Ambitious fitness duo launch second boutique gym
A pair of fitness instructors have launched their second boutique gym after property agents John Truslove brokered a deal for their new premises in a Worcestershire village at the foot of the Lickey Hills.
Adele and Jermaine Fyfield started their FLZ FIT business just over a year ago with a gym in Studley and its popularity soon saw them planning a second.
Property agents John Truslove brokered a deal for the new gym at a former church hall in Cofton Hackett – but then the coronavirus lockdown intervened.
Eight months on, the new gym at the Old Gospel Hall in Barnt Green Road is open for business, with bookings for every training session.
Jermaine Fyfield said: “It’s taken a bit of time, and once we were in we needed to fit-out the premises, redecorate completely and install an additional shower with disabled facilities. We’ve done most of the work ourselves unless it needed a skilled tradesman, so it’s been a real labour of love.”
Adele and Jermaine, who have more than 30 years in the fitness industry between them, left successful careers in London with the dream of setting up their own boutique fitness gym in the West Midlands.
They worked with i-D Magazine, the fashion photographer Juergen Teller, BBC Radio 1, DJ Dev, Stella McCartney for Adidas, supermodel Karlie Kloss and performed in the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
But they wanted to focus on the growing demand for boutique gyms which focus on small exercise groups in smart surroundings, with the emphasis on personal attention.
“The London market is saturated but we felt there was room to grow out in the regions,” said Jermaine.
“We moved to the West Midlands in 2016 and opened our first gym three years later. We have a growing team of instructors working with us and we make sure we rigorously follow all the relevant Covid rules and regulations, including providing NHS Track & Trace QR codes for clients to scan on arrival.”
Adele added: “Ben Truslove of John Truslove had helped us find our first gym and we went to him for help looking for a second site. He’s been brilliant. He suggested a couple of premises but they weren’t quite right, but he listened to us and understood exactly what we were looking for.
“He suggested the Old Gospel Hall to us. It was perfect – just what we were looking for. We can’t praise Ben enough for his support in what ended up being a very long process with lockdown in the middle.
“The hall had been a dojo but had been empty for some time, so we get to bring a part of the local community back to life.
“Hopefully, as we grow, we will be able to create more jobs for local people, especially as we are now becoming the West Midlands base for the new First Class Fitness Academy, which will be training the next generation of fitness instructors.”
Ben Truslove, joint managing director of John Truslove, negotiated a five year lease for landlords, Cofton Hackett Parish Council.
The premises, comprising a hall with showers and changing rooms for men and women, a first floor office and parking for half a dozen vehicles, comprises 1,147 sq ft of internal space.
Truslove said: “Working with Adele and Jermaine, we were able to understand exactly what they needed and were able to bring our unrivalled knowledge of the local commercial property market to bear. This was a protracted negotiation, with delays caused by the coronavirus lockdown, but we successfully negotiated a lease agreement to the satisfaction of both our client, the landlord, and the new tenants.
“As a result, they have secured a lease on excellent premises in an attractive rural location, ideal for the growth of their boutique fitness gym business. I am sure we will be working with them again in the future as they continue to expand.”
