The business model of Flex Force Training, Hulmeville, centered on in-home instruction. In 2018, however, its owner-operator, Katey Smyth, transitioned to a brick-and-mortar site. Then the pandemic blindsided her. The Reporter Online reported on the weighty issues that followed.

COVID-19 has been brutal on businesses across all entities, but the fitness industry has been particularly affected.

Smyth, however, showed herself to have the grit needed to tough out the business’ lockdowns, operational modifications, and safety precautions.

It not only survived, it prospered.

Some financial savvy and a willingness to reverse-engineer her operations helped keep Smyth afloat.

The mutual trust she had built with her clients didn’t hurt, either. Smyth leveraged the personal relationships she forged with her gym regulars to transition them confidently away from their homes.

“We’ve made sure our clients feel really safe when they’re in our facility,” Smyth explained. “One of the many things this past year and a half has taught people is that we always need to be prioritizing our health. Flex Force allows everyone to do that in a supportive and positive environment. That’s something we all need in our lives.

“Our mission at Flex Force Training is pretty simple: We are a place where people can come on their good days and on their bad days. That’s why we’re here.”

More on the survival of this fitness business is at The Reporter Online.