Exploring Life & Business with Claire Arnold of Real Change CrossFit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Arnold.

Hi Claire, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In October 2019, I told my husband (Matt) I had a proposition for him and asked that he just listen, process it, and take his time getting back to me. I simply said, I’ve been praying about it and while I don’t know what the answer is yet, I do know that I am tired of working in the corporate world (it’s like putting baby in a corner) and would rather be a stay-at-home wife and work 20 hours a week until I figure out what I can or want to really do. He just stared at me and I walked off (bomb dropped). November 2019, I began expressing my desire to own a CrossFit gym. I have been doing CrossFit for about four years and I just love the whole concept of fitness, staying healthy, and motivating others. I began to talk out my 5-year plan of owning a gym since I hadn’t the slightest clue how or where to start. December 2019, our gym sent an email saying they would be closing on January 15th and selling their equipment. They had already sold two of their buildings to a boxing franchise, moving our CrossFit class to an 1100 square ft building (not a lot of room). They had been owners for six years and were ready to “retire”. This was the Lord answering prayers!!

My husband immediately said, what if THIS is the gym that we takeover, but you run?! I began reaching out to other members in the gym to inquire more detail. January 2019, we sat down with the owners (James and Sophia Kitchen) and discussed taking over ownership. To our surprise, they were on-board with our plan to keep the community alive! We realized that if we wanted to keep members from leaving, we needed to act FAST. Side note: I STILL work in the corporate world as an IT Project Manager…so I put that to good use and gave us a two weeks deadline from January 15th to re-open the gym under new ownership. My husband and our business partner (David Wright- a long-standing member) got to work on securing a bank loan, interviewing and hiring coaches, repainting the space, and getting our LLC, and we miraculously managed to meet the deadline, re-opening Feb. 1st! Again, the Lord answering prayers!

Meanwhile, I had to make a decision about my day job. I still needed financial security but was willing to walk away if they could not meet my request, trusting the Lord would provide no matter what. I told them my last day would be April 30th or starting May 1st, I would stay if they would approve me working from home at 30 hours a week so I could manage the gym. Thankfully they agreed and May 1st, I made the transition. It was extremely tough managing the gym for two months with a full-time job but I had plenty of help from Matt & Dave. Fast forward…I realized keeping a 30 hr/week schedule was becoming challenging. My boss was unable to keep me in the same position for 2021 so we agreed that I would get another LLC and become a contract for hire starting Jan 2021. I’m telling you, the Lord is faithful and will answer your heart’s desires!

We have now been open for over a year (even with the pandemic) and are slowly but steadily growing!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has NOT been a smooth road. We were only open a month and a half before COVID hit and had to shut down from March to the end of May. Our head coach, Jake Barrish, had moved from Florida to take a full-time coaching job with us. He and his girlfriend, Dayne Davis, were new to Nashville and did not know how this would impact their transition. We made the decision to immediately cease collection of monthly memberships and to continue paying Jake until we were allowed to re-open. Like so many other businesses, we were severely impacted by the pandemic and clearly not prepared as a new business. During this time, my husband was called to state active duty through the Army National Guard in support of COVID-19 relief efforts for nearly two months. As we continued to pay all monthly bills, our landlord, Dan Vild, agreed to work with us on a flexible rent schedule which greatly aided us in surviving the mandatory shutdown.

We were rejected for every type of financial aid. Our last attempt was applying for the TN SERG/CARES ACT and our application was in “review” from December 2020 to March 2021 just to be told “no”. We met all their criteria but they wanted us to provide 2019 taxes even though we were not a business in 2019. We only had 13 members by March, so we decided to put a sizeable investment of personal funds in the bank to keep the gym afloat as we didn’t know what to expect with our membership growth.

We tried to provide virtual workouts but ultimately knew we would only thrive when people could be in class again. It’s been a hard lesson but we see it all as positive gain (excluding financially). We built amazing new friendships during quarantine, another gym nearby was shut down and we took their members in and now they are a part of our family and their coach is on staff with us. We partnered with friends who have a Crossfit apparel brand and host local competitions. All of these things are what make the community of CrossFit. We are super blessed to be open and growing and are better prepared for any other struggles along the way.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a CrossFit gym, but more so we are a place to get a great workout in and stay healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally. Our current space WAS small (1000 sq ft), but we made it our home and built a strong community. However, because of our members and their continued support, we wanted to “give back”, working hard in the last two months, we finally expanded our space to 2300 sq ft! We were already offering a few open gym hours with a fob system, but now we are be able to run open gym all day alongside classes. Currently, we offer CrossFit classes, Open Gym, Yoga, and Personal Training (upon request) and hope to continue our growth in the coming months. On a more relational scale, we have a member board to announce birthdays, community outings, and any time an athlete hits a new personal record.

