Dynamic Duo - Marrying A Love Of Fitness And Business

Property and hospitality duo, Olga and Gurnake Cheema, had over 15 years combined property investment and hotel management experience when their search for a fitness franchise led them to Snap Fitness in 2021.

After opening their first location in Bodmin, Cornwall, in November 2021, Olga and Gurnake became multi-unit investors in February of 2023. Just three months after the launch of their second location in Pontyclun, South Wales, the pair have already seen a return on their investment and are ready to open more!

How we married our skills and experience

“I completed my Masters in Law degree in Poland and immediately went to work for a litigation team for the Millennium Bank in Warsaw, first as a trainee and then securing a permanent position. I wasn’t entirely sure if a career as a legal advisor was for me and so I emigrated to the UK from Poland in 2006, taking a gap year to weigh up my options moving forward,” explains Olga. “I began working as an estate agent, using my experience in the legal sector to help me thrive in my role and this is where I also discovered a love for property management. During this time, I met my now husband, Gurnake.”

 Gurnake had worked on construction sites across London, building a portfolio of properties by acquiring businesses which had gone into administration. His strategy was to acquire anything from newsagents to high street shops, which he then completely transformed into functional spaces.

“We found that we made a great partnership on a personal level, but also professionally, one that could help shape our future together. And, after we joined forces in 2007, Gurnake sold a couple of his properties and we used the profit to embark on our hospitality acquisition journey. Even though I completed additional law qualifications to be able to practise law in the UK, by the time our daughter was born, our property portfolio had expanded to such an extent that I decided to concentrate on our family and businesses instead.  

“Our first purchase was a hotel in Hastings, followed by a second in East Sussex. Soon after came a further smaller hotel in Hastings in 2014 and a fourth in Spalding in 2017. This decade taught us everything we needed to know about running a hands-on service-led and people-focused business – and we both felt we were ready for a new adventure.”

A new challenge

“Gurnake and I have always had a passion for fitness and the transformative impact it can have on both your body and mind. We’d been searching for an opportunity which would allow us to add a gym to our portfolio since 2012. We’d even thought about starting one from scratch before we eventually found Snap Fitness nine years later in 2021. After visiting Snap Fitness Ebbsfleet, we knew the franchise was exactly what we were looking for, both as business owners and as individuals who wanted to positively impact local communities.

“The turnkey operation is what completely sold the franchise model to us – we knew that from the very beginning of our journey through to the end goal of a successful gym, Snap Fitness would support us every step of the way. From helping us find the perfect site and developing a sound floorplan to aiding in the performance of the gym and offering us ways to increase our member base. We felt excited and confident about investing in Snap, knowing we would never be left floundering by ourselves.”

A successful start

“Whilst we hoped we would be supported as new franchisees, the support we’ve received from the Snap Fitness team has been second to none and exceeded our expectations. The training wasn’t daunting, as it could easily have been, and the team explained what it meant to run a franchise . I love learning new things and I still am to this day – I’m now a member of the franchisee board so I can learn more from people who know more than me! Snap taught us it wasn’t about starting from scratch; it was about coupling our hospitality knowledge with their support to help our gym flourish.  

“In just over a year we opened two locations, both of which broke Snap Fitness’ then presale records. Our club in Bodmin opened in November 2021 and very quickly came to profit, thanks to the Snap team going above and beyond to help us grow and improve our member base. When our club in Pontyclun opened, we hit the ground running with over 800 pre-start members which quickly doubled to 1,600 members, making a profit within a few short months. We once dreamed of these figures and now, they’re a reality.”

A fulfilling future as a family

“Being around for our families is important to us and a work-life balance that allows this is essential. The beauty of Snap Fitness and its support structure is that you can be confident your locations will thrive, even when you’re not there. Each day I spend time with my children, and I always find time in the day for myself too. We love what we do, and we get so much energy and inspiration from the Snap Fitness community - it’s like a big family and we love being part of it. I’ve never worked in such an exciting and supportive community.  

“If you’re thinking of joining the Snap Fitness franchise, go for it, without hesitation. The health and fitness industry continues to be on an upwards trend and the opportunity is vast. We all fear the unknown but take the plunge! We’ve loved our journey so far and we’re already exploring the potential for opening more locations.”  

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