Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittany Hyde. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brittany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

As a new/first time business owner, it was important to me that we give back to our community. Each month we hold a benefit class that is donation-based and supports a local nonprofit, ideally something hyper-local. Sometimes it’s just one class, sometimes is an off-site pop-up with multiple classes. Either way our riders have been incredibly generous and supportive!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I spent most of my professional career in the travel/airline and e-commerce industries, working in operations, management, and leadership. When covid hit, I was laid off almost immediately from my brand new Business Development role at a non-profit. This gave me a chance to reflect and regroup, figure out if I really wanted to go down the small business path. Ultimately a friend suggested that I open a spin studio in the small town I grew up in. Fitness and wellness had always been a big part of my life though never a part of my career. Long story short, I began writing a business plan the very same day she suggested it, started making connections, figured out if it was doable. We opened in May of 2021, just as vaccines were rolling out. It’s been a year and a half of ups and downs but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished!

We are a small studio offering 22 spin classes six days a week. I have a team of instructors that have full time jobs and families and still have time to put their heart and soul into their classes. We all believe in the power of movement and doing so together – a Peloton is great for so many people but we’re looking to give our riders connection, community, and a place to feel a part of something. I kept the design of the studio simple – no mirrors, no big light shows – just a dark space where everyone can feel safe working toward whatever goals they may have. We really stress the safe space part – working out (especially spin) is intimidating for a lot of people and we want everyone to feel like this is a place for them.

I am most proud of building this business from the ground up and all the good we’ve been able to do. While I’ve now taught over 500 classes, I didn’t bring a following with me and neither did my team. All but one of us had never taught a class before – we trusted each other and continue to learn together. We’ve focused on people feeling comfortable and welcome and while growing the business is still a work in progress, I’m so happy with what we’ve accomplished.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

No question that word of mouth has built this business the most. I have bought ad space on social media, google, local newspapers, visitor maps, etc. At the end of the day, the ROI on these efforts have been slim to none. Our riders bring their friends and family, they work to convince the people in their life to come in and try it. Convincing someone to spend money on an inherently uncomfortable service can be a tough task but hearing about it from someone you trust proves time and again to be the most cost effective and reliable method for growth for us.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I committed to opening Spark Cycling in January of 2021 and we opened in May. In hindsight, it was probably not the smartest timing but with vaccines on the horizon, it seemed like we were moving toward “normalcy”. Of course I didn’t foresee the delta and omicron surges and while we survived those, there were weeks and months that were really challenging. I was mostly covering costs and as a saver, I was in OK shape financially. But emotionally and mentally, it was a struggle. We would have days and weeks with only a handful of riders. But that handful kept showing up. And eventually the handful got bigger. And while we’re still working toward having a truly sustainable long term business, looking back, it’s clear that we’ve managed to overcome a lot of hurdles.

Contact Info:

• Website: sparkcyclingstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spark.cycling.maine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkcyclingstudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-hyde/
• Other: I’m also a photographer! brittanyhydephotography.com

Image Credits
Katie Kelly Photography, Sturdy Productions, Brittany Hyde Photography