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Andrew Griffin & Alisha Jowett

Franchise: Step into Life® Queens Park, New South Wales

Comments about Step into Life®:

January 2008
"Just a quick email to tell you what a success the Womens Health promotion is shaping up to be and thank you for making the decision to run it.
Queens Park has had 14 leads in the past 24 hours and the girls I have spoken to sound really excited about the opportunity to train ( and me excited the opportunity to sign them up!) Happy new years"

June 2007
"I purchased Step into Life Queens Park with around 45 members. One year later using the support and systems of Step into Life I hit 100 members and turn over of $8,000 - $10,000 per month. I am working less hours than before when I was a full time tennis coach and I enjoy my clients and the variety of training I do as well as the rewards of running my own business."

Annki Maxe

Franchise: Step into Life® Campbelltown, South Australia

Comments about Step into Life®:

After several years running a Fitness Centre, we said. It was great fun, but NEVER again! We were locked inside, working our butts off, from 6 am to 10 pm with very little reward!
We chose Step into Life because it is a fitness business that gives us flexibility to plan our own day. We love the combination of office work and the outdoor sessions, also the opportunity to do our own fitness outside on a beautiful day! How many people have this opportunity??!!

We also appreciate the software & great network of likeminded franchisees.
After reaching 100 members in 1.5 years we are now working on making sure, that we run the business and the business does not run us, by being time efficient, following the system and maintaining good service.

Charlie Degabriele

Franchise: Step into Life® St Kilda, Victoria

Comments about Step into Life®:

We are a relatively new franchise, which launched in September 2007. The success of the franchise so far has far exceeded our expectations. This has a lot to do with the incredible support and help we have received from the Victorian head office. Having no experience in running a business before, there is no way we would be where we are now if it wasn't for the amazing team at head office. We feel we can call them any time with any question and there will always be a friendly, helpful voice on the other end able to answer our queries.

They all do a fantastic job and are extremely competent with the software and have a real understanding of the business and the challenges we face which is so important when things are so new and sometimes stressful for us.

We honestly could not ask for a better team and are so lucky to have them - the support they have given us is invaluable and we are so grateful. They certainly deserve recognition!

Thanks again SILVIC office!!
Kind regards
Charlie and Sandra Degabriele
Step into Life St Kilda

David Corin

Franchise: Step into Life® Warners Bay, New South Wales

Comments about Step into Life®:

I spent years as a corporate guy working long hours but without a decent lifestyle to show for it, the company controlled my life. I had previously been a business owner, running a very successful restaurant, but it owned me rather me owning it! So when I looked at Step into Life, I was looking for a change. I wanted to run my own business, I wanted to be involved in health & fitness, but I didn’t want to be a slave to the business. I wanted to build a business that would allow me to work around my family needs yet deliver me a substantial income. I wanted to build an income stream quickly and needed to have the right systems and structures for that to happen fast.

Step into Life has given me what I needed. A great business model that provided the framework that helped me quickly build a substantial PT business over my first 6mths. I now have over 100 clients and my income is way higher than anything I previously earned in the corporate world. Best of all is that now I have grown to my target numbers, I can now take timeout more often and do the things I want to each day, not the things I have to!

One thing I didn’t expect is how much joy I would get from helping others help themselves with their health & fitness. Seeing the changes my clients have been able to experience in both mind & body through their training has just been an inspiration. I love going to work each day! I love seeing my clients and hearing their stories and yes, making them sweat that little bit harder in the park!

For me this is the perfect job, except that’s it’s not a job at all.

Dean Horner

Franchise: Step into Life® Buderim, Queensland

Comments about Step into Life®:

After spending some time training people in the gyms I realised I wasn’t getting the satisfaction of being able to truely help people to a standard I wanted.

After looking into Step into Life and seeing what it had to offer it’s members I was pritty much sold. The fact that the programming caterd for people of all fitness catergories was important to me, being able to provide a non intimidating enviroment which encouraged people, who would perhaps normally shy away from exercise, to come along and begin to improve their health and fitness and in turn, quality of life was another selling point for me.

The support the members get to stay motivated and reach their goals is heads and shoulders above what the gym fraternity offer.

As trainers we are also fully supported through Head and State office so that we are continually able to offer the best service to our members.

The outdoors aspect has been a big attraction for many of my members who enjoy training in an outdoor enviroment.

I have found the Step into Life experience to be very rewarding both to myself and my members.

Donna Douglas

Franchise: Step into Life® Cheltenham, Victoria

Comments about Step into Life®:

Duncan Terry

Franchise: Step into Life® Templestowe, Victoria

Comments about Step into Life®:

A letter from one of our Templestowe clients:

Hi Duncan,
I think it might have been an ad for special K or cornflakes or some rubbish like that - (marketing genius although completely irrelevant to the product) that made an obviously simple point that really hit home to me not so long ago... something along the lines of... "why can we get up at the crack of dawn to go to work or make a meeting - but not to go for a jog?"
For me that really rained true, being unfit and a smoker, not to mention completely committed to work, here before the sun comes up and still here 12 hours later without too much of a complaint (ok.. so maybe just a few profanities here and there but it is frustrating!!) I thought to myself why the hell couldnt I wake up and do something good for myself? So I rang you (ok so I rang Jared first but then I rang you..!) and I tell you it is the best thing I have ever done.. I have never been able to run, never been able to lift weights or do more than 10 push ups - so to be able to run around that oval, up that hill, do 40 pushups / lunges all of it - gives me such a high and well, I feel healthy and proud of myself. I have made the decision that I will never EVER go back to the way I was. Every time I'm out and faced with cigarettes I think to myself - what do you want, that cigarette or to be able to run up that hill without my lungs bursting with agony..?? I choose the hill every time now.
So yes some mornings I think I'd rather eat my own arm than get up at 5.30am and see you (haha), but I am committed to getting fit, and trying to make an effort not to let the negative side of my brain win (especially at that time of the morning).
Ok, so thankyou for your motivation and making exercising fun..
See you in the AM!!
Leah-Anne

