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PT to multi location gym owner – behind the success
With Josh Curry from RTB (Windsor and Chelsea Heights)
“Do it with quality. Quality equipment, quality standards, quality across everything you build. And then market it relentlessly.”
Gaining confidence and going for it
For Josh Curry, opening his own gym was always the goal. But it was the challenges he faced as a PT during Covid-19 years that encouraged him to go for it. “I moved into a small space in my rugby club, put some equipment in there, and started training people in small groups. It was really successful.,” notes Josh reflecting on his journey, “I’d always wanted my own gym, and that experience gave me the confidence to actually go for it. So I gathered up the courage and started RTB.”
Josh opened RTB Windsor in Victoria, working with Iron Edge to design the layout and equipment needed to bring his vision to life.
“Josh had a great understanding of his business and a clear vision of what he needed to make his training model work,” said Dylan Bickey, Head of Key Accounts and Partnerships at Iron Edge, “Two of every machine, the right number of squat racks, enough dumbbell range to run group sessions without bottlenecks. We sat down and fine-tuned the designs together until we knew it was right.”
After seeing how successful his formula of small group high-performance strength training became, Josh went on to open a second location in Chelsea Heights.
“I knew how to coach and I knew how to market. Everything else I learned as it came up. There’s no manual for it, so you figure it out because you have to. You’ll surprise yourself with how resourceful you become.”
After setting up his Windsor gym, Josh knew what to prioritise and what to outsource for his second space. “I knew exactly what equipment I needed, how to lay the space out, and that speed was critical. Instead of building the equipment myself, I hired people to do it. That sped things up and we opened Chelsea Heights in two months. What caught me off guard was building out the showers, toilets, and recovery facility from scratch. That was a massive expense, and something I’d do differently for gym three.”
Quality is everything
“Quality is everything. It matters when people walk in and see absolute quality, and its peace of mind knowing your equipment will last.”
Going from PT to multi-site gym owner, Josh learnt a lot. But above all he found that the quality is key - and working with suppliers that hold your standard lets you truly build something different.
Dylan noted “I especially love that Josh invested in two pendulum squat machines for group training – that's something you don’t see a lot and it’s such a strong addition. He also went for custom RTB logo inlays to really showcase his brand’s identity, and they really stand out”
Don’t fear failure
Josh’s advice to others in the industry is simple, give it a go. “Have a crack. Don’t fear failure, fear not trying.”
And it’s the same effort and willingness to try that has seen his own success. “When a client is as invested in the process as Josh, with such a strong commitment to quality – the end results speak for themselves.” says Dylan.
“I’m a massive supporter of anyone trying to start their own business. But when you do it, do it with quality,” echoes Josh, “Quality equipment, quality standards, quality across everything you build. And then market it relentlessly. Most PTs underestimate how much work the business side is, but if you’re willing to learn on the fly and you commit to the standard, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can build.”
Get inside the fitout of RTB by Iron Edge HERE