Chapter 3
Logan
Andy and Kenzie called me to the office as soon as they returned.
All they had said before they left was that they were going to an important meeting regarding expanding programs at the gym.
I knew it wasn’t at the bank again because of how they were dressed.
And I knew that their purchase of the building next door was a done deal.
They were just a few weeks away from closing on it.
I knew the gym did okay. I didn’t understand why all of a sudden, they were so hell-bent on expanding things.
But Kenzie had a business mind, and she saw opportunities where Andy never had.
The changes she’d made so far were good; I’d admit that.
With her new marketing campaign, she’d already doubled the numbers in my boot camp program.
Andy started by unrolling the blueprints of our space and the building next door, aligning them side by side.
He explained that the boot camp program was a big portion of revenues and Kenzie considered the market not tapped out yet.
There was more potential there. They planned on making a large portion of the new building a new boot camp area, nearly doubling my square footage.
Fuck, yes! And they were going to let me design the space, choose new equipment, all of it.
Awesome! There would be a yoga studio and a dance studio in those front spaces, and there would be no public pass-through from those spaces to the back, boot camp area.
Entrance to the boot camp would be through the main gym area only as a safety precaution as dance classes for children were planned.
Then, they showed me the plans for the remodel of our existing space.
When the new building was finished, the area I currently utilize would be made into women’s and men’s locker rooms with showers, cool!
I knew that would attract many more women.
This would cost him a bundle. But he and Kenzie were sure the revenue would be there.
They were looking at special corporate membership pricing for local businesses, like Cheshire, across the street.
That pricing would extend to the new children’s program that Kenzie wanted to develop.
She wanted to turn the gym into a family space, hence the addition of the yoga and dance studios.
A daycare area that would be located upstairs above the new dance rooms was in the works too, which would attract parents to work out if they had a place for their children to be watched.
I wasn’t sure about how that would work, but I would reserve my judgement until it all played out.
“We’re going to build a few apartments over the back of the new space,” Andy said. “I think it’s time I got you a one-bedroom unit, rather than the studio you’ve been in. Trina’s getting older, and you should have a separate space for her when she stays,” he said with a laugh.
“Thanks, man, whatever,” I said. “I don’t need a whole lot of space, never have, but if you want to build me a larger place, I won’t turn it down.”
“So, here’s the thing, Logan,” Kenzie then said. “You know the yoga studio a few blocks over that Ashley and I have been going to?”
Yeah, I knew. I nodded.
“The owner is closing down at the end of the month and moving out of the area. We just spoke with her and the yoga instructor, who will need a job, and we made a pitch to them that neither will turn down. We will be absorbing her business and bringing that yoga instructor on under the Stevens Street umbrella next week.”
“Cool,” I said. “I know how much you and Ashley have wanted to have our own yoga program.”
“The timing is tight,” Andy said. “Unfortunately, we’re taking them on before we get possession of the building next door, so we have to do a quick remodel of the front of your boot camp area to make a smooth transition from their yoga studio to ours while the members are locked into their contract and purchased classes. ”
“I’m not following you,” I said. How could they remodel my area when I had no place to relocate to yet?
“We’ll do as fast of a remodel as we can of your boot camp area in the new building as soon as we acquire the building but for three weeks, a month, maybe two, your boot camp space is going to be cut in half, and then some,” Andy said.
“Yeah, we need to rough in a changing room behind the yoga studio for the women too,” Kenzie added.
“My classes are full. How in the hell am I going to be able to operate in half the space?” I demanded.
“I’ve already talked with Mason and Blake.
The MMA area in the basement will have to conform to a set schedule, and you will have access to that area when they aren’t using it.
It’ll give you access to the punching bags and other equipment down there.
Between that and using the machines and weights in the general gym area, that’ll have to do,” Andy said.
He was dismissive in how he said it. It pissed me off.
“You're creative; you’ll figure it out,” he added, pushing me further into angry territory
“Fuck!” I swore as I pounded on the desk. I exploded. I knew I did. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!”
