We recently connected with Karen Richards and have shared our conversation below.
Karen , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a customer success story with us?
With Two Birds Fit™, the goal isn’t necessarily to find your person…but if you do, fantastic! The goal is to be surrounded by positivity, fun and possibly a little sweat – all while making friends and connections in person. At the heart of it all however, there is a genuine need for connection and it’s just a matter of bringing people together and encouraging them to take flight!
This story is about a couple who DID find their person and are now flying high together! Sam and Joe met two years ago at a Two Birds Fit™ Speed Dating Workout for Singles in their 40’s and 50’s. It was a chilly October day in 2021 and we had a pretty small group due to weather and some no shows, but that didn’t stop those two from joining us!
Both Sam and Joe stood out to me right from the start because of their personalities. Sam and I chatted before the workout and was so friendly and sweet. She was new to Denver and we chatted about job networking, making new friends and how she was excited to be trying out our new business concept. I first talked to Joe a couple of weeks before on the phone. He was living an hour north of Denver and was stuck in traffic trying to come to the workout and was determined to come and tried so hard to make it. He had to bail because he would be too late and was so bummed. I ended up transferring him to the workout in October, he was so nice and excited about another chance to come… and it’s a good thing because that’s when he met Sam!
What can I say, the rest is history! Our Two Birds Speed Dating Workout began and we paired everyone up. They spent about 6 minutes with each other doing partner exercises and then switched to the next person. At that time, we didn’t have our Matchmaking software built yet, so at the end of the workout I asked everyone individually if they felt like they clicked with anyone. If they did, I wrote their name and Two Birds # down and sent them an email 24 hours later connecting them if the match was mutual. Quite a lot of work – but completely worth it! Sam and Joe matched … as did a few others :)
It was such a blast getting updated on their love story…. I received a text message from Sam on Veterans Day weekend a month after our workout with a picture of the two of them. They went on a date and had dinner to celebrate him for Veteran’s Day. Then a few months later in May, I received another text with a picture of Sam’s hand with an engagement ring, thanking Two Birds for connecting the two of them.. When I got the text, I literally screamed like someone had asked me to get married. Haha! The most recent message and photo from Sam was a picture on their wedding day in September of this year!
Its so rewarding watching people connect, to be challenged in a workout or in stepping out of their comfort zones to come to one of our Two Birds events… I feel very fortunate to be a part of connecting Sam and Joe and also so very fortunate that they kept me up to date on their love story!
Karen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hi! I’m Karen Richards owner/creator of Two Birds Fit™- Speed Dating Workouts, LLC in Denver, Colorado. I’m a Personal Trainer and I love Matchmaking – and I had to bring these two ideas together. Two Birds Fit™ brings single people together for a fun and safe way to get to know each other through movement with partner-based, Speed Dating Workouts and the opportunity to meet in person. AND, we are one of the very first and few companies to do this!
Two Birds Fit™ makes it easy, saves you time and enables you to meet multiple people at one fitness focused event. We also offer Singles Mixers and active Social Events. At the end of our events, everyone has the opportunity to let us know if they “clicked” with anyone and if the match is mutual, our proprietary Two Birds Fit™ Software will connect them. Think of it like “swiping right in real life!” What’s even more rewarding is that it really works! We have made friend connections and matches at every event we have held in the last two years and are ready to take it to the next level!
We hear all the time how tired people are of online dating. With Two Birds Fit™ you can meet active singles in person and get a fun workout… Two Birds, One Stone!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I recently had the opportunity to be accepted into Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI), and to take two different business courses on launching and growing my business.
After completing the second phase of a 3 month intensive business bootcamp for entrepreneurs at RMMFI and working with Sydney Clockston-Jackson and their team of business and financial mentors I have gained invaluable knowledge on how to grow my business and what steps I need to take to get there. Thanks to my financial coach, Vikki Fininen I can now set real financial goals and button up the many loose ends and creative ideas that have been bouncing in my head. I have the skills to deliver an even better service and am now much more confident that Two Birds Fit is indeed a business worth continuing to pursue, build and flourish.
I highly recommend RMMFI to anyone with a business idea or to someone who needs guidance and direction to grow or relaunch their business. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time and I will be forever grateful to RMMFI and their staff, trainers and mentors, as well as Bruce Smith, my good friend and personal training client at The Denver Athletic Club for recommending it to me.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
I’m still trying to spread the word about Two Birds Fit™ and have barely scratched the surface on marketing and getting the word out. So far, my favorite stories about marketing have revolved around two words….desperation and obsession. These words aren’t the most confident or sexy (in life or in business), but sometimes, you gotta do what ya gotta do! Let me explain what I mean here… I’m desperate and obsessed to tell anyone and everyone about my business because I’m just so excited to connect people in person…and, I know it works!
If you’re in the Denver area you may have even witnessed these moments! I’m not at all ashamed of them and find them quite funny and also quite me. I think I could easily tidy up the language and say I excel at “Guerrilla Marketing” but instead I’ll just let you in on my ways of doing so….
I’ve been known (on numerous occasions) to shout at passers by at Sloans Lake asking people if they’re single and also at grocery stores and sporting events. I’ve accidentally set a car alarm off at Willis Case Golf Course while putting Two Birds flyers on car windows, and also handed out 75 business cards along Cherry Creek and through Wash Park while training for my Ironman this year on a long run.
What I’ve found is that 99% of the people I ask are willing and happy to tell me if they’re single! With regard to desperation… it does go a bit deeper. Depending on the singles event, I try my best to have equal numbers of men and women. To be honest, I’m a bit more desperate to tell guys about it because I typically have A LOT more active women signing up and not as many guys doing so. So many people are tired of the online apps and are ready to meet each other in person. I think women might be a bit more ready to shake things up and try a new way.
As I’ve grown Two Birds Fit, I’ve gradually started to build a singles community and don’t feel the need to do this (as much), but I’m definitely not opposed! I’ve met a lot of great people and have had some funny moments along the way. I really try not to take things too seriously and have a more playful outlook on life – with this marketing approach, people can get a glimpse of what Two Birds Fit is all about…. meeting new people, in person and in active way!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TwoBirdsFit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twobirdsfit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwoBirdsFit/
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/karen-richards-3936b187
Image Credits
The personal photo was taken by Invizible Agency of Denver. The rest were taken by Two Birds Fit.