Meet Chris Treanor of Crossfit Blade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Treanor.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My wife and I started CrossFit Blade in our Garage in early 2012. I had a previous Personal Training and Nutrition business and Claire (my wife) worked full time in a Blood Lab. After 6 months in our garage, we were able to lease out a small 1,300 square ft. location in N.W. Phoenix. After 1 year of me running the business and Claire working at the Lab, we were able to expand our current location, by knocking down a dividing wall, to 5,100 total sq. ft. We did this with the help and support of our members at the gym.

Claire was able to leave her job at the Lab and was now with me full time at the gym.

Business was great and we were doing what we loved every single day. However, we were overwhelmed with the back office/business side while trying to give our members the best service and coaching possible. After another year we knew we wanted to grow more but also that if we were going to do so we needed help. We knew the person that was the ideal candidate to fill that role was already at our gym working part-time as a coach and a full-time job in the corporate world. Her name was Terra and Claire and I decided to ask her to become a partner in our business. This relationship would change the future of CrossFit Blade.

Terra bought into the business and left her career in corporate America, a huge risk. At that time we couldn’t grow our current space any larger so we decided that a 2nd location was the next step for us. We found a small, 1,000 sq. ft. space 8 miles North of our current location and decided that that space was going to be CrossFit Blade North. In November 2014 we opened our 2nd location. After 1 year there we were able to once again take over space next door, knock down the wall with the help of our members and grow that space to 4,000 sq. ft. This gym is thriving and has an incredible community of outstanding people.

In late 2016 we knew we needed more space at our original location but there was really nowhere to expand and we wanted to own our own space. We looked into some large spaces that were for sale nearby but nothing really popped out as the “place” for Blade.

The Lot across the street from our gym was empty and I had always dreamed of building CrossFit Blade on it but didn’t know exactly how it was ever going to be possible. After much thought, deliberation and planning, we were able to get a loan and buy the land to build our own building! We began construction in April of 2017 and were able to move into our very own space November 1st, 2017. It was a crazy year, especially for Terra, who handled nearly everything from the financing to contractor relations and took on the brunt of the stress. We have been in the building for nearly 5 months and it is an absolute dream come true! There is A LOT more to the story but this is it in a nutshell.

Has it been a smooth road?
When dealing with humans and their fitness/wellness journey there are constant miracles and breakthroughs that change lives daily. However, there is also struggle and heartbreak. There have been immense struggles from the loss of members we care about to the financing of our business, but the reward that keeps us going is the growth and change that our members experience.

Whether that is more self-confidence, fat loss, fighting disease, building relationships that change lives etc… the struggles will never keep us down. We have to keep moving forward with them. There is no option to quit no matter the struggle.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Crossfit Blade story. Tell us more about the business.
Our Mission Statement is “People are our Priority, Fitness is our Method.” We specialize in changing lives and building relationships through fitness, specifically CrossFit.

We are most proud of the lives that are changed daily, the relationships built as a result and the fact that we get to do it with people that we love.

What sets us apart is our commitment to our community and to being the best possible coaches and service in the business.

Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years?  Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
The fitness business is forever changing and it will continue to do so. However, we plan to continue to do what we know best which is to use fitness and nutrition to better peoples lives. In 5 years we plan to help hundreds of more people do just that. If we make people our priority then no matter what happens in the fitness world then we will be ok.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1614 West Whispering Wind Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85085 (CrossFit Blade)
  34406 N 27th Dr, Bldg 9 Suite 194 Phoenix, AZ 85085 (CrossFit Blade North)
• Website: www.crossfitblade.com
• Phone: 602 399 9186
• Email: terra@crossfitblade.com
• Instagram: @crossfitblade @crossfitbladenorth

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