Celebrating Small Businesses: Max Fitness Keeps Clients Connected to Their Workouts and Each Other by Creating Daily Sessions for Online Community

Each week in May, WSFS Bank and FOX 29 are teaming up to honor a small business in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region that overcame the odds to persevere and succeed during the COVID-19 pandemic. WSFS Bank is proud to provide Max Fitness with a $2,000 award and a live segment on FOX 29’s Good Day Philadelphia as part of the WSFS Bank Small Business Resiliency Program.

Eric Hailey had a feeling COVID-19 would impact his business, Max Fitness in Mt. Laurel, NJ, even before shutdown orders took effect. Two weeks prior, he began recording “One Weight Workout” videos for clients so they could stay in shape while his fitness center was shut down.

When his business was forced to close its physical location, Eric was ready. He encouraged clients to come to Max Fitness, socially distanced, to borrow dumbbells, kettlebells and other equipment to complete their “One Weight Workouts” at home, helping to make the videos a huge success and creating a new online community of Max Fitness clients and fans.

When restrictions were lifted, Eric and his team shifted to outside workouts when weather permitted, and when fitness centers could reopen indoors, they redesigned Max Fitness’ layout and modified workout routines to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Meanwhile, Eric continues to produce “One Weight Workout” videos every day for his clients who are not ready to return to the gym but want to continue their workouts and stay connected to the Max Fitness community.