HOTWORX welcomes new franchisee, Eric Montgomery, with the recent purchase of 3 franchise licenses in Memphis and Nashville, TN and Huntsville, AL!
What lead you to explore franchise opportunities?
I currently own a US Cryotherapy Franchise, and while it's certainly been a lot of work, I really enjoyed the whole process from start to "finish"; obviously never really finished until you sell/close/whatever. All the work and effort that went into getting the doors open was just amazingly satisfying to look back on, and it still is. I'm really interested in the health/wellness industry (my waist line may not reflect...), and HOTWORX just seems like a great fit with my lifestyle by combining the fitness/recovery process.
Can you describe your first HOTWORX session?
It was like laying on the beach with a drink in your hand, warm and soothing...or rather that was the dream, the reality was instead a nightmare. I was gasping for air as though rather than relaxing on the beach I was fighting for my life in the water fleeing from a shark, with my sweat and tears visibly raising the level of the ocean. Meanwhile this crazy succubus on the TV in front of me is smiling and calmly talking throughout the entirety of the workout, indulging me by saying it's "OK" to feel a "little" burn and that it's perfectly normal, while clearly she's thinking I'm really a pathetic lump of flesh, laughing at me on the inside, as she joyously contemplates just how much crap food she's able to eat without gaining an ounce of fat.
How was your experience going through the HOTWORX Discovery Process?
Great, but scary. Remember that shark chasing me? Yeah, that's Bebe. She's definitely a big ole shark in a tiny little body. It's as though from the moment I (foolishly) decided to submit my deets for further info, she knew she had me. From the very first phone call she spoke as though the whole thing was a done deal, she was just waiting for me to realize it. She was amazing, had no problem answering my every question, and was always readily available. It made the whole process extremely easy to move through, and seemed to be over before I knew it.
What was it like meeting the HOTWORX Executive Team at Discovery Day?
Awesome, but also scary. What the heck is in the water down there? Am I the only one who thought everybody there came out of a catalog called Good Looking Inc? Seriously, everyone there looked amazing, and made me realize just how much time I'm gonna have to spend inside those deathboxes (trademark pending) to get in better shape. The team was/is amazing. Obviously everyone reading this already knows that; just like Bebe with the Discovery Process, everyone made us feel like part of the family, and were ready and able to field any and all questions smoothly and succinctly. Steve and Nancy have done an amazing job putting this crew together for sure.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs considering the opportunity to franchise with HOTWORX?
Grab the bull by the horns and don't look back.
What are the top 3 reasons you chose to franchise with HOTWORX?
Attractive Executive Staff, Attractive VIs, and hoping the attractiveness would rub off on me. Sorry, can't get over that part. The largest factor was the staff there for sure; the wealth of knowledge they have from their previous endeavors really shows, and the way they exemplified that experience in every part of the process really impressed me. As I mentioned previously, the idea of fitness+recovery at the same time is really appealing, on top of the 24/hr model with little staff oversight being necessary was also a big part; I was looking into some kickboxing models popping up in our area, which are also very appealing due to an extremely low up front investment, but the concept of it isn't particularly novel, on top of having to have a specifically trained staff at all times, and the ease of replication. The niche HOTWORX offers with the IR saunas combined with the "been here forever going nowhere soon" yoga/isometric workouts, combined with the ability to update the workouts and not be easily replicated in the near future, is amazing. Is that three? Umm, what else...oh yes, the possibility of getting in early and making a crazy amount of money. I mean come on, right?
What goals do you have in bringing HOTWORX to your market?
I really want to continue being a part of making the public healthier. My Cryotherapy endeavor is a first attempt on the recovery side, and having HOTWORX to add in on the fitness side along with recovery is great. Health and Wellness has been on a strong upward trend the last couple years (finally), but Memphis and the greater Mid-South, as with most things, is lagging behind. It's changing for sure, but I want HOTWORX to be what everyone is "ooohhhing and ahhhing" over. I want them to see that fitness can be fun, it can be convenient, it can be effective, and it can be affordable, and it can be done without the traditional aches and pains of slinging iron around.
What are you most excited for in your first year as a HOTWORX franchisee?
Getting it up and running. Like I said above, it's a ton of work, but I just really like this whole pre-opening process for whatever reason! I'm also looking forward to speaking with the HOTWORX team more and working with them, because they were just so darn impressive at Discovery Day. And again, let's not forget, looking forward to watching $$$ roll in.
Congratulations, Eric, and welcome to the HOTWORX family!
Looking for a new business opportunity and want to learn more about HOTWORX?Visit hotworx.net/franchising or call (504) 297-1HOT.
