Max Muscle franchise owners Tracy and Trevor Bryant discovered their entrepreneurial spirit in perhaps the most unlikely of places – at Sportfight XX at Portland's Rose Garden arena.
It was there, amidst brutal fights and displays of martial arts expertise, that the Clark County couple first saw the Anaheim, Calif.-based fitness retailer's advertisement campaign for new franchise owners in the Pacific Northwest region. From that moment on, the Bryants were hooked.
With Trevor recently laid-off from a job in the construction industry and Tracy considering a move from a sales position at a local media organization, the couple decided to strike it out on their own, agreeing to open a Max Muscle store in Hazel Dell, and later, another location in East County.
There was only one problem. "We knew when we opened that the economy was bad," Tracy said, referring to the debut of their Hazel Dell location in August 2008. "And we still don't exactly know how it's affecting our business."
Despite a continuing tough climate for retailers, the couple plans on sticking it out, confident in the selling power of the growing Max Muscle brand – as well as each other. "We work really well as a team," Trevor said. "There haven't been any big disagreements – yet."
Much of their efforts recently are spent increasing regional awareness of Max Muscle offerings, which include fitness supplements, protein shakes and bodybuilding apparel – a market niche tailor-made for the Bryants, both avid cyclists, triathletes and martial arts enthusiasts.
With Tracy handling marketing for the business and Trevor taking over operations, the couple opened their second location at Southview Center on S.E. 164th Avenue in August of this year.
That's when things started to get interesting, according to Trevor. "It's a hard thing to do, balancing the needs of two stores, floating employees, keeping on top of schedules," he said. "But it was all part of the plan."
Today, the Bryants operate two of only four MuscleMax stores in Washington state, hoping to be on the leading edge of a resurgent fitness market, as well as a model to former colleagues facing an uncertain future in the construction and media industry.
"My advice? Find a Plan B," Tracy said.
