Though the pandemic has affected them greatly, Toronto-based personal training company ‘Nielsen Fitness’ didn’t close up shop (or break the law) as a result of COVID precautions; instead they adapted their entire business model to continue serving clients through the pandemic with a focus on safety and the ‘long game’.
Poul Nielsen, CEO and fitness industry veteran says, “when COVID hit, we had to rapidly pivot from in-home personal training to virtual training.”
Though it wasn’t part of the original plan, “it was our only option if I wanted to keep my 20 employees working and clients – who needed us more than ever – working out,” says Nielsen.
As a result, instead of a pandemic sob story, Nielsen Fitness is busier than ever – and embracing the opportunities that have come their way as a result of this shift.
“It took us a good few months to work out the kinks but, now that we have, business is booming – I just hired four new team members, and our revenue in November was higher than January,” says Nielsen. “Going virtual has unlocked unlimited possibility for us geographically – and we’re so excited to be working with clients from across Canada, the United States and Europe.”
His team is enjoying the perks too. Says Nielsen: “My trainers are making more money, because they don’t need to travel and can therefore schedule more sessions into a day.”
On a personal note, Nielsen reports that it’s been incredibly fulfilling to be able to help people cope with the stress of COVID in a positive way and he’s on a mission to do that for as many people as possible.
