Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Stenz
Hi Erica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
3 years ago, in 2021, I launched my own nutrition & wellness program. The WESHRED The Wellness collective Weshred: the VIP white-glove experience 1:1 Nutrition, Fitness, & Wellness Coaching Program with our four pillars as our foundation of overall well-being. It’s inclusive for all levels, ages & genders.
The truth is, I started this company out of sincere love for helping people FEEL GOOD & find confidence. I lost “myself” at the beginning of the pandemic when my ex-husband and I were separating and working together in the same company during the beginning of COVID-19. I needed to “reboot” – get healthy – and return stronger with a life and business plan for my future. The obstacles and the heartbreak became the hurdles to overcome to find my new path and business investment. Luckily, I had the most amazing founding team supporting me in this new business adventure and the clients who’ve trusted me for years. WeShred the 30-day program became waitlisted the first day we kicked off!
Before WeShred, I was in corporate Marketing in San Francisco and then VP of Fitness Development at Barry’s Northern California, recruiting talent, managing the studio schedules, and onboarding/training the new trainers for the region for about 8 years. Before that, I was the VP of Marketing & Community Relations for Barry’s San Francisco and one of the founding instructors. I’m still an investing member and excited they recently opened their Barry’s Santa Monica studio downstairs from my building at The Park Santa Monica luxury residences. The Park Santa Monica Residences is an oasis of calm and wellness with a private 1-acre park rooftop with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica.
WeShred is now partnered at The Park Santa Monica, where I host wellness retreats, teach classes, build meal plans & meals, and so much more.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest struggle today is still finding quality labor (on a starting company budget). To grow WeShred, I will need to find a new right-hand assistant who’s locally based in Santa Monica or perhaps a business partner who wants to grow and invest the same amount of time as me.
Also, being a female owner isn’t easy. I wasted time putting an offer on a building for WeShred in the Marina area (San Francisco) when, later, I found the real estate broker was more interested in meeting me for coffee than helping me find a location for my business. That’s just one example of not being taken seriously as a woman. Learning to trust my intuition is key.
As a new business owner, you have to wear all the hats and learn all the parts of the business (not just the part you’re already experienced in). This means I had to learn website/tech/legal waivers, financial budgeting, and, of course, it’s always a constant struggle to know “when to shut down” because there’s always more to do. To prevent myself from burning out, I had to learn to become super intentional with TIME BLOCKING.
Also, understanding the seasons and not stressing during summer has been a big learning. Summer months are slower than peak months (Jan-April) and pick back up in the Fall (Sept – Nov). New Years goals drive motivation in people to start. I think the hardest part of health & wellness coaching is twofold: (1) people have been burned out on other more restrictive “diets” etc in the past, (2) people assume they can’t do it while they’re traveling. Of course, yes – it’s harder to be consistent during travels, but teaching people “how to do weshred traveling + social life” has been KEY. This is why we’ve also continued to pivot and offer different services, such as wellness retreats & healthy meal plans/salad pick-ups to offset the summer months.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I deliver 1:1 health, nutrition, and fitness coaching support specializing in helping people lose weight. Weshred the wellness method is the VIP white-glove experience 1:1 Nutrition, Fitness, & Wellness Coaching Program with our four pillars as our foundation of overall well-being (1) food, (2) movement, (3) accountability and (4) community. Weshred includes coach calls, group calls, lessons, events and more.
We are not a diet, not a fad, do not count macros, and are not focused on intense workouts. We are a 360 wellness method focusing on mind, body, and spirit with three steps to get you feeling and living like your best self.
We offer meal plans, healthy meals for pick-up, fitness workouts, health & wellness virtual coaching from all over America, wellness retreats, and customized wellness events & parties for your special dates.
I’m proud that we have a 90% rewenal rate because we do provide clients with REAL-DAILY accountability & experienced guidance. Both myself and our team registered dietitian, Bonnie Kuss, along with so many incredible weshred coaches/former clients are there to support in every way.
How do you think about luck?
I can’t remember a spell of bad luck. I try to look at failures as growth learnings. Good luck does play a role – you have to be open enough to receive guidance from the universe to direct you on a path. Throughout my years, I just kept telling myself, “Be YOU” – attract the right people in your life, provide the same quality of service to everyone, and have been lucky that those people refer me so that most of my business comes word of mouth.
Pricing:
- $99/weekly meal plan (5 meals)
- $179/weekly WeShred Basic 21+ Day program (health & wellness coaching)
- $399/weekly WeShred VIP 21+ Day Program: Personalized Meal Plan & Nutrition VIP Coaching
- $875/weekly 1:1 Private Trainer, Chef & Coach
- $200/60-min personal training session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ericastenz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weshredcollective/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ericastenz/
Image Credits
Alan Escalante & Natalie Kim
