DIY extraordinaire Kyle from Kaizen DIY Gym joins us to discuss some DIY survey results and share his story. 

In this episode, you'll get a sense of the overall interest in DIY projects within the home gym community, what got Kyle interested in the space, chat about some specific DIY projects, and MORE. 

Show Notes:

Follow Kyle:

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out:

Seb Ostrowicz is the founder of Weightlifting House, a company bringing people closer to the sport of Weightlifting with podcasts, articles, videos, apparel, and equipment. In addition, WH provides Weightlifting education through their Coaches Only and Athlete Only portals. Seb is also the author of two books: one is a weightlifting historian's guide to the greatest Sinclairs of all time, and the other is The Pendlay Method which is everything Seb learned from coach Glen Pendlay before he passed.

This chat walks us through the story of WH, their struggle and successes when selling equipment, the future of the sport, and more!

Show Notes:

(1:48) What was it like in the training halls at the IWF World Championships?

(3:28) What does Weightlifting House do?

(5:23) What was the birth story of Weightlifting House?

(11:43) Where are your barbells manufactured?

(19:16) What does Weighlifting House do better or different than other equipment companies?

(27:12) Any plans on bringing a new product to market?

(32:37) You go to to the World Championships, and you see your logo being sold without authorization. Can you give us the story behind that?

(37:19) Who is your target audience?

(41:48) Where do you see Weightlifting House going in the future?

(44:01) Where is the sport of weightlifting heading? And, can you give us a rundown of what the recent Olympic news means and what it means for the future?

(47:36) What’s your prediction on how all of it will turn out?

If you enjoyed this episode, check out some similar episodes:

Interview with the Founder of Bridge Built, Patryk Bielawski

Dylan Tellam - From Ab Amigo to AbMat

#10 with REP Co-Founder, Ryan McGrotty

Adam from Garage Gym Lab joins us in this episode. We discussed survey questions from Christmas about holiday workouts, strength sports interest of the community, who will be the most popular equipment supplier for home gym strength in 5 years, and also asked Adam a number of questions about his home gym experiences. In addition, he retells how he invented the Preacher Pad. 

Additional charts/info: https://bit.ly/3zxjfY8

Survey Questions

Q&A with Garage Gym Lab

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out:

This is our 2021 yearly wrap-up of survey results. We’ve taken the most “relevant” pieces of data and summarized them into one episode.

Within this summary, you’ll find:

Thank you for participating and listening to the results, especially as we are just getting this podcast rolling! In the future, we will continue to do this weekly, so please keep sending us your thoughts!

Ryan McGrotty is one of the entrepreneurs behind REP Fitness. He co-founded it with his brother back in 2012 and retold the story in this discussion. We also talk about the REP product roadmap, many “Made in China vs. Made in America" details, what it likely means if we see a copy-cat product and more. Much of this information hasn’t ever been publicly stated.

I look forward to hearing what you all think. Enjoy.

(0:00) Intro

(0:41) What do your days look like today?

(2:10) Other stuff to know about Ryan outside of REP

(4:27) What does your home gym look like?

(6:49) What were you doing before REP?

(7:27) When did you come up with the idea to create your equipment?

(17:19) After starting with bumper plates, what were the following few products?

(18:25) How long until you felt you were going to make it as a company?

(19:00) Any mistakes or horror stories you could share?

(21:47) Can you explain what you and your brother worked on when starting the company? Did that change?

(23:27) How do you stay close to the community? Or, what's propelled your company to make such a massive leap in the last five years or so?

(26:37) Favorite product release?

(27:30) How long do adjustments on products take?

(29:42) How did your business change in 2020?

(33:17) Does it seem like the customers are different than they were back in 2012?

(34:25) The Denver distribution center is moving to a new spot in Los Angeles by the end of 2022. What does this mean for your company and its customers?

(36:21) What type of products will be released in 2022?

(38:56) Thoughts on fitness technology in the future?

(45:00) Where and how your products are manufactured?

(49:12) What would you say to someone that just says all you do is copy other companies and contract someone from overseas to make it for you?

(52:45) It does not feel that the quality difference these days in certain import companies (like yourself) vs. Made in America is incredibly different. Can you explain why?

(55:47) Are there different types of ways to “import?” Are specific ways better than others?

(58:55) As a founder of a pretty large company, what keeps you up at night these days?

(59:42) What does REP need to improve on the most?

Intro

We are winding down 2021 and are preparing a summary of the 2021 Survey Results. This is the episode before the overview where we are going to discuss some interesting findings that probably won't make that summary episode, which tackles much more of the "necessary" information." 

This week's guest analyst is Dylan Tellam, a Co-Owner and product developer with AbMat. Hear his story in episode 4.

Survey Results:

(1:28) Benefits of the Home Gym, Wrong Answers Only

(4:53) In 5 Years, who will be the most Popular equipment supplier for home gym strength?

(7:27)Would you be interested in a rower that provides more resistance than your classic Concept 2 Rower?

(9:12) Which specialty piece of equipment are you choosing? A Belt Squat, GHD, Reverse Hyper, or Functional Trainer?

(10:49) Estimate how many different brands are in your home gym?

(13:13) What's more difficult? Eating healthy or working out enough?

(15:55) REP FT-5000 or Titan Single Stack Pulley?

(25:37) Coffee or Preworkout?

(29:22) What would you likely buy first (Transformer Bar or Any Belt Squat)?

(33:42) Which Plate Loaded Strength Machine are you most interested in? vs. Which Selectorized Strength Machine are you most interested in?

(37:41) How often do you work out outside?

(38:45) Are you more likely to buy a barbell because of a cool name?

