October 16th is National Bosss Day, and we thought what better time than to honor our boss, StudioHops founder + CEO, Natalie Wolfe. Natalie is a twenty-something fitness enthusiast and entrepreneur from Austin with a background in digital marketing and Journalism. When shes not working, she loves spending time with her husband Ryan and Shichon Annabelle. Check out an interview with the woman behind StudioHop below.
How did you come up with the StudioHop concept?
NW: I was always that fitness studio enthusiast that would be at a new concept or studio in the first week of its existence. The funkier the concept, the better. Piloxing? SUP yoga? Spin/Yoga combo? Oh, Im there. Always. Then my wallet started shrinking and I decided dropping $$$ on drop-in classes was getting ridiculous. So I discovered yoga for the first time. (a little backwards, right?) I went to a yoga studio exclusively for a couple of years. It was my $100/month for fitness and thats what I had room for in my budget. I was craving more high-energy, cardio, sweat dripping, music blasting, strength building classes but I didnt want to pay steep drop-in rates and most certainly couldnt justify holding multiple boutique fitness studio memberships. I wanted to create a high-end yet affordable, all-encompassing fitness membership that allowed people to hop around a variety of awesome fitness studios. It was an obvious idea to me, and I just had to get it done.
How did you start StudioHop? (beginning stages)
NW: Like any business, you have to start somewhere. Following the advice of a really great mentor and my husband, I read the book The Lean Startup and started out with a trial month. I gathered up 5 willing studios (thanks for believing in me and the concept!) and 10 friends (thanks for your patience) and gave it a go. No software, no MindBody integration–in fact, it was all through email and texts. I was essentially a fitness concierge and my friends were loving all the different workouts and studios they got to visit each week. In fact, they became addicted to the ability to hop from spin to yoga to Pilates that they are still members, 1 year later.
What is it like running a startup?
NW: Its exhilarating, rewarding and the hardest thing Ive ever done. You learn something everyday.
What is a day in the life of Natalie like? (schedule)
NW: Schedule. Ha. Every day is different. Lets take today:
7am: wake up, coffee, get organized, check emails
8:30am: The Ride House class
9:30-noon: work, work, work.
Noon: lunch with a friend
1pm-3pm: edit, work, plan, work for social media biz
3pm: meet with a studio owner
4pm: walk the pup
4:20pm-7pm: back in front of the computer
7pm: happy hour time, finally!
Do you have any funny stories about running/starting StudioHop?
NW: Too many to list!
What are your life goals?
NW: To strike the perfect balance between green juice and champagne.
Tell us something we dont know about you.
NW: Im a twin!
What is your advice for someone wanting to start a business?
NW: Dont overthink it, just do it.
What did you want to be growing up?
NW: A veterinarian like every other girl back then 😉
What do you like most about StudioHop?
NW: The awesome members, studio owners and several other business owners Ive gotten to meet and inspire me on the daily. oh and all the workouts I get to partake in!
Why is fitness important to you?
NW: It allows me to indulge, it makes me feel good and it makes me look good. What else do you need?