Fat Cat Climbing Gym

businesses

When I first moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, I was in the prime of my climbing spirit, and was distraught that there were no easily available climbing gyms nearby, the nearest was 2 hours away! I started wracking my brain, and wanted to start my own gym.

I began to do significant market research, surveying locals, viewing other gyms in the area, finding a good spot to set up, and more. Drawing from what I learned form Roll and Go, I was able to easily create a name (originally named Escarpment Climbing and Fitness, but was later scrapped due to a lack of popularity of the word and too many syllables).

I put together employee training manuals, looked for a business partner, and opened a checking/savings account. I created the first website (notice how similar in structure it is to the second version of the Roll and Go website, just with more bells and whistles), and started budgeting for how much it would take. I applied for loans, but choked at asking around for money, and since I was not finished with college at the time, I needed to move away again, and wasn't able to finish what I had started.

After graduating and settling in, I once again attempted to build the gym, even going so far as building a portable Moonboard knockoff (which is still in my basement!).

I rebranded to Fat Cat and got up to rebuilding the website (notice how similar to the Escarpment website it is, but again, with more bells and whistles (such as hamburger menu, improved url, and a more consistent theme. While you can't see it, the back-end is more malleable and able to be changed easier), and being ready to sign a lease, before the landlord pulled a fast one and offered it to someone else. The unfortunate thing about climbing gyms is that they cost a lot to start, which is likely a part of why I struggled so much to start it, as well as running into the same problem I did with Roll and Go which is my inability to sell my idea or myself to others, and getting cold feet when push comes to shove in that I may lose future reputation; combining those two issues, I was unsuccessful a second time in creating a profit.

Overall, Fat Cat reinforced my inkling that I need to work on my interpersonal skills and my own self confidence that what I can offer is worth investing in. I still believe that Cedar Rapids would benefit significantly from having a climbing gym, and if someone is willing and able to make it happen, I'm almost certain that it would be a profitable investment.

Updated:2022-07-21