572: When Megaformers Turn Into a Megabrand: Meet Amanda Freeman, the Founder of SLT and Stretch*d and learn how she's built a wellness empire

Here's what we're talking about in this episode:   Overview of Amanda Freeman's fitness brand, SLT - Amanda Freeman, founder of boutique fitness brand SLT, discusses the high-intensity Pilates workout that has swept New York City and New England. Growth trajectory and acquisition strategy of SLT - Freeman talks about the early days of SLT as a passion project, its growth trajectory, and the decision to partner with private equity to fund expansion and acquisitions. Challenges of acquisitions in the fitness industry - Freeman explains the difficulties of acquiring other fitness studios and the need to carefully consider factors such as employee contracts and landlord negotiations. Franchising versus corporate ownership in the fitness industry - Freeman discusses her initial hesitancy towards franchising and the challenges of balancing corporate overhead with the need for expansion. Impact of COVID-19 on the fitness industry - Freeman touches on the challenges faced by the fitness industry during the pandemic and how it affected SLT's growth. Compensation and performance in the fitness industry - Freeman discusses the issue of compensating employees based on performance and the challenges faced with managing remote locations.   Links: https://studiogrow.co/ https://stretchdspace.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-freeman-95b61614/