George Jacobs

Franchise: Step into Life® Blakehurst, New South Wales

Comments about Step into Life®:

I have been running Step into Life Blakehurst since Feb 2006. During that time I have experienced a lot. A lot of early mornings and late evenings made up of running sessions for over 100 committed clients that I call my friends.

We have experienced the positive changes to people’s lives.

We have survived the dreaded first 12 months of being in business, at a profit.

Starting a Step into Life franchise has been the best decision I have ever made. It has allowed me to make a financial success out of a passion. I am now a successful professional personal trainer, and a leader in a booming market. Not only do I have a fantastic job as a personal trainer, but I also run a business which has unlimited potential for growth and profit. Some days I work as a personal trainer, some days I work as an entrepreneur.
With Step into Life, I get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Graeme Salt & Victoria Morrison

Franchise: Step into Life® Glebe, New South Wales

Comments about Step into Life®:

Why did you buy a franchise?
For some time now, I have been keen on running my own business - rather than having to follow the boss' orders. I have always had an interest in fitness, so it was logical for me to start there.
We chose to buy a Step into Life business because, after careful analysis, we were convinced that the model worked, and we knew that we would not have to reinvent the wheel to make a success of it.
How was the training?
We got a lot from the Step into Life nine day training session. We came away with a detailed understanding of the lesson plans and the Step into Life software. As a result, we were set to roll out the Step into Life business model as soon as we got home.
Did you get what was promised?
Yes - and more. To be honest, we have always thought that the franchises were pretty inexpensive. We still do when you take into account the income you can make, the equipment you get and the back up you get.
What do you think of the support?
I have been very impressed with the support you get from the state office. The more you pick up the phone and ask for advice - the more you get.
What have you achieved since you started?
We made enough money to pay for our mortgage plus pay the bills in our first month and we have made more ever since. Building a successful business gives you a real sense of satisfaction, particularly when the customers trust you.
What have been the highs?
In addition to building the business, we have really benefited from the power of the brand - we now have clients who were previously Step into Life clients interstate. Applying a proven business model (like Step into Life's) in your own business, while not money-for-jam, certainly gives you a good rate of return. It is also very satisfying running your business from home and not having to put on that suit to get the 8.10 to Central.
What sort of mentality do you need?
I used to hate the phrase 'can do mentality'. But for Step into Life, if you want to make it really successful, then you need to go for it from the start. Sure, you could do the minimum and probably do OK. But if you really attack it, then you can get some really good rewards.

OK new kids on the block……How’d ya do it???

The security guy at Westfield threw me out of the shopping centre. The green keeper almost punched my lights out; I have worn out a pare of runners leafleting the streets of Sydney in the rain and the sun

My osteo is loaded now that I have spent every spare moment in his surgery. I have got trenchfoot from spending too many mornings in dewy grass, but I got 42 great clients in my first seven weeks.

My mortgage and bills are being paid off – and then some

I have found some great business supporters

I don’t miss the 8.10 train to Central

I have laugh at least three times before 6.30 every morning

When Victoria and I bought our Step into Life franchise we were nervous as to whether we would be able to make ends meet and have a good quality of life. After the initial weeks, it looks like our decision will pay off.

Our first weekend was spent outside our local shopping centre. We picked up a couple of great clients, got up Fernwood’s nose and gave the security guard a few headaches – all in the first two hours.

Then we spent days walking the streets delivering leaflets. - followed by hours standing over the phone waiting for it to ring. It didn’t. But then it did! I never thought I would get orgasmic pleasure from a phone call from 55 year old man wanting to lose 15 kilos!

I was really nervous about our first classes – and whether I really could read the Step into Life manual. So far, the clients seem to have enjoyed themselves. So I guess that, even if I can’t read the manuals, I can pull the wool over people’s eyes so they think I know what I am doing! (Just Kidding)

Sometimes we are both running classes together. Victoria really does know what she is doing, which allows me to concentrate on what I enjoy most – chasing a sale. It is astonishing how many potential customers are just attracted by a class in session – I get their email and phone number there and then, send them a timetable that night then make a follow up call next day to book them in for an intro session..

Course, we still have got teething problems to resolve. We have no idea where we are going to keep our equipment. My own fitness is a bit of an afterthought at the moment. And the Council Rangers may well stop us putting up our signage at any moment. But hey, who ever said being in business was easy?

Wonder how I am going to retain my customers in winter….

"Thanks G & V… you’ll probably get them the same way as you are now….Get the leads and Follow up and sign them up! Graham and Vicki now have 106 members after 1 years trading!
Congratulations to you both and we look forward to the 120 mark being reached."

Ian Verrico

Franchise: Step into Life® Labrador, Queensland

Comments about Step into Life®:

 

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