2. Business Description Hi my name is Denise Lopez, my husband and I run a youth Boxing Gym emphasizing on education and self-worth for inner city at risk youth Training by a pro Boxer, Self Defense techniques, Cardio workout, Tutoring and Mentoring services I decided to start this business because its my husbands passion and we have 4 very active talented sons and a busy 3 yr old daughter. I was born and raised in the bay area over the past 20 years I have seen the outlets for youth decline no were to go. Boys and girls clubs closing, parks and recreations with less funding closing their doors, people in the community unwilling and not caring about the young people and where they go or what they do. I would like to change that as much as I can and offer or youth some Hope….. In the next 12 months I would like to have a building to open the gym at least 7 fighters and have had at least 2 amateur fights
3. Dirty Break Even Break even for gym membership: $40- Monthly Membership $35- Direct cost Contribution Margin = $5 Overhead cost- 1745 1745 /5=349 memberships a month °I will make my business more viable by promoting to gain more members. I will promote by advertising on the radio, on billboards, going to schools and talking to students, and passing out flyers.
4. Potential Customers °Demographics : Women and men, mostly men. Inner city children College students Vets or soldiers returning home who have post traumatic stress Victims of violence °People would want to join our gym because it’s a way to get young people off the streets and away from drugs and violence. This would be a way to relieve a persons stress without doing it the wrong way
5. Personal Skills and Experience My husband has been a pro boxer for 4 years and won the State of California Golden Gloves Championship in 1998 and 1999 Being married to a professional boxer has changed my whole lifestyle. I started enjoying the art of boxing and what it means and takes to be a boxer. It gave me inspiration to become more healthy and how important it is to take care of your body, discipline, self worth and dedication. I am currently the cofounder of a small gym that my husband and I run with our own money. We have 5 fighters, our sons and 2 other relatives, that we train. My biggest weakness would have to be funding also a bigger location with more space. My plan to have a non – profit should get grants and big donations. I would have fundraisers and community volunteers.
6. Marketing My target is girls and boys ages 8-17 from the flatland areas of Oakland. Also women and men under the age of 50 who want to be fit, healthy and learn self defense. King’s Boxing Gym of Oakland is my biggest competitor. They are very viable in Oakland because they produce amateur and professional champions. Kings is a safe haven for young adults to do something productive with their time. Kings is well established and known in the community. I think their weakest asset is their inadequate space and their lack of marketing. My gym/club competitive advantage is space, affordability, competence staff multiply free services like tutoring, life skills, mentoring, and the emphasis on education first.
7. Market Potential My Gym/ Club is going to be in West Oakland on Market street. This is a prime location for the type of people I want to attract. Its easy and convenient to get to, its close to Bart and is Surrounded by two cities I would like to have customers come from Emeryville and Berkeley. The first phase of my Business will be 3 months I plan to have 25 members. In the next 3 months I will have 25-35 more members and by the end of one full year I will have 200 members. By using phases to project my membership and stability in the business. I take a safer step into market trends by securing monthly growth.
8. Product & Services Personal one on one Boxing lessons with a professional boxer. Name brand boxing apparel such as Ever last, Title, Reyes, Ringside and many other brands. We will sell various drinks like Gatorade, Vitamin water and other hydrating drinks. There will be a weekly boxing aerobics class, taught by a highly respected aerobic trainer. We will offer homework study groups, mentoring and counseling.
9. Promotions I’m going to make 1000 flyers and put them on every business, car, truck, and front door in West Oakland and the two surrounding cities Berkeley and Emeryville. I am going to participate in the community organization by going to the park and recreation centers of West Oakland to introduce my self and the boxing club/gym. By using the above tools I will get my name known and get the club/gym the attention it needs by the target market that I’m going for. I’m going to use my niece as a spokeswoman to go to schools and promote our gym. She will talk to the youth about the positive effects it will have on the children and the changes it will bring to their overall health and life style.
