Local business profile - Nick Hose Fitness
Having your business closed down by coronavirus restrictions was just about the worst birthday present you could get, especially with your first baby on the way.
Camperdown gym Nick Hose Fitness had to shut under government coronavirus restrictions on 23 March—its owner’s 31st birthday.
Nick got creative and turned what could have been a dark time into an opportunity.
With the support of his loyal clients the entrepreneur found two new ways to do business and used the down time to improve his premises.
“It was a bit ‘What are we going to do?’” Nick says.
“I went milking cows on weekends to pay the bills. The bills don’t stop.”
He started by taking his fitness sessions online, to keep people moving their bodies for physical and mental health.
“We just thought, ‘We’ve got to get our people, our clients, over this bridge. It’s up to us to keep people exercising. We said, ‘We’re pressing on as normal, just doing it at home’.
“Online is not great because people’s connections aren’t great around here, but it did the job.
“We mainly kept the exercises basic and pretty much no heavy weights, so you could perform them without hurting yourself.
“It was more about just getting together. The main thing is keeping the social connections. They don’t come just for the exercise. They come for each other. They’re accountable to each other.”
Rather than letting his gym equipment sit idle, Nick generated income by renting it out for people to use at home.
“The idea arose somehow and I quickly whipped a post up on social media.
“The message was ‘If you can’t come to the gym, we’ll come to you’.
“People jumped on it like wildfire. I had calls from NSW.”
“The equipment went mainly to members and a few trusted people in the area.
“It was a great source of income when there was no income at all—and no promise of income.
“Everyone was really good about paying for it and being loyal and supportive.
“People realised how important small businesses are and also how much we rely on their support.”
A third way Nick made an opportunity from adversity was by lining the metal wall of the building which improved the gym’s insulation and appearance.
He and his father, Anthony, did the work and Zac White did the painting.
“We thought ‘There’s going to be no better time to do it than now’. It would be impossible to do that amount of work if we were open.”
A small wall was also removed and when the gym was allowed to reopen on 22 June—three weeks after its fourth birthday—it had three separate spaces, each of which can accommodate 20 people under government guidelines.
“We’re not likely to have 60 people here at one time,” Nick said.
“We have 250 members but they come in organically. They have different jobs, lifestyles and training patterns.”
Nick said a massive thank you to the people who had supported the business through the challenging time.
“It makes you appreciate what you have. I couldn’t be more excited to get back into it.”
“My main hope was we would be open by the time the baby arrived.”
At the time of going to press, Nick and Anna’s new arrival was expected “any day now”.
Nick Hose Fitness
2 Brooke Street, Camperdown
www.nickhosefitness.com.au