Today we’d like to introduce you to William Jeffery.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My wife and I had a rather unique journey on the way to becoming gym owners. I worked in Tech for a little over 10 years before being laid off, and my wife was part owner of a children’s dance studio prior to Covid. When the studio closed, she became a teacher, often subbing at the help group, before finding a permanent position as a preschool teacher at our children’s school. During my transition from tech, we initially were looking for another dance studio or investment property. However, during our search, we received an email stating that Studio City We Rock location was looking to sell. After some discussion we decided to make an offer, one thing led to another and before we knew it were signing papers and getting keys. It was a bit of a rollercoaster to start with all the transition between the two of us, but also very organic in that things flowed relatively smoothly from step to step, and we always felt like we were making the right choice moving in the right direction. We are now the proud owners of the Studio City We Rock the Spectrum location, happily working to create a safe, fun space for children and the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any worthwhile pursuit we have had our fair share of obstacles, taking over the gym at the same time as school starting was a shocker out of the gate as this caused a drastic drop in overall attendance. We combatted this by focusing on building relationships with the few people that were coming into the gym, allowing us to find out the things they liked and didn’t like about how the was running to this point. Slowly but surely, we were able to make small but noticeable changes, as word spread about the changes being made, we started to notice an uptick in visits. There were cosmetic hurdles as well, while the gym was far from a dump when we took over there were plenty of well-loved items that were in need of replacement or repair. We spent a great deal of time the first few weeks cleaning, repairing, and replacing toys and equipment. While cleaning and repairs will likely be an ongoing pursuit, we are now at a place where we feel we have made the space our own and, in turn, can focus on maintenance and improvements as opposed to repairs and restoration.
We’ve been impressed with We Rock The Spectrum, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The We Rock The Spectrum franchise specializes in children’s play spaces that are open to children of all abilities but cater to those on the spectrum. A lot of the equipment found in our gym is similar to what you might find in an occupational therapy setting: trampoline, which teaches balance and helps build lower body strength; several different styles of swings; as well as our claim to fame zip line. All of which are great for balance, core strength, endurance, etc. I think one of the best aspects of what we do is creating a safe space for neurodiverse and neurotypical kids to play and interact. This is great for everyone involved because it provides an opportunity for perspective on both sides, allowing neurotypical and diverse to share/observe each other’s experiences. We Rock is one of the few play spaces for children that use an all-inclusive philosophy, allowing children to grow without judgment, as the motto on the wall states, “Finally a place where you never have to say you’re sorry.”
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are always looking to collab and work with others, we have the ‘we recommend’ page on our website we are always looking to add businesses to. We are also available for individuals to bring their specialized classes. Our space is great for sensory classes, social skills, music, etc. You can support us first and foremost by visiting the gym if you have children, of course; otherwise, we are always looking to cross-promote either at other businesses or online via social media or our website.
Pricing:
- $23 per child open play all-day pass
- $99 1 child membership unlimited open play
- $23/hr break time
- Birthday party packages starting at $550
- $100 5-pack open play passes
Contact Info:
- Website: werockthespectrumstudiocity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrtsstudiocity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRTSStudioCity/
