Just Fitness co-owner opens new gym
John Stanley will co-own new Grand Prairie fitness facility with YK trainer and fighter
Karen K. Ho
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A clothing, training and event brand created in Yellowknife is about to invade Alberta.
Just Fitness co-owner John Stanley, left, and trainer Jarrett Vornbrock pose with a Warrior Strong company logo. The two men will co-own another martial arts and high-intensity training gym under the Warrior Strong International brand in Grand Prairie, Alta., scheduled to open in January 2016. - Karen K. Ho/NNSL photo |
Warrior Strong International, birthed at Just Fitness, will also be the name of a new gym in Grand Prairie, Alta., the gym's co-owner plans to open in January.
Co-owner John Stanley said the move has been in his mind for a while.
"I've been thinking about it the last few years," he told Yellowknifer in the waiting area of Just Fitness. "I figure I'm not getting any younger."
Stanley, who is going to co-own the new 4,000 square-foot athletic facility with Just Fitness trainer and Warrior Strong fighter Jarrett Vornbrock, said a friend surveyed the market for him.
"Grand Prairie is big and small enough and a good way to get into Alberta," he said. "There's only one other gym that does what we do and the market is big enough for both of us."
The new gym will also offer martial arts, high-intensity workouts, clothing, supplements, introductory programs and Warrior-branded training for instructors.
Stanley said the long-term plan is to reproduce the brand, its training programs and bring its apparel to multiple cities.
"We know it's a great product and the area can certainly handle it," he said.
Stanley said he just signed a deal for a property and plans on teaching much of the classes during the initial opening period.
"I've worked from six in the morning to nine or 10 at night for years," he said. "And we're going to be living there for the first year."
Stanley said the major costs for the new gym will be mostly due to the purchase of fitness equipment.
"It's still quite a bit of cash," he said, adding an Olympic bar is roughly $600 and a kettlebell weight is $100.
However, Stanley said many of the other costs, such as rent and utilities are much lower in Grand Prairie compared to Yellowknife.
"They're 50 per cent lower down there," he said. "It's insane what we pay."
As a result, Stanley said the profit margin will be much higher in the new gym compared to the business in Yellowknife.
While Stanley said he's not a person averse to risk, he cited his many years of experience running gyms, training high-level athletes, previous mistakes and six years of time running Just Fitness as the reasons why he's confident in the new venture.
As for Yellowknife-born and raised Vornbrock, the new gym is a long way from his experience going to school for environmental science.
"It's a big change for me," he said with a grin. "It's the first time I'm the co-owner. I'm excited. It's something new and different."
