Why Small Businesses Matter Reimagined
Small businesses matter - now more than ever. They are answering the call with innovation and determination like never before.
We hope you join us in supporting them by sharing their story far and wide and shopping local! We are thankful to Fairfield County Bank for their continued support and making this series possible.
Step inside The Pilates Advantage
Four questions with Mary Beth Young owner of The Pilates Advantage
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What do you want the community to know? Are there ways for the community to help you and other local businesses to prosper?
To start, I am incredibly grateful to everyone that has been loyal and supported my business throughout this pandemic. Because of their support and the introduction of our flexibility to offer an online platform of classes and private sessions, we will be opening on June 17th. When we do open, we will have fewer clients in the studio at one time in our commitment to a safe and healthy space, We were fortunate enough to be able to arrange the studio and implement a plan that meets with all Connecticut COVID-19 prevention guidelines. We are ready to officially welcome our clients back either in our studio or online!
The best way to help us get back on our feet again would be for our clients to come back to their regularly scheduled privates or classes. We are also hoping our commitment to a safe space will attract new clients to experience a personalized work out with our highly trained instructors. For those who are immune-compromised, we will still be offering Zoom privates and classes as well as youtube videos. Our local business has been hit very hard by this pandemic. We would value the community support in any way that works for them to continue to introduce pilates to clients of all ages and do what we love.
Are you offering any new products or ways for customers to purchase your products or services that are popular during this crisis?
The Pilates Advantage has it’s own app. This makes it super convenient for clients and first-time customers to see class and instructor availability and purchase packages. We have developed a Zoom Schedule for classes and private sessions that can be booked via the app and will continue to offer that option until all of this is over.
Are there certain individuals or organizations that supported you and your business through this trying time?
I would like to give a big shout out to Kim Horner of Aroma Spa. She has been attending our Zoom Classes every day! I am also incredibly humbled by many clients who either donated the remainder of their in-person sessions to the studio or purchased new packages during the pandemic not knowing at that time when we would reopen.
Please share the ways your business is adapting to keep your customers and employees safe in addition to the standard guidelines.
I have implemented a very safe plan for reopening. I have rearranged my Pilates Machines to accommodate the safe social distancing. We will be taking clients temperatures as the enter the studio and having them wash their hands before their session begins. Depending on the appropriate spacing between clients, masks, and gloves are optional. We will text clients from the parking lot and they will enter the studio through one door and exit through another. My trainers will be wearing face shields and masks while training. I have purchased an abundance of sanitized wipes as well as purchased a UV Wand to sanitize all of our props and equipment before and after each session. We will stagger our hours so that clients can choose to come when the studio is less busy as well as limit the number of people to 50% capacity. We will also teach our Side Studio Classes to live in the studio with no more than 3 participants and host Zoom at the same time for those who are not comfortable coming into a class or for private sessions.
The Pilates Advantage is located at 414 Olmstead Hill Road in Wilton. Visit The Pilates Advantage online here.
The Pilates Advantage nominates Aroma Beauty & Wellness Spa!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!