a big imagination for sure.
Pricing:
- $55-100 per month
Contact Info:
- Address: 181 stedman st. unit 19
Lowell,MA 01851 - Website: SpindellBarbell.com
- Phone: 9788776019
- Email: spindellsc@gmail.com
- Instagram: Spindellbarbell
- Facebook: Spindell Barbell club
- Yelp: Spindell Barbell club
Image Credit:
Performance Vibe
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