PickUp USA Fitness: Revolutionizing Basketball Fitness Training
Discover the story of PickUp USA Fitness, a gym dedicated to offering innovative fitness programs tailored specifically for basketball players.
In this interview with Jordan Meinster, CEO, gain exclusive insights into the company’s journey and vision.
Please brief us about the company and its foundation.
PickUp USA Fitness is a comprehensive gym centering on basketball. Established in 2012 in Irwindale, CA, we’ve since expanded, granting 43 franchise licenses and opening gyms nationwide.
The inspiration behind PickUp USA Fitness stemmed from my personal experiences playing PickUp basketball. While I enjoyed the game, I was often frustrated by the disorganization at the gyms. To address this, we founded PickUp USA Fitness to offer organized PickUp basketball with referees, solving the issues I encountered elsewhere. We developed a unique queuing system for game organization, ensuring all matches are officiated by two referees.
Today, our gyms not only provide organized PickUp basketball but also boast full fitness facilities, group and individual basketball training, tournaments, youth development programs, and more!
What are the primary products or services your company specializes in? How do they differentiate from others in the market?
Our company is exclusively dedicated to basketball. All our facilities feature comprehensive weight and cardio rooms, along with multiple basketball courts, Dr. Dish shooting guns, Vertimax trainers, and various other basketball-specific equipment.
At PickUp USA Fitness, our services revolve entirely around basketball. For adults, we offer daily PickUp basketball with referees, weekly tournaments, and basketball training sessions. For youth, we provide Youth Development leagues, one-on-one training, and more.
PickUp USA Fitness stands out as the largest basketball gym chain in the US. What distinguishes us is our state-of-the-art facilities, unparalleled customer service, and our unwavering focus solely on basketball.
Please tell us about your team.
I lead a corporate team responsible for overseeing our franchise program.
At the forefront is our development team, managing over 200 inquiries monthly from potential franchise groups. They meticulously vet candidates through a rigorous discovery process, ensuring compatibility. Successful candidates are awarded a territory and guided through onboarding.
Following onboarding, our finance team aids franchise owners in securing financing, offering both traditional and alternative methods. Our expertise in franchisee support in this realm is nationally recognized.
Once financing is secured, our real estate team assists franchisees in procuring a suitable facility. With significant resources devoted to this process, we’ve garnered a reputation for delivering multiple facility options, negotiating favorable lease or purchase terms, and setting franchisees up for long-term success.
Upon securing financing and a facility, franchisees transition to our operations and marketing teams. Together, they facilitate club buildout, execute successful pre-sales campaigns, oversee soft and grand openings, and provide ongoing support post-launch.
With decades of collective experience, our dedicated team guides franchisees through every stage, from initial inquiry to long-term business endeavors. Our commitment to support is unparalleled.
Could you provide an overview of your professional background?
Before launching PickUp USA Fitness, I held a diverse range of jobs. During high school, I worked in restaurants, as a window cleaner, and at Jiffy Lube, where I was introduced to the concept of franchising and found it fascinating.
While attending college, I managed a fine dining restaurant to support myself, and it was there that I met my future wife, Casey, who eventually became the co-founder of PickUp USA Fitness.
Following college, I pursued various roles in banking and finance, including serving as a VP at HSBC and a Business Banker at Citibank. This experience proved invaluable as it provided me with insights into the banking industry, enabling me to assist our franchisees in navigating the financing process effectively.
In 2011, I departed from the banking sector to establish PickUp USA. Initially, I operated our inaugural location for several years before transitioning to focus on franchising the concept. Presently, I serve as the CEO of PickUp USA Fitness Franchise Company.
What are the significant accomplishments in your business journey?
Opening the first location marked a major milestone in our journey. Today, when we initiate new locations, we benefit from a proven track record, reputable franchisees, a strong brand presence, a decade of experience, and resilience through challenges like the COVID pandemic. These factors make the process of starting a PickUp USA franchise much smoother compared to when we began with no track record, brand recognition, or financial backing.
Our early experiences continue to influence our operations today. We understand the challenges of launching a business firsthand, which is why we are dedicated to providing our franchisees with comprehensive support and resources to maximize their success.
Is there a particular client experience you’d like to spotlight?
I’d like to shine a spotlight on one of our earliest franchise owners, Erick Acosta, based in Houston. Erick has played a pivotal role in the success of our franchise, consistently operating a top-performing club and actively participating in numerous initiatives. His dedication, work ethic, and resilience serve as an inspiration, and it’s individuals like Erick who have contributed significantly to our current position and success!
