Who are you? I am Martin Murray, and I own All In Fitness Ltd

What does your business do?

All In Fitness delivers a weekly timetable of group exercise classes and personal training to a diverse range of clients including adults, schools, families, new parents. Currently I also deliver bespoke group exercise bookings for a local charity. Classes range from outdoor bootcamp (in all weathers), to circuit training, Boxercise, Personal Training takes place outdoors, my home gym, or clients’ homes.

Where are you based?

Indoor and outdoor venues local to me in Cumbernauld & Lenzie, such as local parks, church halls, my own home gym, client’s homes. My clients are based in and around Cumbernauld, or close to it.

How did you get started?

I only starting exercising, at all, in 2012, when I had a wake-up call as to the significant amount of weight I’d gained (I was over 20st), and decided to try (then) local company Target Your Fitness’ bootcamp class, and as I went to more and more of their classes, I could see my body shape changing and with owner Roger’s direction and expertise, embarked on a programme of Personal Training to get me to where I wanted to be, be more active, lose weight, eat healthily, and make all over improvements to my health, like blood pressure, cholesterol etc.

I started instructing for the same company in late 2015, whilst still participating, and at the end of 2016 I was made redundant from my corporate job in the global print industry. Through a series of circumstances such as no new job on the horizon despite months of searching, and my own trainer moving away, I had the opportunity to create my own entity & brand, carry on the existing class schedule, some of which I was instructing anyway, add some more class variety, enhance my qualifications and build my own business doing something I had a recently discovered passion for

What is your background?

Before redundancy, I spent 25yrs in various Relationship Management roles within the printing industry, steadily progressing to larger companies each time, with regular international travel, all of which had absolutely nothing to do with the industry I am now in. However, even though the audience is very different (global corporations vs the general public), whether it’s making your communications professional and clear, or knowing how to treat a client, the principles are the same.

I gained my first qualification in the Health & Fitness industry late 2015 and have been adding to my credentials since.

What is your top tip?

For business: be brave, & don’t give up. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who believed in me when I was starting to doubt the wisdom of what I was now doing. They were right.

How long has your business been running?

19th May 2017, my 45th birthday

Has anyone helped you get started and how?

Apart from friends and family helping me (and I mean everything from photography, to leafleting, to laminating, venue sourcing & equipment testing) I engaged with 2 organisations: 1 session with Business gateway directed me to a world of free services, workshops and products that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.

What was your first deal?

I remember all the “firsts” so clearly. After a launch week promotion of free classes, my 1st paying attendee was May 27th 2017. It was just a few pounds, for 1 person to attend 1 class, but it was the first few pounds my business had been paid.

My 1st bespoke regular booking, for a business networking group, was October 19th 2017

My 1st Personal Training client, who placed a lot of faith & trust in me, was October 1st 2017

After delivering taster sessions for Boxercise® , in schools in my local area, the 1st one to book a regular after school club was December 10th 2017

Who is your inspiration?

1. My dad – unwavering belief in me.

2. Roger - my own trainer, if I hadn’t plucked up the courage to go to my first bootcamp session of his, which in turn led to me changing lifestyle and bodyshape, enjoying it enough to go on to attend for years after, to then get a taste for instructing, I wouldn’t have found myself on this path. I still seek his advice from time to time.

3. Anyone who makes that first brave, tentative, self-conscious step to changing their exercise habits. I can look them in the eye and say “I know, I get it”

Where do you plan your business to be in five years time?

I would like a full and varied week of classes, an increased client base, continue with bespoke bookings & Personal Training clients and expand my presence in schools. I plan to obtain further qualifications to allow me to work in other areas, such as exercise for mental health, GP referrals & sports massage.

What is in demand now may not be the case in 5 yrs time so it’s important to research, listen, and be dynamic.

Useful contacts e.g. business emails, websites etc - entrepreneurial spark/Chamber of Commerce etc.

martin@all-in-fitness.co.uk

www.facebook.com/allinfitnessscotland

Instagram: @allinfitnessnow

Twitter : @allinfitnesssco

www.all-in-fitness.co.uk