Chas and I hope this article helps you understand the philosophy of Studio 710. First, let me tell you what we’re not. There’s a picture floating around social media of well dressed people dancing at a social gathering, while the floor is literally being held up by exhausted hard workers in ripped up clothes in the basement. It is common for companies ranging from small business to large enterprises that CEOs reap the rewards and benefits of the hard work of the team. Sadly, this is what America became. A few common examples are as follows:
Starbucks Corp.: In 2024, the ratio was 6,666:1, with the CEO receiving $95.8 million and the median worker pay being $14,674.
Coca-Cola Co.: The CEO-to-worker ratio is 1,799:1, with the CEO making $24,742,908 and median worker pay at $13,752.
Walmart Inc.: The ratio is 976:1, with the CEO making $26,968,924 and the median employee making $27,642.
As you all know, we live in a world of corporate greed. According to google, “Under Geisler’s leadership, Xponential Fitness has grown significantly, reporting revenues of $26.7 million in 2016 from Club Pilates alone and strong overall company performance in subsequent years.”
Yes, Chas and I want to eventually retire, but we are not this.
I will take you back a few centuries when Americans had dreams and worked for them. This is a true story of a 13 year old boy who left his home and family from an island off Germany and traveled alone to Lady Liberty. This boy was well educated, a hard worker and had a very kind, yet professional aptitude. This boy quickly grew from being a waiter in NYC to Restaurant manager. In time, his demeanor, made him a highly sought out hotel manager where he traveled for a job in Philadelphia. One stormy night, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of the small hotel. Running from the raging tempest outside, the couple was desperate for an overnight shelter. “We’d like a room, please,” the husband requested the front desk clerk. The younger man looked down at the list of reservations and frowned — all the rooms were taken. But with a winning smile he carefully explained: “I can’t send a nice couple like you out in the rain. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It’s not exactly a suite, but it will make you folks comfortable.” The stunned couple was hesitant. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll make out just fine,” the clerk assured them. After a good night’s rest the husband, while paying the bill next morning, told the clerk: “Finding people who are both friendly and helpful is rare these days. You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you.” The clerk laughed. Two years later, the clerk received a letter recalling the storm and how gracious his gesture was towards the couple. But also enclosed was a one-way ticket to New York along with a note asking the young man to leave for the city immediately. The couple received him in New York and after a short exchange of pleasantries the husband took the clerk to Park Avenue and pointed towards a towering new building. As he pointed, the elderly man said: “That is the hotel I’d like you to manage.” The clerk was George C. Boldt and the elderly gent was William Waldorf Astor. The building he pointed to was the Waldorf Astoria, in all its glory. Boldt soon went on to redefine hospitality. He introduced room service, abolished the segregated ladies’ entrance, had his senior staff inspect the lobby round-the-clock and placed ashtrays at strategic locations, while insisting that all guests must be treated to fresh flowers and a copy of the day’s newspaper in their rooms. “Make the Waldorf so comfortable they will never go to another place,” he was once quoted as saying.
This true story is known as the Waldorf principle.
But it is just the beginning of the amazing accomplishments of George C. Boldt. One day, George Boldt overheard two young waiters talking about their difficulties with their college expenses, after which, he anonymously paid for 75 young men’s college tuition. George Boldt has funded scholarships to this day, including Cornell University. He often donated to the American Red Cross and several hospitals. Fun fact, he created 1,000 Island dressing out on a whim, when he had a customer that wasn’t happy with her salad. After becoming a self made millionaire, he bought an Island for his wife that is heart shaped and built a castle for her; a tragic story that she passed before it the castle was completed. If you ever travel to Upstate New York, Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands, you can take a ferry and tour the castle. It is beautiful.
Well; Chas and I are just average start up business owners, but we believe in these principals. We want our team to have work, life and financial balance; we believe that if one of these areas are lacking, it stresses all areas of life. We want to help you grow as we grow because we know first hand how hard it is to really get ahead in life.
Therefore an unannounced benefit to you: We know you are taking a risk working for a brand new un-franchised studio, literally starting from the ground up. We are not Club Pilates or Orange Theory that carries the “everyone knows” name. We have to compete with them. Know that we are grateful to you. We request a two year commitment with Studio 710 to help us grow to be successful and reach our goals. Upon your two year anniversary, if you would like to own a Studio 710, we will assist you to set up shop with studio space, equipment and supplies. We will partner with you for two years at a five percent royalty fee on the profit of your new Studio. After the two year commitment, we will break partnership and the studio belongs to you. No franchise fees, no out of pocket fees for you, just your professional growth for your time and work invested in Studio 710. We want to make the impossible, possible, for average people like us. Though, we need to be successful to make this happen and reach the financial goal average of 80% capacity. We can do it!