Kenzie and Andy exchanged glances. “Kenzie, will you excuse us a minute?” Andy said as a command.
He was pissed. I haven’t seen him this pissed in years. Kenzie stepped out and closed the door. Andy had me against the wall faster than I knew what hit me.
“Not another fucking word,” he warned. I could take him, probably, but I wouldn’t try. He was my best friend. I wouldn’t be this side of sane had he not taken me in and taken care of me after we got out of the Army. My head hadn’t been on straight back then. He’d put up with a lot of shit from me.
I surrendered. “Sorry, man.”
“You will never show that kind of anger near either of my girls, you got it?” He snarled in my face.
“Man, I’m sorry. I am,” I repeated.
“Fuck, Logan, you haven’t erupted like that in a long time. What the fuck? I thought your sessions with your therapist were helping.”
He still held me against the wall. “Do you mind?” I asked, glancing at his hands on my shoulders.
He released me and stepped back. “Dude, I’m sorry.
I really am. I promise I’ll never let that shit out again.
” I definitely had to schedule a session, and soon.
It had been a couple of months since I had gone to one, but Andy didn’t know that. Shit!
There was a time when I couldn’t control my anger.
It just erupted wherever, whenever. I got into a lot of bar fights, spent a lot of time drunk trying to numb it all.
It got me arrested a few times, but I’d gotten past all that after working with a therapist who was an expert in her field when it came to PTSD.
Trina was also one of the reasons why. Andy would not let me near her, being the mess I was.
I didn’t want to go back to how I had been then.
Andy was watching me expectantly. “Everything has been going great. My total numbers enrolled in my boot camps has doubled. I don’t want to lose numbers, man.
I have great plans for the program. You know that. ”
“Yeah, that’s why we’re doubling your space in the new building. We have to strike now with the yoga program, keep the numbers that are in it. We’re kind of under the gun on it.”
I nodded. He was right on both accounts. “Can I use the yoga studio space when it’s not in use?”
“Yeah, no equipment in there though; we’re redoing the floor too. It’s going to be really tight, two weeks to renovate that space. Timing sucks, but it is what it is.”
“I’ll apologize to Kenzie. I’ll make it work.”
“Logan, we’ll get your new space in shape as fast as possible.
In the meantime, I know you can be creative enough to make it work.
Let me know what I can do, cordon off certain pieces equipment in the main gym for your classes, whatever.
The first two weeks while the studio is under construction will be the worst. Then you can use that room whenever it’s not in use. ”
I apologized to Kenzie on my way out of the room. She stood by the counter waiting for us. She hugged me, forgave me, and told me my outburst was okay. She was wrong. It hadn’t been okay. I didn’t like that part of myself. I didn’t want it to make an appearance under any circumstances.
“One more thing, Logan,” Andy said. “Tomorrow morning is a mandatory meeting. We’re bringing Mason and Blake in, Ashley, Pete, Tripp, and the twins will all be in for it.
We’re introducing the new yoga instructor.
I want you all here to meet her. We all need to agree she fits for us to bring her on board.
I’ll text you the time later.” He was handing a folder towards me.
“You’ve already decided you’re hiring her, whatever; it doesn’t matter,” I said. I didn’t give a shit who they hired. It wasn’t like I’d be working directly with her. I didn’t take the folder, didn’t even look at it. I was sure it was info about her.
“Be here,” Andy said.
I nodded and left to go to my boot camp area. I had to figure out how the hell I could make this work.
Gia
Kenzie came through the door two minutes before our scheduled meeting time to go over the punch cards.
Claudine, Heidi and I had a few minutes to talk about it before she arrived.
The truth was we didn’t have a clue about the total number of classes that were sold and outstanding on cards as an obligation.
“Hi,” Kenzie greeted with a smile, glancing at the box full of punch card bundles we had in stock.
There were nearly five hundred cards with our studio’s logo on them as Claudine had bought the cards in bulk.
“Oh, wow, you have quite a few left. That’s good.
