Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander “Pepper.”
Alexander, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have made a life, a living from playing and coaching sports. In 2008, I had just returned back to New York City from Berlin, Germany, where I was living and personal training. I moved into my friend’s apartment. I lived under her stairs. I was, for all intents and purposes, homeless. My options were limited. I had no money and very few people to rely on. I was hired by a gym to private train, the first and last job working for someone else of my career.
I looked at the GM when he hired me and I told him that I would become the greatest trainer they ever had. He didn’t believe me. In three months, they were going to mold their entire sales strategy based off of me. I had, in fact, become their greatest trainer. Every morning I would wake up at 3:30 A.M. to travel from Brooklyn to Manhattan and open the gym by 5:00 A.M. I would work every shift, every day, seven days a week. I would nap on the ground of the break room and lay newspaper on top of me to keep warm. Sometimes I would sneak towels to use as pillows. I left the gym at 11:00 P.M. every night (except weekends) and commute home for an hour. Upon arriving home, I would have three tacos. I would spend $8.25 at the food truck on the corner. They were the greatest tacos the world had ever known.
Four months later, I left the gym I was working for and took all my clients to go independent. I scaled from six sessions a week to 50. I became one of the top producing personal trainers in Manhattan. My retention rate was eight years. At 35 years old, I felt like I was 100. My lifetime of bruising and fighting left me needing a full hip replacement, a full knee replacement and back surgery. Standing on my feet for 12 hours a day wasn’t something I could maintain. Something had to change. I went back to school for an accelerated master’s in psychology. I got straight A’s. I didn’t finish. I wasn’t done with athletic training. I committed to opening a studio. New York City was too expensive. I looked for other markets. I found Nashville. Music City was a growing economy with a shortage of commercial space and an influx of residents. A recipe for success.
In June 2017, I opened Pepper Boxing Nashville. We were the greatest fitness studio the city had ever known. We became nationally recognized. I attribute our success to sacrifice. Rather than rent an apartment and spend the extra money, I lived upstairs in a 400 sf wooden box with no windows and no showers. I walked to the YMCA every day to shower. The extra money was spent on marketing.
In the summer of 2018, I received a call from The Atlanta Braves. They wanted us to build in The Battery. They had heard of us and wanted us. I didn’t believe it at first. It was true. Pepper Boxing is franchising and expanding up to four clubs in the next year. Things are well. I still work seven days a week. 108 hours a week. The only difference is that now, I train my clients sitting down. And… I live in an apartment with its own shower.
Pepper Boxing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a fitness-based boxing studio. The classes are comprised of three portions. Boxing/Weights/Boxing. Think… Cardio/Toning/Cardio. Zero contact ever. All levels always welcome. We are the creators of the ONLY circular heavy bag layout in the world. Your instructor is front and center at all times. We are super dope and super rad. So is our community and culture. It’s the greatest place the world has ever known.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Two things: 1. It will be when I can retire my mom. I told her that in one year from now, she would never pay another bill again. 2. When I can provide for the family, I don’t have, but I hope to have one day. I watched my mom struggle immensely. I never want anyone I love to ever feel that way again.
Pricing:
- $5 first class
- $59 one month unlimited trial with ZERO contract
- 1 year unlimited classes = $129 a month + unlimited Weight Room
- 1 year limited classes (6 classes a month) = $95 a month + unlimited Weight Room
- 6 month unlimited classes = $139 a month + unlimited Weight Room
- 6 month limited classes (6 classes a month) = $105 a month + unlimited Weight Room
- Private Training available (Boxing/Weight Loss/Toning/Conditioning)
Contact Info:
- Address: Pepper Boxing 925 Battery Ave SE #1150
Atlanta, GA 30339 - Website: PepperBoxing.Com
- Phone: (678) 402-7721
- Email: info-atlanta@pepperboxing.com
- Instagram: Pepper_Boxing_Atl or Pepper_Boxing or PersonalPepper
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PepperBoxingATL/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pepper-boxing-atlanta-atlanta
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