Owner taps power of positivity
“I’m a down-to-earth
person. You’ll get the truth and service at a very affordable price,” says the Fit
1st Running gym owner Manny Minter. Located in Uptown, Fit 1st opened in May 2015. Minter says
it continues to run through positive momentum.
As for the name Fit 1st Running, “It means shoe-fitting first. We want to fit you first, then focus on fashion,” says Minter, adding that proper shoe fitting helps ensure comfort while exercising. He also customizes unique shoe inserts.
Minter launched the business
for two primary reasons: “Everyone needs shoes,” and “flexibility to pick my
brands and most effective brands for the consumer,” says Minter. Customers
should expect to pay $80-$150.
Customers have four core
brands to choose from, but a total of 12 are available. Minter says the store
is stocked with “whatever shoe is going to fit the population properly.” The
hottest selling running shoe is the Diadora, an Italian brand.
Minter is often quick
with a solution for customers who come to him fed-up with painful shoes while
working out. One customer walked joyfully into the shop expressing how ready he
was to buy a new pair of running shoes due to foot discomfort.
Minter quickly emerged
with a sleek new remedy — a pair of jet black, lightweight running shoes. The
customer tried them on, stood up with a sigh of relief, then lightly jogged
back and forth. Minter provided an assessment and an order was placed shortly
thereafter.
Minter says he has found
consistent success in part by the delivery of exceptional customer service like
such one-on-one shoe fittings.
Establishing work-life
balance is an important aspect of operating a business. Asked what he enjoys in
his free time, Minter says he likes running and biking, but “the biggest thing
is writing music and making instrumentals.
“That’s my jam, literally,” says Minter. Being a business owner allows him more time to live his other dreams. “I have more freedom to be a musician.” He also serves as a DJ on the weekends, and he’s “always trying to find songs, cuts and jams while mixing it. I try to get people excited.”
Minter is motivated to
live his dream due to his notion of being free. “I have a purpose every day and
I’m working towards growth.”
Although there are trials and tribulations in business, Minter says he successfully overcomes these trials thanks to his optimistic outlook on life. “I can handle adversity. A positive attitude is everything, even in the worst times. A positive mindset manifests more.”
Focusing on the good is
always more beneficial than doting on the bad unless it can help us improve, Minter
says. “Just because you have a bad moment doesn’t mean you have to have a bad
day.”
Minter noted that great way to keep the vibes good is through exercise, for example. “There’s a lot of toxic energy that needs to be released. Sometimes I go on a bike ride.” Exercising creates a sense of euphoria because of the endorphins that get released, enhancing our mood for the better. “Attitude is everything,” he says.
Minter has a message
he’d like to share with aspiring business owners: “The same people that doubted
you will be your biggest fan. There’s not many Black businesses. Be a living
example.”
Fit1st Running is open from 9:30 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 5 pm on Saturday and from noon to 5 pm Sunday. It’s located at 2327 Hennepin Ave. in Minneapolis. For more information visit www.fit1strunning.com.