We’re not planning on changing the name of the yoga program, but on future card orders we will also have the Stevens Street Gym logo on them. ”
“You’re keeping the name?” Claudine asked.
“Of course, we are,” Kenzie said. “The yoga offering at the Stevens Street Gym will still be called Pure Body Yoga. Our offer spells out that we are purchasing the Pure Body name and logo from you. The three of you have built a trusted brand we want to continue. I’m hoping to expand on it with other mind, body, and soul holistic offerings.
As soon as I can find a massage therapist, massages will be added.
I’m also considering a Pilates program, and would love to offer short, guided meditation sessions that would piggyback on all program classes.
And that would all fall under the Pure Body division of the gym. ”
Tears were in Claudine’s eyes, and an emotional smile graced her face. “I guess I didn’t realize that.”
“Andy respects what you’ve built, Claudine,” Kenzie said. “We are excited to take what you have created and bring it to the next level.”
“Oh, thank you, Kenzie,” Claudine said. “I’m sorry to tell you though, that we really have no idea of the outstanding punch card obligation.
I’m afraid we haven’t kept any records on redemption, beyond what Gia and Heidi can remember of used and open cards they’ve marked off over the past few weeks. ”
Kenzie looked like she was considering that for a moment.
She glanced over the packing slip that was still in the box with the punch card bundles and then counted the bundles.
“Okay, you ordered two thousand cards just over a year ago, and you have what appears to be about five hundred cards left. Each card gives ten punches or ten classes. What has your average class size been this past year?” She glanced between all three of us.
“It varies,” I replied. “We have some people who come two to three days a week, every week, many who come once a week, and some we get that I barely remember they come so infrequently.”
“And I’m sure a good many of the cards out there that the owner has forgotten is even in their wallet,” Heidi added.
“How many active members would you say the studio has across all classes?”
I locked eyes with Heidi. “I don’t know; what do you think? Maybe a total of two hundred or two-fifty who come at least once a week?”
“Maybe,” Heidi agreed.
“How about this? In the last week, give me a quick estimate of how many were in each class that you taught. I’m looking for a very rough estimate based on your memory.
All the classes I’ve ever attended here have a minimum of six people, including me, and a few have been packed pretty tight, at least twenty, I’d guess. ”
Heidi and I conferred while looking over last week’s class schedule. I jotted down numbers for each class and then I totaled them. I watched Kenzie jot down numbers on the back of the packing invoice and do some other math, manipulating the numbers until she arrived at a number she circled.
“Based on what you’ve given me, this is the number of outstanding classes I’d like to go with,” Kenzie said.
I was shocked. She had calculated three thousand punches sold and available. Given that each card had ten punches, she was calculating thirty cards out there with no punches, or sixty cards that were fifty percent open. I looked at Claudine.
“I’d say that’s a fair number to use,” Claudine said.
“Okay,” Kenzie said. “I assume you have a list of email addresses for everyone who’s ever come to the yoga studio.
If you are going to sell to us, Claudine, we would immediately send a newsletter to everyone announcing the yoga studio coming under the Stevens Street Gym umbrella and advising everyone that the punch cards are valid at our location. ”
Claudine frowned and locked eyes with me.
I had suggested to her on numerous occasions that we should be sending newsletters and marketing material via email to members and visitors.
Yes, the member info sheet Claudine had people sign collected email addresses.
But they were not collated in one file and had never been used for anything.
“Email addresses are on the info and release of liability sheets I have everyone complete, but there is no list like you’re thinking,” Claudine said.
“I see,” Kenzie said, clearly surprised.
“Would someone be able to go through all the paper files and type up a master list that we could get when the purchase goes through, assuming we will have a deal?” Her eyes went back and forth between Claudine and me as she asked.
“I want to be able to send a newsletter to all of those email addresses a good week before we move the classes to our gym.”
“Yes, we can have that done for you,” Claudine promised.
I liked that Kenzie had plans along the same lines as what I’d wanted to do over the last few years and had included in the plan I’d written up last night. I’d talk to her later about being involved in the communication and marketing plans. She seemed like she’d be open to my ideas.