Business
Eireann Rigby gives fitness a whole new shape - UFIT owner wins BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award for Prince Edward Island
Eireann Rigby gives fitness a whole new shape - UFIT owner wins BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award fo...
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nOct. 20, 2009 (Canada NewsWire Group) -- CHARLOTTETOWN, Oct. 20 /CNW Telbec/ -- People don't need to wear Spandex to fit in at Eireann Rigby's UFIT classes. Eireann, 34, broke the stereotypical fitness club mould when she developed a business from her vision of an all-inclusive, non-judgmental, fun group activity. With thousands of Islanders from all walks of life embracing her pay-as-you-go, $5-a-class concept, Eireann has earned BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award for P.E.I., which she will receive tonight at a ceremony in Ottawa.\"When I started UFIT, I chose the name to mean 'you belong' as well as to refer to fitness,\" Eireann points out. She had played professional basketball in Europe before starting her business seven years ago and had come to realize that people who weren't involved in organized sports had few opportunities to get active in a group setting. \"I had a vision of an equal playing field for all, where it doesn't matter where you come from, who you are, what you do. I wanted to create a place where all feel equal and comfortable and non-judged and excited.\" One of Eireann's goals was to make it easy for people to attend her classes, and that meant making it inexpensive and flexible. That resulted in the $5-a-class fee on a pay-as-you-go basis. \"It hasn't changed a bit in seven years,\" she says. \"I have fought hard not to raise the price, even with costs going up.\"As the UFIT approach caught on, the business expanded. Eireann now employs eight instructors who provide 20 classes per week in eight locations across the province, with average attendance of 100 people per class in a big street party atmosphere. \"We have people of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life, ranging from young children to grandmothers in their 70s.\"For Eireann, the success of UFIT is due in large measure to the team of instructors and volunteers she works with, including her husband, Gordon McNeilly, who is both a master trainer and a motivational leader. \"Gord and I work together and UFIT wouldn't be what it is without both of us,\" she says.Feedback from class participants is what continues to drive Eireann and her team. \"Nothing beats the feeling you get when people tell you that you have changed their life.\"Beyond the gymBuilding on its growing success, the company has branched out into providing motivational semi...