We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anne De la Parra a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Anne , appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I have always been a decrete and concrete person but when I started to plan the idea of my own Pilates studio it scared a lot. It all began because I moved to the suburbs and I could not find a studio that I loved around the area.
My ex boss told me I should open my own so she encouraged me and actually she became my right hand in all this process.
One thing I learned through this is to delegate on the things I am not good at and I built a great team from the beginning.
I decided to go through with it even though I was doing it with a lot of fear.
One other thing I learned is to work with a great realtor is Key to find the right location.
When I found the location I just had a great feeling!
Talking about my Brand identity I never settled until I was in love with my brand. I wanted a brand that people would fell in love with and a place where it was not only a Pilates studio for working out but also a place where people felt HAPPY! I always prioritized making a community and I feel that has been a clue!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have always been a passionate of the things I do. I grew up with both my parents being very sporty and it is how I became a Traithlete growing up. At the same time growing up I discovered Pilates and it became my favorite thing to do. I moved to Houston when I got married and started my Triathlete carrier a little more serious and dedicated my self to train and at the same time I found a Pilates studio where to go.
One day I saw there where auditions to teach and I decided to do them without having any experience and I got selected. Thats where all my teaching Pilates started.
I worked in the field i. 3 different studios for 7 years until we moved to the suburbs and there was no studio I felt it fulfilled my expectations. I started digging in the idea of opening my own even though I was scared and did not know it was going to be successful.
I had always since I started Pilates wanted to do my own studio but I never felt confident to do it.
Here is where I understood that I needed more experience to feel I was ready to do it.
And so I started the project of building THE CORE LAB.
I put together the best and most effective workout in the world with all the experience and methods I had learned over the years.
I costume built my machines and developed The Core Method.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think the most important was focusing on a community! I made my community my priority.
I also believe so much in my method that I live to spread the word of it!
Where ever I go I bring fliers, I ask people to follow us, I stop people in their cars and ask them to come haha I had no shame hahah
But I really put effort in having all my people happy!
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
First of all I Believe that I am not the best in everything so I like to find those people that have the things that complete me. Second I like to work together with people that LOVE what they do and are as passionate as I am!
And third of all I always ask for their opinion as they are aso the head with me of the business!
I am the owner but we are all a tea and that is why TCL is as it is! Because we all are happy working here!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Thecorelabpilates.com
- Instagram: @thecorelabpilates and mine is @thestoryofanirongil
- Facebook: The Core Lab Pilates