Welcome to The Samir Kapoor Show where I talk to successful business owners of training-oriented gyms to explore their journeys and the advice they have for future entrepreneurs! Episode 02 features two of Wales’ most uniquely innovative entrepreneurs who are transforming fitness culture as we know it. I sat down with Chris Ware and Jason Hole, the incredible minds behind Ware-House Gym and its inimitable success as a “Big Box, but still Boutique” gym. We dove into how Chris and Jason have managed to add the essence of Ibizan party vibes into a southern Welsh town’s fitness culture, build a massive supportive community that feels a sense of ownership towards their gym, and how passion lies at the heart of everything they do. A huge shoutout to the Ware-House team for joining me, this was an extremely eye-opening and hilarious episode. If you liked exploring their journey with me, be sure to subscribe and follow my socials for regular updates! (00:00 - 00:53) - Introduction (0:55 - 1:37) - Small Talk (1:40 - 7:06) - How was Ware-House born? (7:07 - 8:02) - Business Isn’t Over-Complicated (8:11 - 9:50) - Running A Gym In Your 20s (9:51 - 10:35) - Chris’ White Lie and Escape Nightclub (10:40 - 13:18) - Why did people join Chris’ classes? (13:27 - 15:21) - How Did Chris Maintain Members Despite Boxing’s Intimidating Nature? (15:23 - 16:00) The Gamechanger for Funky Pump (16:01 - 16:30) - Gyms Function Differently Now Than In the 2000s (16:31 - 19:16) - Jason’s Reaction to Chris’ Work (19:19 - 20:45) - How did Funky Pump Attract Diverse Audiences? (20:46 - 22:21) - Chris Discovered Facebook (22:22 - 23:15) - Funky Pump’s First Few Members (23:16 - 24:30) - How Did Funky Pump Become A Gym? (24:31 - 25:22) - Why Didn’t Transient Nightclub Culture Impact Funky Pump? (25:23 - 25:40) - Chris’ Reaction When Escape Nightclub Closed Down (25:42 - 26:32) - The Nicest Thing Anyone’s Done for Chris (26:33 - 28:33) - How Chris and Jason Bought The First Gym Space At A Discount (28:33 - 29:34) - Third-and-Fourth-Hand Equipment (29:35 - 31:42) - Why Did Chris Feel Inspired By Ibiza? (31:43 - 33:08) - What Differentiates Ware-House? (33:10 - 35:43) - Why Do Members Love Ware-House? (35:45 - 37:31) - How Did Chris And Jason Foster A Sense Of Ownership In Their Team? (37:32 - 41:16) - The Inspiration For Ware-House’s Events (41:17 - 43:52) - White Collar Boxing Shows Acted As Financial Support (43:53 - 44:18) - Reinforcing A Sense of Community (44:19 - 46:17) - How Chris And Jason Work Together (46:18 - 47:59) - Chris and Jason’s Biggest Argument (48:00 - 49:09) - Money Was Never A Priority (49:10 - 50:15) - Ware-House’s Competition In Swansea (50:17 - 52:23) - When Commercial Giants Enter Local Markets (52:24 - 54:25) - Commercial Gyms Devalue Exercise (54:26 - 55:39) - Why Giant Businesses Fizzle But Small Independents Won’t (55:40 - 57:50) - The Best Worst Time For Ware-House (57:51 - 58:39) - Competition Supports Innovation (58:40 - 1:03:37) - How Ware-House Finds Top Trainers (1:03:37 - 1:05:18) - Automating Your Product (1:05:20 - 1:09:24) - How Will Ware-House Recreate Their Formula For Success? (1:09:25 - 1:11:20) - Chris and Jason’s Dynamic 1:11:22 - 1:13:55 - How Does Ware-House Scout Talent? (1:13:56 - 1:16:21) - Should You Work For Exposure? (1:16:23 - 1:17:20) - What’s Next For Ware-House? (1:17:21 - 1:21:38) - Advice For Entrepreneurs In The Making (1:21:40 - 1:21:56) - Outro --------------------------------------------------- Follow me on LinkedIn for more business insights and leadership secrets: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkapoor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samir.kapoor/ A Workout That Will Work Out: https://bit.ly/AWorkoutThatWillWorkout A Workout that Will Work Out is what you need to achieve the stronger, fitter and more agile body you've always wanted, but never really knew how to get!