Commuter Fitness focuses on being friendly
An interview with John Anderson, owner of Commuter Fitness in Arlington Heights.
Q: Describe your business. What do you do?
A: We help people work out. We help them attain and maintain the level of health and fitness that they feel good about. And we have a good time doing it.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: I’ve always loved working out. And my experience with most fitness centers was that they were cold and impersonal, not friendly, no fun at all. I thought what would happen if people had a convenient place to go to that was friendly, encouraging, helpful and fun? Of course, the place would have to be clean with great equipment, free weights, a complete strength circuit and an encouraging, friendly staff. And the more I thought about it, the more I thought I could do this.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: The biggest challenge for us is making ourselves visible. We have a large blue awning right on Northwest Highway across from the Arlington Heights train station and still we have people come in and ask us, “how long you been open?” When we tell them five years they are stunned. They always say something like “been past here a million times and never noticed you ...” Other small businesses on Northwest Highway say that they have the same challenge.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: Helping people with their workouts, encouraging them, finding workouts that they enjoy and that work best for them.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young? When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I always wanted to be an NFL quarterback. I really never pictured myself doing anything else. But I have always loved working out and helping others work out so this seemed like a natural progression.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Not much, I open up at 4:30 a.m. for our early birds and we do an 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. pre-registered “boot camp” for our late birds, so when my head hits the pillow at night it pretty much stays there until the alarm goes off the next morning.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My first job was at a car wash. I loved it. I liked the cars. I liked the people I worked with. And sometimes the owner left me in charge. You can’t ask for much more from your first job.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Do something you love. Create the kind of business or product that you would want to use or buy. And if possible offer a free trial. Offering a free week with fitness coaching has been by far our most successful business decision. Also the more active you can be in the community, the better.
Commuter Fitness
Address: 20 E. Northwest Highway (a\cross from the train station), Arlington Heights
Owners: John and Cyndi Anderson
Year business started: 2007
Web address: www.commuterfitness.com