Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Miller.
Crull Fitness was started in 2001. Crull Fitness was designed as a facility for youth and adults to train as athletes rather than your typical common big box gym set up. Crull Fitness prides itself on its family atmosphere and inclusive feel.
We have 3 large sections of our membership base. Our largest section is the sport specific training for young athletes and teams around the DFW area. Second largest section is our Adult personal training and group training. Third is our Champions Challenge program which focuses on our special needs clients including those with cognitive and physical disabilities.
Together all 3 sections work in harmony and create a feel that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Many of our youth athletes dedicate their own time toward our Champions Challenge group training program in the evenings. Many of our Adult clients were former athletes themselves and offer guidance to our youth athletes. Our youth athletes are the sponges of our facility and not only become better athletes but better people. Each section of our membership base learns and evolves from the other.
Under previous ownership Crull Fitness once had 5 facilities around the DFW area. Since 2015, Philip Miller has reduced down to 1 facility in Richardson, TX. This year Crull Fitness is celebrating our 10 year anniversary in Richardson, TX. The facility has gone through a complete renovation in 2017 and is now situating itself for future franchising opportunities.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think any entrepreneur would be a liar if they said the road to success is a smooth one. When we started in 2001 I think we were all over our head on what we were doing and what the goal was. We brought on a business partner in 2003 to help handle expansion and financial duties. As positive as that was in the beginning it became toxic as the company progressed and both parties were splitting into opposite directions. Obviously rapid expansion from 1 facility to 5 facilities causes much operational and staffing issues as well. It was tough for me personally being in college during this time period and seeing the changes happen without any input or ownership percentage. It was great that we were growing but not the Crull Fitness that I had envisioned for everyone. Throw in contractual disputes, ownership buyout, employee turnover, and lease renegotiations and that covers about the first mile of the highway. However, with every challenge comes triumph and success. I treat everything as a learning experience and continue to drive forward to my goals for the company and not look back in the rear view mirror on what could have been done differently. Every day is a new day and every day I know I can make a difference in the company.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Everyone knows me as Red. I’m hard to miss here at the facility. I average about 16 hours a day and I have red hair. I specialize in just about everything. I have 3 different training certifications. I do the business management, marketing and selling. After the remodel of our Richardson facility I feel that I can also list general contractor to my list of skills.
Crull Fitness is the perfect hybrid of what people are looking for in a gym. We have similar equipment of what you would want in a “big box gym” and we also have the equipment you seek in a CrossFit style facility. Many gyms like this make you register for classes and will only allow you to work out when they train as a group. At Crull Fitness your gym membership allows you to train whenever you like. We are not open 24 hours but I wouldn’t trust people who work out between the hours of 11PM -5AM that’s for sleeping!
Our personal training rates are also a fraction of what larger gyms and small studios will charge. Every program we have here for our athletes, adults and champions challenge program is designed specifically for you. We don’t offer cookie cutter programs. Everyone’s needs are different and we realize that!
As I look back over our 10 years here in Richardson the thing I’m most proud about is the synergy and unity our members have with each other. Everyone comes in here as an individual. Our motto is Champions are built brick by brick. Even our most elite athletes that have come through here still build and get better as athletes and as human beings. We may have a top level High School athlete training when there’s someone else the same age that’s just started. I can almost guarantee without our staff saying anything that the top level athlete swings by the beginner and gives them some motivation or vice versa.
Just the other day one of our top level athletes visited one of our Champions challenge athletes at work during lunch and they sent us a picture. No one told Austin to visit Tyler. Austin went out of his way because earlier that morning Tyler mentioned that he was working that afternoon. Its stories like these that make us proud because we know there is no other gym or system that can replicate the dedication and love that our members have for each other.
What were you like growing up?
I’m currently 28 and I still continue to grow up. As a kid I was very serious and a highly strung individual. I played football and select hockey. Typically my father and now business partner Brian Crull was coaching or running the strength and conditioning program of each team. I was very competitive growing up and never took losing lightly. I laugh looking back because now I’m probably the most passive and laid back individual anyone’s met. I use humor to cope with stress more so than when I was younger. I also use working out and running to cope with my work schedule. However, it’s ironic when you own a gym and don’t find much time for yourself to train.
Pricing:
- Individual Membership starts at $35/month with Couple at $50/month and Family at $75/month
- Adult Personal Training at $50/hr Youth Training at $35/hr Champions Challenge at $40/hr
- Offer Group Training at $150/month and $200/month for unlimited
Contact Info:
- Address: 2701 Custer Parkway
Suite 801
Richardson, TX 75080 - Website: www.crullfitness.com
- Phone: 9724979900
- Email: info@crullfitness.com
- Instagram: @crullfitness
- Facebook: facebook.com/crullfitnessrichardson
- Twitter: @crullfitness
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crull-fitness-richardson
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