Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Twum.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I discovered my love for fitness while I was a freshmen in college. I got inspired and wanted to compete in a beauty pageant. In order for me to do well, I had to prepare not only mentally and emotionally, but physically for the swimsuit portion. Immediately, I reached out to my guyfriends who patiently taught me ins and outs of fitness. From weights to cardio, I was able to prepare for my pageant and I absolutely loved the process all the way. Although I did not win, I truly enjoyed working hard for it in the gym and then that’s when I knew that my purpose was in there somewhere. All thanks to pageantry, I am in love with taking care of my health and nutrition.
Throughout college, I continued to compete and found new ways to get and remain fit. My journey has not been easy, however, I’ve fallen off the wagon a few times, and nutrition is the hardest part, but I kept going. I developed that discipline and I’ve been holding onto it. About a year and half after graduating college, I decided to go to personal training school. I wanted to share my passion with others and realized that it was time to listen to my calling. I loved every minute of personal training school and wanted to take things to a whole new level, something I never ever imagined myself doing. I wanted to become an entrepreneur and start my own brand. And I did just that!
TwumFit was born in the Spring of 2017, and I started using my social media to promote and market what I had to offer as an independent and mobile coach. I began to train my friends while I was working full time in a corporate office. I would train during my lunch break and after work. It was difficult balancing work, personal life, and developing a brand from scratch. About four months in, I woke up one morning and decided to leave my corporate job. Now, I know this sounds crazy to most people because four months is such a small window in terms of growing a brand. But, I felt so encouraged to take that leap of faith to become a full-time entrepreneur and really focus on my dreams. So after putting in my two weeks, I planned a trip back home, Ghana, West Africa with one of my sisters and we disappeared for three weeks. I wanted to recharge, to soul search, and to just be at home before I could take TwumFit to the next level. After landing back in the states, it hit me- TwumFit was mine full time and I had to HUSTLE.
My first day of TwumFit was actually when I arrived back in Atlanta and I went straight to a networking event. Living off my savings and working through faith, I began to connect and form relationships with people who later became clients or referred me to potential clients. I was a part-time nanny on the side so I could develop another stream of income because I knew my savings would eventually run out. Being an entrepreneur is not easy. You are the boss, the secretary, the account manager, everything that requires a business to run, YOU are those things until you hire someone else to do it. Often times, I get caught up in the stress and the delicate beginnings of TwunFit were so fragile because that is how I was starting to feel. I got involved in a very toxic relationship. My self-esteem, brand, and confidence in myself were slowly unraveling. After leaving my toxic relationship, a family friend opened up a small gym close to my apartment and she reached out to me to become an independent trainer to get more clients. Things started to really look up for me, and I was able to leave my nanny side hustle. Unfortunately, though, the gym picked up and fell right back down and my friend had no choice but to close it. Heartbroken and disappointed, I went back home for the holidays as I always do, and again, surrounded myself with family and healing. TwumFit is the wildest and one of the most biggest dreams I’ve ever had and I did not want to give up. I was not going to allow myself to close the chapter until I was done writing it.
So, I decided to get a little more creative and began to expand into wellness. I joined a team that really helped me kick off my brand in the area, and best of all, I was making all kinds of connections. Eventually, those connections became clients and I was thrilled. Because I felt that my brand offered a unique twist, I wanted to expand again into skincare and makeup. I remember sitting down one day and talking with a friend. I proposed the idea to add beauty to my brand because I felt that I had a unique touch. I want TwumFit to become a one-stop shop for women- fitness, nutrition, MaryKay skincare, and makeup. TwumFit, the glam trainer! This hasn’t been done before, and now it is my opportunity to start a new trend and keep it. I have learned the power and value of dreaming big AND executing. It is so easy to daydream, but it is even more challenging to get yourself up everyday to make it happen. Hard work always pays off and I want to encourage people, truly, that their calling is not here by accident. How people feel about music, sports, food, are not just by chance. We are all given a unique set of gifts and talents that are meant to be shared with the WORLD. Someone out there needs our passion, dedication, and discipline. Someone out there needs what you have to offer, including yourself!.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Developing TwumFit has not been a smooth road at all. Being an entrepreneur in itself is very difficult. It is time consuming, risky, scary, and can be isolating. Finances were not always stable and I had to keep reassuring myself that my time will come and I must not give up.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with TwumFitLLC – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
TwumFit LLC is a one-stop shop to look and feel GOOD. I offer personal training, wellness and nutrition guidance, and makeup and skincare consulting through MaryKay. I am proud of what I have to offer because it hasn’t really been done before! I am the glam trainer – the trainer who inspires women to feel and look their best selfs. I fully encourage my clients to embrace what they have and use TwumFit has just as an enhancement. My brand is very diverse and we promote self-love and body confidence.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have a lot of big plans heading this way in the New Year for TwumFit. I am always looking to expand and grow because I want to reach as many people as possible. One of my plans for TwumFit is to really market and promote my “Big Booty Tuesday” sports bras and leggings. Big Booty Tuesday is a fun way that I “celebrate “ leg day every week. It is just something cute and hilarious that I randomly came up with one early morning in the gym. I would love to see Big Booty Tuesday be a nationwide kind of thing and I know it will get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twumfit.com
- Phone: 6787795517
- Email: stephanietwumfitness@gmail.com
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