Candice Peters of Hyde Park Body Boutique
How did you start your business?
I was a stay-at-home mom looking to re-enter the workforce and found a historic carriage house for lease. I had been personal training for years. With the encouragement of my husband and some good friends, I took the leap!
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Training women has been my focus since I became a personal trainer 10 years ago. My first clients were pregnant women, and I followed them through their postpartum recovery. I knew right away that my own studio should cater strictly to women of all ages. Hyde Park Body Boutique is a community of women ranging from ages 7 to 73.
What resources here did you take advantage of and how did they help?
Michael Leahr of the
Hamilton County Microenterprise Initiative was a huge help with creating my initial business plan and securing my initial funding. He also mentored me through my first year of business.
What inspires you?
Life! I live life to the fullest every day—and at a full sprint! I love being exposed to everything that life has to offer. I love meeting amazing people everyday and hearing and sharing in their journeys. You only get one shot, so you have to live it up.
What’s next for you and your company?
We are currently fundraising for a new studio in Over-the-Rhine with
SoMoLend. We will be beginning a crowdfunding social media campaign to raise money to purchase equipment. The studio will be named Over-The-Rhine Body Boutique and is slated to open in late June 2013.
3CDC and Northpointe have been incredible during our process of securing a lease space. We’ve also been spending lots of time in the Over-the-Rhine Gateway meeting with fellow business owners and community residents to gain an understanding of the current neighborhood demographics and overall vibe. It’s so exciting to be a part of the revitalization of OTR.
Interview by Robin Donovan