Opened a Fitness Studio Mid-Pandemic. Now She Runs a Wellness Empire

Giovanna Knudsen didn't follow the playbook. She rewrote it. After ditching a veterinary career in college, Giovanna bet on herself opening a boutique fitness studio in the middle of a pandemic with a signed lease and a world shutting down around her. Six years later, she's running two businesses, curating a 15,000 sq ft wellness hub with 12 women-owned businesses under one roof, and building one of the most community-driven fitness brands in Northeast Ohio. In this episode, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with Giovanna to talk about: — Why opening during COVID was the beginning, not the end — How multimodality became her secret weapon against fitness trends and churn — The community-first marketing strategy that turns members into lifelong brand advocates — Why being "off the beaten path" actually made her easier to find — How a referral system with non-expiring credits keeps members coming back on their terms — What TikTok, local collabs, and rubber ducks hidden around the studio have to do with retention — The moment reformer Pilates made her studio feel whole for the first time — How she's building a brand her daughter can be proud of Whether you're a fitness entrepreneur, a small business owner trying to grow through community, or a marketer looking for proof that word-of-mouth still wins, this one's for you.