EVERYTHING

FOR YOUR FAMILY

• Babies/Maternity
• Camps
• Education
• Enrichment/Sports
• Family Services
• Healthcare
• Just For Moms
• Party Planning
• Places to Go
• Preschool/Kindergarten
• Retail

Published: May, 2009

BREANNE HOUSTON • RIVERSIDE
Mother of a 2-year-old son, with another little boy due any moment

Business: Stroller Strides of Riverside

Product or service:
Stroller Strides is a total fitness program for moms that they can do with their little ones. It includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller. Not only does this service provide amazing workouts for moms to get back into – and often better than – pre-baby shape, it offers a support system for moms. We offer weekly playgroups for the kids and Moms Night Out for the moms. We also get involved in our community.

How did you decide that this was the business you wanted to own?
After I had my first son, I moved to Riverside and didn’t know anyone. A coworker of my husband gave him a flyer about Stroller Strides. I tried it out and was in love from the first class. I was a member for a year before I bought my franchise. As a mother, I am the biggest influence in my son’s life. Being healthy leads to having a healthy family. This is the greatest job I have ever had. I get to work out with inspiring women and my son. I am outside in beautiful Southern California, and I am connected to our community.

What did it take to get your business launched?
Stroller Strides did not require a huge start-up investment. There was the initial franchise fee and training and insurance, but not much more than that. My family already had an office, so I could work from home.

What is the size of your business?
We have 34 Stroller Stride Mamas, four amazing instructors (trained by Stroller Strides in pre- and post-natal fitness and CPR/First Aid), two playgroup captains in charge of putting together our playgroups that teach our children about many different subjects, and a marketing director who works hard to get us connected with local businesses to offer discounts to our moms. An unlimited monthly membership costs $55 a month. Members are able to come to our classes five days a week.

What are your plans for the business?
My hope is to have 50 members by the end of the year.