We live in one of the nation’s\u00a0most idyllic\u00a0towns — a small Southern Oregon jewel that is surrounded by some of nature’s greatest wonders.<\/p>\n
It’s protected by 360 degrees of small mountain peaks,\u00a0and one of the most majestic rivers flows through the heart of it.<\/p>\n
We say it’s\u00a0small because, while we’re in one of the west coast’s most desirable tourist\u00a0and retirement areas,\u00a0it’s still only about 30,000 people deep.<\/p>\n
Here, it’s easy to see\u00a0what type of businesses can sustain revenue<\/strong>. After all,\u00a0this little\u00a0town has\u00a0no industry, no major corporations, and no extra<\/span>\u00a0demand for something that has already been achieved.<\/p>\n For instance, one of the Rogue Valley’s largest and most amenities-rich workout clubs — which includes a full-sized pool, therapeutic pool, hot tub, saunas, steam rooms,\u00a0six racquetball courts, a gymnasium, free weights and cardio machines galore, a Pilates center, an aerobics classroom, a kids’ zone, a world-class spa,\u00a0a gymnastic training center, a climbing wall,\u00a0and even a\u00a0NASA inspired GyroGym\u2122 — is located here.<\/p>\n It alone, with over 40,000 square feet of space, can accommodate not only the percentage of people who would use it in our town, but in two adjoining towns. And, this club even has a main competitor on the other side of town. It too has a unique value proposition, but different in approach and offerings.<\/p>\n Yet, over the last\u00a0three years, we’ve seen\u00a0three other small gym operators attempt to creep up.\u00a0Two have gone bust, and one is still struggling.<\/p>\n But,\u00a0 to our mouth-dropping amazement yesterday, as we were walking around downtown, we saw a sign for a NitroFitness, with\u00a0three people inside slaving away at the drywall.<\/p>\n It’s mind boggling, from the perspective of two people who continue to wonder if\u00a0 “strategic” and “critical” thinking is a lost art<\/strong>.<\/p>\n But, it’s not that we roll our eyes at their desire, ambition, and hope to get ahead… it’s that we wonder if they even know there’s a better way.<\/p>\n A better way to earn money, that is, a)<\/strong> without\u00a0needing to break ground\u00a0in a business where two key companies have a practical monopoly and b) <\/strong>without the expense of large retail space and onsite overhead.<\/p>\n