Knowledge Center

Father-Daughter Duo Teams Up with WSFS Bank to Open Club Pilates Franchise

running-a-business | Read Time: 3 minutes

By Eric Springer | Published: October 2021

Father-Daughter Duo Teams Up with WSFS Bank to Open Club Pilates Franchise

As he approached retirement after 30 years with the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Greg Wright was looking ahead to how he would transition careers with two daughters in college.

“I have a close friend who is also a franchise broker who helps entrepreneurs connect with franchise brands and lenders,” says Greg. “He was always mentioning franchising to me as an option, but none of the options really stood out as something that interested me.”

When Club Pilates was mentioned, however, Greg’s interest was piqued.

“I wanted a strong franchise brand but also something that was of interest to both me and my daughter, Ayanna, who was studying Marketing and English at the University of Maryland. We wanted to start this journey together, to develop a financial plan to pay off college and start building generational wealth for our family.”

After a “discovery day” trip to California in November 2019, Greg and Ayanna were all-in on becoming Club Pilates franchise owners.

Leaning on Greg’s friend’s advice, they soon began the journey of applying, funding and finally opening Club Pilates Pike Creek in Wilmington, Delaware’s Stoney Creek Plaza next to Goldey-Beacom College.

But there were some bumps in the road to becoming franchise business owners.

“We aren’t an independently wealthy family, so access to capital for the franchise was paramount,” says Greg. “And connecting with Richard Snow and WSFS Bank made the whole process much smoother.”

As WSFS Bank’s Vice President and SBA National Franchise Relationship Manager, Richard Snow knew that one of the biggest barriers to entry for minority entrepreneurs is sufficient access to capital.

“Greg and Ayanna bring an amazing combination of talent, drive, experience and youthful energy to everything they do,” says Snow, who is also the President of the International Franchise Association’s Black Franchise Leadership Council. “As an industry, it is imperative that Black entrepreneurs have the necessary tools and resources at their disposal to succeed.”

At times, those resources were hard to come by.

“The magnitude of the project brought many highs and lows, but Richard continually came through on our behalf,” says Greg. “There were certainly some eye-opening moments during the entire process for me and Ayanna, as we were learning everything about franchising at the same time, together. We are grateful for having a great team at WSFS behind us.”

More than a year and a half after their discovery trip to California, Greg and Ayanna celebrated their Club Pilates Pike Creek grand opening in July 2021, joined by the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce, WSFS Bank and many new fans and customers!




About the Author – Eric Springer
Eric Springer is Assistant Vice President, Integrated Communications Manager at WSFS Bank. He brings more than 15 years’ experience in corporate communications and marketing for banking, professional services and nonprofit organizations.

 

 

Key Steps to Position Your Business to Get the Long-Term Credit and Loans it Needs

Key Steps to Position Your Business to Get the Long-Term Credit and Loans it Needs

Whether you are an entrepreneur at the helm of a startup or a seasoned small business owner looking to expand, the importance of good business credit cannot be understated. From equipment finance to real estate loans and credit lines for operating expenses, at some point your business will most likely need to borrow money from a business lender.

Read More
Tips for Using a Credit Card for Your Small Business

Tips for Using a Credit Card for Your Small Business

When it comes to credit for a small business, loans are typically the first options that come to mind. Small business loans are great options for infusing capital into a small business or to finance a property purchase, equipment or other operating needs.

Read More
How a Small Business Commercial Real Estate Loan Can Help Owners Plant Roots and Reinvest in Their Business

How a Small Business Commercial Real Estate Loan Can Help Owners Plant Roots and Reinvest in Their Business

For many small business owners, finding the right location is only half the battle. From lease agreements and rising costs of rent to finding a new location when necessary, sifting through the options can be overwhelming and time consuming – and it takes you away from driving sales and revenue.

Read More
How a New Banking Partner Can Change the Trajectory of Your Business

How a New Banking Partner Can Change the Trajectory of Your Business

Having been a business owner for 40 years, I know that making the decision to change vendors, after years of partnership, can be daunting. Now, apply that to switching a banking relationship, and the decision becomes harder. A proven track record and solid customer relationships are a driving factor in the success of our Pennsauken-based business, our best attribute has been the ability to adapt and tackle projects with a dedicated approach and attention to detail.

Read More
Building Your Empire: Driving Growth and Funding Your Franchise’s Future

Building Your Empire: Driving Growth and Funding Your Franchise’s Future

For franchisees, getting their business off the ground is one of the, if not the greatest challenge of their careers. From meeting the franchisor’s scale and experience requirements to securing financing, the journey to becoming a franchisee is often a long and winding road.

Read More