How I Am Athletics rebuilt its gym around its own values
At Boxbase, we believe every gym has a unique story - shaped by passion, perseverance, and people. Allan Emmens shares the challenges of growing a fitness community and how Boxbase helped simplify operations so he could focus on what matters most.
Photo: Allan Emmens
- Live in four days from the first call to a fully migrated gym, over a weekend.
- Decided on the first call after a member already using Boxbase recommended it.
- 150+ members moved with their memberships, class schedules & zero disruptions.
- Several apps down to one instead of the stack the team was juggling before.
A gym built on its own values
This story is about more than building a gym - it’s about relationships and trust. From the outset, Allan’s goal wasn’t to compete with other gyms but to create a space that reflected his and his wife’s values.
“Back in 2015, I left my job as a schoolteacher to follow my dream: opening a gym with my wife. We started small, focused on creating a welcoming space and high-quality training. As our community grew, we moved to a larger facility in 2019. Last year, we stepped away from our CF affiliation to evolve in a direction that better fits our values. It’s been challenging, but deeply rewarding.”
Where the old system stopped fitting
As the gym grew, its previous system no longer met their evolving needs.
“The Workout Builder was clunky and slow. Leaderboards didn’t fit our culture, we value personal growth over competition. Scheduling was frustrating, and using multiple apps made everything harder. We wanted one simple system that just worked.”
Four days from first call to live
In October 2024, one of Allan’s members, already using Boxbase, suggested he check it out while he was searching for new gym software. Allan had a clear vision of what he wanted from his next system, and without hesitation he knew that Boxbase could cater to his needs. He agreed to switch during the very first call.
“The moment we landed on Boxbase’s site, we knew it was a fit. Clean, intuitive, and clearly built by people who understand fitness. That sealed it for us.”
Within four days his entire setup was migrated: 150+ members, memberships, and class schedules, with zero disruption.
Hey Sahin! Just wanted to say thanks for making the switch happen so quickly - even over the weekend. That kind of dedication confirmed we chose the right team. 😍🍻
What changed day to day
Once the transition was complete, Allan immediately felt the difference in how effortless day-to-day operations could be. This wasn’t just a software swap - it removed friction so Allan could focus on what matters: his members.
“It just works. Scheduling is flexible, onboarding new members is simple, and we’ve had zero tech headaches. That frees us up to grow and coach instead of dealing with backend issues.”
Support that stays a step ahead
Allan prioritised efficiency and support in his search for a new platform, and it is the support that he keeps coming back to.
“We wanted a system that made scheduling and workouts easier. Boxbase nailed it. And the support has been outstanding - proactive, responsive, and always one step ahead. That’s a game-changer.”
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