Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in sports and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Budgen, Co-Owner of Cartwheels Gym Centre Inc., located in Georgetown, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a recreational gymnastics club hosting children ages 0-adult in our programs.
Tell us about yourself
We opened our club in 2010 after realizing that we wanted to go in a direction that offered programming to a wider range of children than our previous employers. Cartwheels offers music programming for newborns, 1:1 gymnastics for children identified with special needs (some of these children would not have the experience of gymnastics if it was not for Cartwheels), and fun, energetic gymnastics classes for children of all ages and abilities without the competitive focus.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Surviving the pandemic and coming out stronger on the other side. With four forced closures, it was a very difficult period to navigate, and we were thrown with every restriction/protocol when we were allowed to be open. At one point, we were only allowed 10 participants in our almost 7000 sq/ft facility. But we are still here and now working on an expansion that will see us double in size that we've been working on since 2018. It was overall delayed by the pandemic.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Not enough hours in the day to be business owners, wives, and our #1 job as Moms.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a good partner that you can lean on.
- Know your industry.
- Don't worry about what the "other guys" are doing, and just be you!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://cartwheelsgymcentre.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CartwheelsGymCentre/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cartwheelsgymcentre/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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