The
Podcast

Meet the Faces of Studio Grow: Annie Yoder of Upswing Pilates and How She Built a 6 Figure Studio Within 3 Months of Opening

“If only I knew then what I know now.”

It’s a sentiment many of us can nod along in agreement with, even if we feel like we did pretty well early on in our business journey.

So with that said, my mind can only wonder what my guest on today’s episode is going to look back on with hindsight of 20/20 because she is doing pretty darn good for a woman who opened her studio at 25…

As if opening a studio at 25 isn’t impressive enough, she built it into a 6-figure studio not long after.

Needless to say, yes she’s young, but more importantly, she’s vibrant, whip-smart, and has some of the sharpest business acumens I’ve come across, not to mention, she ties all of her progress to purpose.

That’s a lesson that many take too long to learn, sometimes until it’s too late and they’re shutting the doors on their business.  

Over the last year, I’ve witnessed Annie, and her studio grow exponentially, not just in profits, but also in the number of lives she’s changing whether that’s her client’s lives or those of other Pilates instructors who she is providing with employment and training opportunities.

Whether you’re a seasoned studio owner or a young instructor with an entrepreneurial dream, I think everyone can stand to learn a lesson from Annie’s outlook on how she views business.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How an initial spark in fitness evolved into Annie dedicating all of herself and her business to changing the lives of her clients
  • Why it’s critical to recognize the power in your failures
  • How Annie found her niche and area of focus, and she chose to go against the group model
  • The marketing strategies that work for her unique business and why she developed a referral program
  • Annie’s top tips and strategies for harnessing the power of your team

LINKS:

Learn more about and visit Upswing Pilates.

Connect with Upswing Pilates on Facebook and Twitter.

Recommended Episodes

  • The Pilates Journal Expo with Lise Kuecker and Khetanya Henderson

    As studios invest heavily in creating beautiful sanctuaries and upscale environments, what ultimately matters to flourish is clear purpose, real community and smart leadership.  Get a candid look at how that plays out with Khetanya Henderson, founder of KKRU, in Episode 708: The Pilates Journal Expo with Lise Kuecker and Khetanya Henderson.* With creativity, energy

    Listen Now

  • The Pilates Journal Expo with Lise Kuecker and Andrea Speir

    Pilates studios may be proliferating globally, but many may not make it. Amidst fierce competition and growing homogenization, profitability is the exception, not the rule.  Join me and Andrea Speir, founder of Speir Pilates, for a frank chat about building a thriving business in Episode 707: The Pilates Journal Expo with Lise Kuecker and Andrea

    Listen Now

  • Beyond the Paycheck: How to Turn Hourly Staff into Engaged Team Members

    Are you carrying the culture, energy and emotional weight of your studio by yourself? Many owners feel frustrated that hourly employees don’t seem truly committed to the business.  Alina Cooper has you covered in Episode 706: Beyond the Paycheck: How to Turn Hourly Staff into Engaged Team Members, where she highlights five ways to get

    Listen Now

  • What to Do in Your Business in February

    For many studios, February is the busiest month of the year. What you do (or don’t do) then determines whether January’s surge becomes sustainable growth or fizzles out by spring. Lisa Taylor and I lay out the essentials to capitalize on natural momentum and set the stage for what’s to come in Episode 705: What

    Listen Now