We receive so much reward…
1. When we see our athletes welcome a new person before class starts.
2. When our athletes recognize and get excited about their own potential.
3. When our athletes make a new friend and encourage each other during the workout.
4. When we (owners) get to not only cheer on our athletes but workout alongside them.

Every CrossFit gym boasts about their community, markets their space and their services, but we don’t have to try as hard because our athletes do it for us. They have been the voice of Real Change CrossFit and what keeps us moving forward and excited to grow.

What you should know about us from members/non-members:

Maria – “I am sad to leave as I was feeling good about my progress in just the month with you guys. I really like the community/vibe from everyone in here.”

Ben from evolution PT – “I am excited for your expansion, it’s the right time for you as you are becoming known for your community”

Ross and Erin Gentry (Be Ready PT) – “We are so excited to be in, to be working with, your community. Erin has been overjoyed in meeting new people from Real Change.”

Juan Soler – “I am excited about the expansion and growth because you can feel it from ownership all the way down. It’s noticeable when the owners and coaches all get behind something. Then everybody gets excited.”

Ria and Tim – “We reached out to a few local Crossfit locations – not only were you the only ones to get back to us, but we were hoping you would the most because of how you presented yourselves online. The website comes across community-focused and uplifting.”

Delly – “I have seen a difference in my strength and skill and it feels good.”

Who else deserves credit in your story?
We have had so many supporters along our journey! To name a few…

Our coaches – Jake Barrish, Sara Wade, Dominique Jacoy, and Dayne Davis (Jake’s girlfriend)- They have supported every decision we have made for the gym and have been our biggest advocates and confidants. They all have unique personalities and coaching gifts that are what make our gym feel like home. They are intentional and always willing to go the extra mile for our members, especially if it means seeing someone succeed. I could go on about all of them for days and I feel extremely blessed to have them on the team. They help us keep the gym running like a well-oiled machine and our members love them!

Dave Wright – He was a member of the gym for six years before becoming our business partner from Feb 2020 – June 2021. When we approached him about ownership, he was immediately on-board to keep the gym and community going. He has been an intricate part of making anyone that walks in the door feel unique and appreciated. His passion for fitness is evident and his perspective on how to achieve goals has helped so many of our members. This gym has been his family, and like his own, he sought to provide the very best for them as an owner, continuing now as a member.

Greg Brannon – I met him in Jan 2020 when I participated in a local Crossfit competition he was hosting. We immediately hit it off and he has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. He understands so much of what I am trying to accomplish, working a full-time job himself while pursuing his passion to be involved in the CrossFit community. He attends another gym but chooses to show up each weekend to train with me and friends and spreads the word about our space. He has been a loyal friend and essentially a partner in the entrepreneur business.

Dan Vild – He is our landlord and I actually knew him for two years prior to renting the space. He is one of the sweetest men I have met who wants to see everyone around him happy and successful. He doesn’t require much and has always been willing to work with us, especially when the pandemic hit. You don’t often find a landlord who cares more about the people then the space he is renting. A blessing from the Lord!

Acadia Healthcare – I have worked for them for four years now and when I approached them about cutting my hours to pursue my passion, they backed me every step of the way. I am extremely grateful for my boss Eric Lester for believing in me and helping me get what I needed to be successful. My co-workers have all been supportive and celebrating me from afar and that’s a feeling no one can take away.

My family – My parents, Mark & Julie Brown, and my sisters and their husbands, Lydia & Vince DeAngelo, and Marissa & Tristyn Markis. I am the middle child, and most know that we tend to beat to our own drum. My family would probably agree that I have done that very thing with so many of my life choices, but those choices have all been what’s brought me to where I am today. They have always encouraged me and supported me and when Matt and I expressed our plans to own the gym, they were ecstatic. They knew this was meant for us and we would excel in it! They have been a listening ear, council, and advocate from afar!

Matt Arnold – My husband and co-owner has been through it all with me. He always tells me or others that I am hard to manage but easily lead…I flourish and succeed when given the ability to spread my wings. We are both independent, strong-willed, and driven, but he knew that the gym was my place to lead. He has a full-time job and is in the Army National Guard, so he helps me lead from behind the scenes. Most people working behind the scenes are not recognized for their efforts and value to the business, but I would be lost without him and his willingness to add another “job” to his plate. He may not get to spend time with our members every day, but when they do see him… they experience his humor, intentional conversations, and passion for their success. Our friends and family joke that Matt and I always have a lot going on, but to me, it’s all an experience and adventure with him by my side.

Pricing:

• $175 for unlimited monthly membership
• $145 for military, first responder, couples monthly unlimited
• $150 12-class punch card
• $75 open gym monthly access per

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: realchangecrossfittn.com
• Instagram: @realchangecrossfittn
• Facebook: Real Change CrossFit

Image Credits
Dayne Davis