Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kurt and De Anna Mangum II. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kurt and De Anna , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
The story of our very first client holds a special place in our hearts. Maricela, a remarkable single mom, came to us seeking a healthier lifestyle. She noticed the healthy lunches I packed for Kurt and observed him walking around the Fitness Trail during his breaks at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Seeing this inspired her to take action. Maricela asked Kurt if we could create a customized meal and activity plan to help her lose weight and improve her overall health. We were thrilled to be able to help her on this journey.
We met Maricela in the Starbucks at the airport concourse to discuss her plan. Though somewhat nervous, she was excited to start her new path to feeling better. With our guidance, Maricela lost an impressive 80 pounds in under a year. She began taking her two boys hiking weekly on Camelback Mountain, drinking more water, and ultimately transforming her lifestyle.
To this day, Maricela’s success continues to inspire us. She serves as a shining example of the power of determination and the impact that small changes can have on our well-being.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We are Kurt and De Anna Mangum, the dynamic duo behind CoupleyFit™️, a brand about health, wellness, and lifestyle. The CoupleyFit™️ mission is simple yet impactful: two or more people feeling better together. As a husband and wife team, we collaborate with other brands to create inspiring digital content and influence people on social media, showing them fun and motivating ways to build generational health.
CoupleyFit™️ partners with leading brands like Walmart to make healthy living more accessible to everyone. Our S.W.A.N.™️ philosophy (Sleep, Water, Activity, and Nutrition) is holistic and effective, and our Two Can Do It™️ approach promotes accountability, motivation, and connection that leads to real behavioral change.
We founded CoupleyFit™️ just three months after getting married in 2016. With our active and healthy lifestyle, we were often asked by friends, family, and co-workers for guidance on their own health and wellness journeys. By sharing our workouts and daily routines on social media, our following grew exponentially, and we soon found ourselves impacting people all over the world.
We are incredibly proud of being named 2023 Black Health Heroes by Walmart, recognizing our efforts as changemakers in physical health and our commitment to building a healthier future for all. Our friendly and approachable content motivates anyone looking to improve their health and wellness.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Being an entrepreneur requires unwavering resilience to overcome the challenges that undoubtedly come your way. It’s not a path for the faint of heart. Our journey as a small minority-owned business was no exception, as we faced one of our toughest challenges when we received the coveted nomination for the Startup Spotlight at SXSW in Austin, Texas, back in 2019.
Securing funding as a husband and wife team added a layer of difficulty to the whole situation. When we received the opportunity to exhibit at SXSW, we were hesitant due to the steep costs associated with participating. But, a good friend reminded us of the chance of a lifetime this opportunity represented. With just a couple of weeks left until the big day, we reached out to our network, enlisting the help of our family and friends to help crowdfund and donate necessary materials to make our appearance in Austin possible.
Through their support and our tireless efforts, we finally made it to SXSW. With late nights spent putting together a mockup of our booth in our living room and shipping items to Texas, we faced more challenges once we arrived in Austin. But, the experience was undoubtedly worthwhile as it served as a catalyst, propelling our business, CoupleyFit™️, to greater heights. The sense of validation and confidence we gained was priceless, and we’re forever grateful for the incredible community that helped us get there.
How’d you meet your business partner?
People always seem to be taken aback and filled with joy when we share how we first crossed paths. It was New Year’s Eve in Scottsdale, AZ, when we had a chance encounter in a club. We exchanged contact information, but it wasn’t until five months later that we bumped into each other again at a different club in Phoenix on Kurt’s birthday. Given his demanding football schedule, our paths diverged once more until three months later when Kurt invited me on a first date to Dave & Buster’s. And as they say, the rest is history! Three years later, we exchanged our vows, and just a few months after tying the knot, CoupleyFit™️ was born.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coupleyfit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coupleyfitt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoupleyFit1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupleyfit
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoupleyFit
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coupleyfit?lang=en
Image Credits
Lindsay Borg Photography Tempe Tourism James Patrick Photography Grace Stufkosky Photography