(41:27) How many have purchased gym equipment in retail stores vs. online?

Q&A with Dylan:

(45:55) Have there been any products that you tried to bring to market but failed? Or, are there any products that just haven't taken off like you initially thought?

(50:49) Are there any product designers in the industry that you look up to? Or, get inspiration from?

(54:43) What's a product you see today that you don't think will be around in 5 years? Or something that will be dramatically less popular?

(58:36) Any products that you can think of that very few have but will be much more popular in the future?

(64:47) Tell me about a product that AbMat sells that more people should know about.

Patryk Bielawski started his Bridge BUILT journey back in 2012 while still in college. 

This discussion takes us from the beginning to where the company is now. Other topics include: starting 75 Hard just before the holidays, American manufacturing, his ideas around innovation, and more.

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Show Notes:

(0:00) 75 Hard

(4:41) Who is Patryk

(5:48) The Idea of Bridge Built

(10:22) All In. What's Next?

(17:18) 1st Year in Business Summary

(23:35) The Story of the Phoenix Rack

(26:38) Going into 2020...

(34:02) Failure Stories Along the Way, but Don't Call Them Failures

(40:40) Today, what does Bridge Built Sell? + Upcoming products

(44:18) Issues that keep the Bridge Built Founder up at Night

(46:20) Significance of being different and innovating for Patryk

(50:32) Importance of American Manufacturing

(57:51) How are you training, and does it help in creating new equipment?

(65:25) Bridge Built in 5 Years?

This episode is joined by another special guest "analyst." - Kurt, AKA The Kurt Locker, on social media. Kurt competes as a strongman. He is a Veteran, DIY enthusiast proud father, and has one of the nicest garage gyms in Ohio. We talk rack hardware, DIY projects, think of new product ideas, strongman equipment for beginners, and more. 

Survey Results

(1:27) What is your "Rack Hardware" Preference? 

(4:40) About 28% bought gym equipment during a November 2021 sale 

(6:36) Vertical Folding > Folded Up Adjustable Bench Storage for most. 

(12:37) A majority are working out "outside" of traditional working hours 

(15:47) Saving time is more important than saving money 

(18:34) A decent amount answering these surveys are running a "business" out of their home gym 

(18:56) Lots of time is saved by owning a home gym 

(21:46) Have you been "Influenced" to purchase by a friend/family member or "home gym influencer?"

(23:33) What's the #1 reason you train? AND What's the #2 reason you train? 

(30:18) Cold winters are worse for most than hot summers 

Q&A with Kurt (36:36) 

(37:34) When did you start a home gym, and how has it evolved?

(46:00) What are you currently training for these days? What initially got you interested in "Strongman?"

(49:45) What is your favorite DIY project or two that you've done in the home gym?

(53:52) If someone wanted to test out strongman, what equipment would you recommend for a beginner?

(59:55) What's a typical week of Strongman training look like?

(67:22) What's your favorite "Specialty Barbell" you've ever used?

(71:00) Can you tell us about some mistakes you've made?

(74:23) It appears that you've grown steadily on YouTube. What was the reasoning for starting a YouTube channel?

(77:47) Tell everyone about your homemade log press?

Sunday Survey Discussion - "What's your favorite benefit of owning a home gym?" (84:30)

More

Follow Kurt on YouTube and Instagram

This week's survey questions were all over the place. There wasn't a proper theme but many "random-ish" questions that had been asked back in 2020. For the podcast, we had a special guest analyst - Matt Pendergraph. He's a fellow home gym junkie and added quite a bit of insight throughout. Plus, a Q&A where he answers some questions about his equipment preferences is later in the episode.

Survey Questions:

(0:43) When buying gym equipment, how important is it that it was made in your country (if possible)?

(1:38) What proportion of your gym was made in your country?

(4:05) What do you lift with?

(4:56) Is it okay to finance gym equipment? "and" Have you financed gym equipment?

(6:21) Would you consider yourself an "equipment snob?"

(8:21) How many people work out in your home gym?

(10:24) Kabuki or Eleiko?

(12:28) Do you drink a "pre-workout" before working out?

(14:41) Is it worth spending $30-$40 more for a barbell that will not rust?

(15:09) Battle Rope or Inertia Wave?

(17:54) Do you actually save money by owning a home gym?

(22:29) How many home gym Instagram accounts do you follow?

(24:33) REP or Rogue Bench?

Q&A with Matt Pendergraph

(26:30) You've had experience with quite a few benches. What's your favorite?

(27:29) What's the most overrated one you've tried?

(28:13) Slinger vs. Surplus Strength? Which do you prefer?

(31:17) What’s your favorite attachment to go with them?

(33:37) You are a master with the lever arms. What’s your favorite thing to do?

(34:38) There are a number of lever arms out there. Any tips for choosing the right ones?

(36:59) One barbell for the rest of your life. What are you choosing?

(39:13) Lastly, what are the top 3 specialty bars you’ve ever used?

Sunday Survey Discussion

(40:12) What's the best purchase you've ever made for the home gym? Worst?

Follow Matt:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattpendergraph/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5j-05Nqd2lqf-KSL4nurdg

Website: https://www.mattpendergraph.com/

This week we have a few quick hitters talking about the Assault Bike, "specialty bar" storage, and the new Bridge Built adjustable bench. Then, we'll discuss a typically repeated survey each season, which revolves around the "issues" we face as home gym owners. There are two "issues" that are easily the biggest problems that home gym owners face. 

__________

Show Notes:

(0:26) Quick Hitters

(4:50) Issues

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Check out the blog, which includes charts and links.