Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Sommerfelt.
Rob, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My son loved basketball and we were having a hard time finding indoor gym space to work on his game. A friend of mine encouraged me to look at warehouse space and see if I could make a business out of it. I decided a club with memberships would be the model. We opened in 2013 with a full court, 2 shooting bays, 2 Shoot A Way guns and a Vertimax performance platform.
Our membership and sales have increased each year proving a need for our service. We introduced training in 2014 and renting the full court to teams looking for affordable court space in 2015. We have 4 trainers that conduct training sessions on appointment. Parents can purchase 1 lesson or up to 4 along with a membership at an affordable price.
In May, we are starting group classes on a daily basis. Parents can purchase the number of classes online and enroll in each class to ensure a spot. These classes will be capped 15 clients to ensure enough reps to make a difference in their game.
We currently have 2 teams playing out of our gym at various tournaments around town but our focus is the individual player and improving their skills. College coaches have recently been complaining that we need to improve the basic skills and basketball IQ in the youth system, and that is the niche we are attempting to bridge. We have a saying, “We don’t care what club you play for, what school you attend, what we teach here will improve your game!”
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?
This is my first attempt at running a business, so it has been rocky. I decided not to do a Grand Opening because I wanted us to be prepared to handle our initial clients and not frustrate them. Word of mouth has been our best advertisement in the beginning. The actual expenses of running a business are larger than I had budgeted for and remains the biggest hurdle in being successful.
From the beginning, every time I enter the gym and see young kids working out with our trainers and see the hard work the kids are putting in and the dedication that our Trainers put into each drill, it warms my heart. This is a for profit business and we are getting closer every year but being successful has many meanings. You have to love what you do to fight through the lean times.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Gym Ratz Basketball Skills Club story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in basketball skills training. We have 4 trainers that train kids from age 6 to adult. Our main focus is to be sure they have the basic fundamentals of basketball mastered and move on from there to more advanced workouts. We are finding that players learn not only from the Trainers and the drills but from watching others their age and older do the same drills. This has led us to a new model beginning in May, we are starting Semi-Private and Group Lessons.
Parents will be able to purchase and schedule their kid into the appropriate classes online and be assured of their spot. Classes will be limited in size to achieve maximum results.
What sets us apart is that we have our own court. We control the space so parents always know where the workout will be. We are independent of all clubs, although we welcome all of them if they need to use our facility.
We also will lead a practice for a youth team that is being coached by a dad/mom. I have been there, my teams would learn my drills and I was always searching for a drill, offense, defense that would make a difference. Our Trainers have coached High School and have played College basketball so in these sessions they can show a dad/mom coach more options to use for their team. We had great success with teams that play in the Richardson League.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Finding our location was good luck. We looked in Plano, Dallas, Garland and Carrollton areas but had trouble finding a space with 20 ceilings. This space was empty and had been empty for many years when we found it. The parents that bring their kids here are always open to sharing ideas and I am grateful for each one.
Pricing:
- Membership – $45 per month if put on a recurring credit card gives access to our facilities and discounts
- Individual Lessons – $35 for Members, $45 for Non-Members
- Group Training – $15 for Members, $20 for Non-Members
- Day Pass for Non-Member effective May 1st is $15.
- Court Rental – $45 per hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 860 N. Dorothy Drive, Suite 609
Richardson, TX 75081 - Website: www.gymratzskills.com
- Phone: 972-238-7331
- Email: rjsdallas58@gmail.com
- Instagram: @gymratzskills
- Facebook: Gym Ratz Basketball Skills Club
- Twitter: @gymratzskills
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