Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT Upper Deck Fitness!
Four questions with Liz Maida Fusaro from the Upper Deck Fitness.
Why did you start your business?
We created the Upper Deck lifestyle brand to fill an unmet need: to serve the individual, rather than society as a whole, within the fitness industry. At UDF, we provide a personalized experience through our Prescribed Fitness approach by helping people understand what workouts they need to be doing in order to see their desired results. Additionally, we also address their mental well-being through our emphasis on the mind-body connection, while guiding them on how to get into a regular routine of taking care of themselves.
What is your best selling product/service?
In 2018, our founder and CEO, Suzanne Vita Palazzo, became fixated on what she saw as another unmet need: high-quality at-home workouts. Armed with a vision, we invested in a virtual gym platform and launched #UNation, a community of interactive workouts that features not one, but two coaches: one who leads you through a session, and one who keeps their eyes on you, providing feedback and encouragement in real-time.
Of course, at that time, we were unaware that our foresight would prove to be a lifeline for so many. When the pandemic hit in March of this year, forcing us to close our doors, we smoothly transitioned all in-person services to a fully operational virtual gym. Since 2018, it has been our priority to provide this effective solution for our clients, allowing us to ensure they are being cared for and seen, no matter where they are working out from.
How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?
1. We use Simply Signs for all our branded items, including apparel, accessories, equipment, and more.
2. We partner with Northeast Volleyball Club to bring their athletes the highest level of performance preparation all under one roof.
3. We use Digital Retail Partners for all our digital needs.
4. We also use Hung Well Signs for our branded signage.
Have you "reimagined" your small business?
We haven't necessarily reimagined our business. Instead, we feel this year has truly solidified the vision of our virtual gym concept. Our community grew globally and our staff remained employed during a very uncertain year. We could not ask for more right now. Not only have we survived, but we have thrived this year, and this is not lost on us. Instead, it serves as a daily reminder of our commitment to our intuition, dedicated team, and incredible community.
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!