Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent Macon
Hi Brent, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to owning The Little Gym franchises has been a circuitous one. I come from a management consulting background and have experience in various sectors, including a startup in sports media, time at Uber, and most recently, running Daymaker, a charitable giving software company.
What excited me about The Little Gym was threefold: it’s a proven business model, it’s deeply connected to the community, and it’s on the right side of many societal trends. In an era of increasing disconnection and screen time, The Little Gym offers a space for kids to move, develop, and interact face-to-face. I believe in The Little Gym wholeheartedly, and I love that my own children get to participate.
Throughout my career, I’ve been fascinated by the impact of technology on our lives – both the pros and cons. With Daymaker, I started focusing more on children’s enrichment and wellness, thinking holistically about what helps a child thrive. This interest, combined with my experiences in the tech world, led me to The Little Gym. What excites me about this venture is that it can’t be abstracted by technology – it’s a real, tangible experience for kids and families.
The Little Gym allows me to build something I’m passionate about while also pursuing a life in balance. I’m working hard, but I have the flexibility to be there for my family. It enables me to apply myself in my career while being a present husband and father, which is incredibly important to me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to business ownership certainly hasn’t been without its challenges. My previous venture prior to The Little Gym, Daymaker, was a volatile tech startup that we ultimately had to shut down. That experience was tough psychologically – having to let go of people I cared about and believed in was challenging.
With Daymaker, we often felt at the mercy of market conditions. During the pandemic, demand for our product soared, but as companies returned to offices and recession fears grew, our growth stalled. It was frustrating to feel like success was outside of our control, regardless of how hard we worked.
Financially, starting a franchise business has been a significant undertaking. My wife has been incredibly supportive as our primary breadwinner during this transition. We’ve taken on substantial financial risk and debt to make this happen. It’s a big bet on ourselves and on the quality of The Little Gym model.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Little Gym ?
The Little Gym Dunwoody is located at 5501 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
The Little Gym’s programs are designed to be a springboard for life’s adventures. Classes utilize movement-based learning and imaginative play to enhance coordination, listening, and intellectual skills in children ages four months – 12. Popular class options include Parent/Child classes, which allow parents to help their child explore motor and social-skill development, and preschool and grade school gymnastics classes that teach students tumbling and apparatus techniques while using positive motivation as a learning tool. The Little Gym of Dunwoody also offers Awesome Birthday Bashes in a variety of themes that feature instructor-led games and music.
The Little Gym teaches kids social and physical skills appropriate to each stage of childhood by creating opportunities to experience achievement and build self-confidence. The core of the international franchise’s mission is becoming the foundation of a child’s development that will set them up for success. Through a proprietary philosophy called Three-Dimensional learning, programs foster growth in three holistic dimensions including physical, cognitive, and social and emotional learning. The core teaching methods create opportunities for children to experience achievement and build self-confidence.
This location is the first The Little Gym location that I am opening in the metro-Atlanta community. The other three locations will be in Peachtree City, Midtown and Marietta. I am incredibly grateful and excited to continue The Little Gym’s expansion in the area.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the value of execution risk over existential risk at this phase of my life. With The Little Gym, we have to work hard to get it right, but there’s a proven model to follow. This contrasts with many tech startups where the threat of failure is more existential. I’ve realized I prefer the challenge of excellent execution rather than constantly wondering if the business will survive.
Another crucial lesson is the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. My business partner, Jane Mills, and our gym director, Ruby Liversidge, have been instrumental in making this experience successful and enjoyable. The quality of these relationships significantly impacts both our effectiveness and my personal satisfaction in this venture.
Pricing:
- Our core offering is a weekly kids’ gymnastics class. The pricing for this is $115 per month on a month-to-month basis, or $105 per month with a 12-month commitment.
- For families wanting more, we offer a premium membership for two classes per week at $205 per month.
- We provide a 10% sibling discount for families with two or more children enrolled.
- Beyond regular classes, we offer birthday parties on weekends, camps during school breaks, and a monthly “parent survival night” from 6-9 PM where parents can drop off their kids for an evening out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thelittlegym.com/georgia-dunwoody
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelittlegymdunwoody/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlgdunwoody
Image Credits
The Little Gym/The Little Gym Dunwoody
