Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Celia Lopez, founder of Placemade, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Placemade is Canada's first health and fitness-inspired co-working space designed for health and fitness professionals. We provide a private shared training studio and workspace solution for health and fitness professionals. They can work with their clients while delivering business support, training, and a unique opportunity to connect with other top industry professionals.
Tell us about yourself
As a seasoned health and fitness professional, I developed and created Placemade from my experience in the industry. I faced many challenges being an independent professional and aimed to fill the missing gaps by developing our company Placemade. What motivates me each day to continue building Placemade is knowing that what we are creating is helping solve a problem that others like myself experience. Helping inspire us and pushing us every day to continue to work on our mission.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is going from ideation of the concept of what Placemade could be to the actual conceptualization of our first Canadian location in Toronto, Ontario. We raised funding successfully through this process, built our initial community base, and proved proof of concept.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being a business owner, especially with a startup, is wearing and managing different hats at the beginning of developing your company. In a moment, you can go from doing marketing, operations, and sales, so understanding and knowing how to balance your time and where to invest your energy is vital.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three tips I would give anyone looking to start, run a business today would be to know the following:
Know your why: Why exactly are you starting your business? You need to know your 'why' to give yourself and your business purpose when it comes to your business. Having a purpose will help steer your business in the right direction and ensure everyone is going with you.
Does your business solve a real problem?: You need to be able to identify a crucial issue that you are solving. Knowing this can help you effectively execute and deliver your solution to the marketplace. Only then will you create a real business that matters.
Enjoy the process: Good things take time to build. Be prepared to play the long game and understand that the tiny seed you plant today with constant hustle and effort will sprout in time. Be patient. Trust the process and watch your business unfold with time.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://placemade.co/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/placemade.co/
https://www.instagram.com/celialopezfit/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.