We recently connected with Gretchen Wagoner and have shared our conversation below.
Gretchen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
When naming BREATHE PILATES Miami, I wanted it to be a simple name that could be easily remembered and shortened within our community. Often, I’ll hear students and colleagues refer to the studio just as “BREATHE” which I love! Also, “breathing” is one of the 6 original Pilates Principles which Joseph Pilates spoke about in his book “Return to Life Through Contrology” (Contrology was the original name of the Pilates Method). Pilates stated that “above all, learn how to breathe correctly.”
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
BREATHE PILATES Miami grew out of my personal love for Pilates and belief that “Pilates is for EVERYbody”. I have been teaching for over 15 years now but before that I was a student of the Pilates method for 6 years. I also wanted BREATHE to be known for high quality and Pilates education as well. My instructors are all very talented and consummate professionals, and our students and clients recognize that which makes me very proud. We can and have worked with so many different physical conditions and pathologies. Our instructors meet our students where they are and provide the best movement experience to them, whether that is challenging them to their fullest potential or helping them get out of pain.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
BREATHE PILATES Miami is a small boutique studio which fosters long term relationships with our students and community. Our group class sizes are small (a maximum if 6 students per class). Because of this, our students get to know one another, network, some even become friends. We like to reward our students and clients with discounts if they become a monthly member. And friendly competitions twice a year where the top three students who take the most amount of classes (it can be a combination of group, virtual, and Private sessions) wins fabulous prizes! At least one of those prizes is normally a gift certificate to another local business within our community, sometimes owned by a student/client of BREATHE.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
As mentioned earlier, we pride ourselves in being a very professional studio and team with great customer service. This is important in every aspect of the studio, from keeping the bathroom tidy and offering hair bands for those who need or forgot theirs, starting and ending classes on time, and brainstorming among one another on how to help a shared student.
We also have hosted various Pilates instructors who are experts in their fields, such as Pilates for Neurological Conditions to Pilates for hip and knee replacements. Some of our students at the studio are Pilates instructor colleagues which is a HUGE compliment to the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.breathepilatesmiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathepilatesmiami/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathepilatesmiami/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenwagoner/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMxMNPi7aRbCaKxgIxG0n7A
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/breathe-pilates-miami
Image Credits
All photos IAMWAZZAN except Gretchen in Pilates Human shirt, taken by Maria Paula Quintana.