We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Juan Biddix Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Juan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our mission at SARGE FITT is to provide superior exercise equipment where individuals of varying ages, heights, sizes, fitness levels, physical abilities and disabilities can achieve body transformational workouts in the comforts of their own space. In furtherance of this mission, I invented and patented a freestanding, adjustable, and portable multifunctional exercise rack called the FITT Rack. When I was in the Army, we had a certain physical fitness standards that we had to maintain. It was a requirement that we exercised daily. It was convenient for me because the gym was right there on base. I could go before or after work or even during my lunch break. However, once I retired, that convenience was gone. I became very frustrated with wasting time and gas traveling to and from the gym. I wanted that convenience that I used to have back again.
The times I did make it to the gym I had to wait for someone else to finish using the exercise equipment that I wanted to use and the exercise equipment in the gym was one size fits all or as I like to say, “one size fits no one!” The exercise equipment was static (in most cases) and could not be adjusted, altered, or moved. The pull-up bars on the power racks were too high to reach, therefore I had to either jump up or step up on a stool to reach the pull-up bars. This was a very unsafe practice. I finally concluded that going to the gym was no longer an option for me. I believed that if I felt this way, there had to be other individuals out there who felt the same.
I decided I was going to build my own a home gym instead. However, the problem that I ran into was, I couldn’t find any exercise equipment on the market that I liked. Therefore, I decided to make my own exercise equipment. I decided to invent and patent the FITT Rack!
I wanted to create a piece of equipment that most individuals could use regardless of their fitness levels or abilities. I wanted to encourage individuals to achieve optimum health and eliminate the excuse of not having the time or ability to exercise. This is a very important part of our mission because obesity is becoming an epidemic in the US. Obesity is a major health concern that increases the risk of severe illnesses such as depression and diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and even the COVID viruses. We want to motivate individuals to put their health first to reduce chronic illnesses and diseases associated with obesity
The FITT Rack accommodates users of varying ages, heights, sizes, and fitness levels. The FITT Rack is the ONLY power rack or squat stand that has two removable handles that rotate 360 degrees and slide laterally enabling the user to adjust the width or position of their grip. The parts of the FITT Rack are also interchangeable and can be reconfigured to modify any exercise to accommodate individuals with varying physical abilities and disabilities. The FITT Rack can easily be lowered or raised to the user’s desired height creating a safe workout environment.
Unlike similar products on the market, the FITT Rack does not have to be anchored to the ground, doorframe or wall. TOOLS ARE NOT REQUIRED! Which allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the FITT Rack so the user can safely stow it away or move it from place to place.
Individuals can shed unwanted body fat, build muscle, boost stamina, and improve their overall health with the FITT Rack!.
The FITT Rack is one piece of equipment, one helluva workout!
At SARGE FITT we also believe in giving back. We honor our American Veterans by donating a portion of every sale of the FITT Rack to a Veteran-based charitable organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and Surviving Spouses of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, we set aside a percentage of each sale and put it towards the purchase of FITT Racks to be donated to organizations that host fitness classes for Veterans but may not be in a financial position to purchase one themselves.

Juan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Juan Biddix Jr, I am the founder of a Veteran and Black-owned small business called SARGE FITT. I served 25 years in the United States Army before retiring in 2016. I am a Certified Personal Trainer and an Army Master Fitness Trainer. I don’t have a business degree, formal education, or previous experience in running a business. I am proud of the fact that not only did I start my own business, but I also invented and patented my own exercise equipment.

SARGE FITT is also a family-owned business. My wife and kids play a major role in the success of SARGE FITT. Over the years I learned how to run my business (to a certain degree) through several business incubators, trainings and from trial and error. The road hasn’t been easy; however, it has been rewarding. Throughout my business journey, my family encouraged and motivated me daily to keep pushing forward. Without them, SARGE FITT would not be SARGE FITT.

I started SARGE FITT to become one of the leaders in the exercise equipment industry as a viable alternative to the status quo. My competitors exercise equipment are either too bulky, too flimsy, or too expensive. I created the FITT Rack for individuals (like myself) who wanted a simple, yet effective piece of exercise equipment that is versatile, affordable, and easy to use. Unlike most of my competitors, the FITT Rack accommodates individuals of varying physical abilities and disabilities. The FITT Rack is the solution for individuals to lose unwanted body fat and improve their overall health and wellness.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I started my journey to find a manufacturer in 2016. I emailed and called as many US steel manufacturers as possible. A lot of them were unwilling to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) or wanted to charge an excessive amount to manufacture the FITT Rack. Others would not answer their phones or return phone calls or respond to emails. I finally found a US manufacturer, in 2018 however, unfortunately the partnership didn’t last. After four years of searching for another US manufacturer, I became more and more frustrated with the lack of willingness of US companies to manufacturer the FITT Rack. Therefore, I decided to look at overseas options. In early 2022 I stumbled upon an Instagram post by a company in India that manufactured exercise equipment like the FITT Rack. I reached out to them and before you know, we had a deal in place for them to manufacture the FITT Rack. They were professional and walked me through the process step by step. The FITT Rack was finally completed and ready to take to market in November 2022. The entire process from searching for a manufacturer, to reaching a deal, to shipping the FITT Racks and dealing with US Customs has all been a learning and rewarding experience.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There were times during my search to find a manufacturer to fabricate the FITT Rack, that I thought about giving up all together. The process was time consuming and frustrating. I couldn’t understand why not one company would be willing to manufacture the FITT Rack. I found a US manufacturer who was willing to manufacturer the FITT Rack at a reasonable price. My first FITT Rack prototype was completed in 2018. There were minor changes that needed to be made and I let the manufacture know what those changes were. However, I never heard from them again. No phone call or emails, they just stop communicating all together. I was down but not out. I kept searching and searching and finally decided to look at overseas options. In 2020 during the peak of the COVID outbreak, I found a Chinese manufacturer who said they could easily manufacture the FITT Rack. Eventually, they also sent me a prototype to test. The prototype was less than desirable and did not live up to the quality of exercise equipment that I was willing to take to market. I expressed my concerns and told them of all the deficiencies with the prototype. They were willing to make the necessary changes, however they were not willing to manufacture another prototype. Instead, they wanted me to purchase 500 units and they would make the necessary changes. That was unacceptable for me. At this point I was becoming desperate to get the FITT Rack to market and I thought about caving into their demands even though I knew they did not manufacture a quality piece of equipment. My anxiousness to bring the FITT Rack to market was getting the best of me. But due to the fact that I have a strong support system at home, they discouraged me from doing the deal and ensured me that I would find someone eventually. I did eventually find someone!! I found a manufacturer in India who was my saving grace!! They manufactured the FITT Rack exactly as I had envisioned the FITT Rack should be and the FITT Rack is finally on the market. It has been a long road (6 years), however it was well worth the wait. I am glad I didn’t give up or give in!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sargefitt.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarge_fitt
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sargefitt
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juan-biddix-jr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ZHAjT_VAtDK00m-_gY5RA
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@sargefitt