Nahid set up Good Vibes fitness just over 3 years ago after experiencing just a couple of sessions on a powerplate . 2 months later she opened her first studio ! Nahid is an excellent example of an inspirational women as she has followed her dream, and although she started with nothing, she invested time in her own knowledge to retrain and has since built up an impressive client following and 4 good vibe studios across London.
What made you decide to set up your company?
My background is fashion and the creative world but I have always kept fit. I had a go on a Power Plate machine about 3 years ago and thought it was amazing. I wanted one – didn’t have the money and live in a flat so didn’t think my neighbours would appreciate it so I wrote a business plan, retrained and opened my doors 2 months after having the initial idea. I opened 4 studios in the first year.
What have been your biggest challenges so far in the company?
Staff – finding the right people, training them up and having to be brutal about letting the wrong ones go even if they nice people! I am sure I am a hard task master I do expect high standards but I never ask anyone to do something I would not do myself.
I believe that good businesses will survive in any market and in a tough market clients will choose with their wallets
If there was one thing that you could say was a great success, what would it be?
Building a business from scratch – in something I had no previous experience of and with a product that wasn’t heard of at the time. Not only have I built a business but I have also raised the profile of the Power Plate. I am so proud to offer a service that clients love – a database of 8,000! – and a happy team of 20 employees.
How has the market affected your business in the past 12 months and what have you done to survive?
It’s been really good for us – I believe that good businesses will survive in any market and in a tough market clients will choose with their wallets – we represent something more than just keeping fit – it becomes a joy to visit us and the keeping fit art feels less like a chore!The businesses/services that aren’t any good will naturally fall away. The current climate makes me keener and more creative.
If you could go back to when you started the company would you change anything?
I’d be a bit tougher when making decisions about staff and reacting faster when sales aren’t strong – taking a step back was hard to do in the earlier days but the bottom line is that every member of staff has to deliver to the Good Vibes high standards and each studio has to be profitable.
When and if you get the time, what do you like to do in obtain a life balance?
I am so lucky that I am in this game as I yoga every day (even if for only 10 minutes) I can keep nice and toned on the Power Plates and am in Central London so my friends pop in all the time – plus all my clients are lovely and I have made some great friends– it’s a very social place so it feels less work and more life! Because I am in central locations I go the cinema (arty films) , cabarets and eat out a lot.
Can you share any tips for any members wishing to start out on their own?
Be totally passionate, keep learning, do it all yourself at the start– if you start something up do everything from the flyering, to answering the phones to cleaning the loos as well as getting people in through the doors. Live it totally as that way you’ll understand the mechanics of the business.
And keep learning I am doing several intensive courses, I have just finished a post natal fitness, I am on a 18 month yoga course and I have my advanced nutrition and weight management course to get through. It all feeds into each other and means I can offer clients a holistic approach to their fitness. Keep updating your skills, amass knowledge, don’t stagnate – allow your business to grow organically – it would be boring if it all went to plan!
