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 The U Athletics!
Three questions with Carl Battinelli, co-owner of The U Athletics.
Why did you start your business?
The vision I had in mind was to disrupt the industry of athletic performance by focusing on our athletes becoming "masters of the mundane" as opposed to fueling the widespread early-specialization agenda that plagues our area.
Don't get me wrong, we invest plentily within our elite athletes who require that level of professional attention but as a whole, there is a massive gap of young people out there who just need a support system to get them to move efficiently, think openly, and guide themselves confidently.
What is your best-selling product/service?
All athletic training facilities have the same pool of services they provide so I'm not going to run around preaching that our "system" is the best. That said, I take pride in the fact that our teams' ability to be fully present - either in-person or on The U's Virtual Wellness Platform - is a forgotten asset that I feel many coaches don't understand and what many young people thrive under at The U Athletics.
Some of our greatest testaments are the countless messages that come from athletes who have since stopped their sport or have entered the next chapter in life thanking us for listening to them, fueling their independence, and guiding them toward the right tools to maintain their mental and physical wellness routine for life. Because unfortunately sport isn't a forever goal, but fitness is.
I would say most definitely yes. My background extensively worked towards building elitism among athletic populations and driving a resilient mindset - both of which I still focus on producing. However, the pandemic and outcries of our younger populations have only shed more light on the fact that people just need to be heard, supported, and guided toward developing these wellness tools that go well beyond the top 1% of their sport.
Having our business reimagined to find that right balance of meeting every individual where they are in the moment truly is priceless and something I want to continue to spread to many more in need of feeling like they matter.
The U Athletics is located at 225 High Ridge Road in Stamford. Visit The U Athletics online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, and Instagram pages as well!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!