Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Davis.
Hi Annie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
If you would’ve asked me a few years ago, I would have never imagined I’d be working where I am today in marketing or even in the boxing fitness industry. I originally grew up in Reno, Nevada, but once out of high school, I quickly realized I couldn’t see myself staying in such a small city. On a whim, I packed my belongings into my Toyota Camry and moved to Utah in order to start a real career for myself.
Fast forward a few years & I had landed a job as a project manager at a web development firm here in Salt Lake City. I loved it from day one and soon realized that helping other businesses generate ideas and growth strategies through online advertising was something I couldn’t get enough of. I worked my way up to being their CEO prior to leaving and starting my own firm, Davis Designs.
Having the freedom and flexibility of owning my own business was something I had always dreamed of, but I always had a nagging feeling in the back of my head that this wasn’t where I wanted to be long term. I wasn’t actively seeking out new opportunities but I always kept my eyes and ears open for what my next step would be.
It’s interesting how new doors open up for you when you aren’t even looking for them. While continuing to grow Davis Designs, I joined Legends Boxing in Sandy as a member back in 2019 and fell in love with the workouts & gym culture. One thing led to another and after offering to help with some graphic design work they needed done, I got connected with their founder Rob Scott. He and I ended up having some great discussions and in January of 2021, I was offered & accepted the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Legends Boxing.
From day one at Legends, I knew I had found where I belong. Getting to work with all the franchise owners and help generate new marketing strategies while working with such an incredibly talented team is a dream come true. We’re quickly coming up on one year since I joined Legends, and we’re set to have opened 4 new locations this year alone. We have a lot of plans coming up in the near future and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.
It’s been almost 10 years since I took a chance and left everything I had known to move to Utah, and I’ve never once regretted that decision.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been some obstacles along the way! Being a young female in my early twenties, I had to learn to navigate some situations where I didn’t feel my voice was being heard. Learning to be more assertive and have confidence in my business decisions was something that I had to actively work on. I’m grateful that I’ve such great mentors throughout my career that I’ve been able to learn from.
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?
Legends Boxing is a boxing fitness gym that started as a single location in Lehi over 10 years ago. Brothers Rob & Andrew Scott got the idea to start the gym when someone approached Rob and wanted to try one of the boxing workouts they had seen, but they didn’t want to get hit. Fast forward to 2021, and we have 13 open gyms with quite a few more set to open in the coming months. The core values at Legends are Belong, Real, Results. We strive to make sure everyone is welcome at our gyms, regardless of fitness levels or boxing experience. Our certified coaches teach real USA Boxing technique mixed with conditioning. We have a dedicated committee that creates fresh new workouts for each day, so you’ll never do the same workout twice. This helps ensure our members get the results they’re looking for.
One of the things I’m most proud of at Legends is how closely we all work as a tribe. When I joined as a member, I was shocked that the coaches knew me by name and were aware of my fitness goals. It’s not uncommon to see members hanging out and forming close friendships outside the gym. When our Scottsdale, Arizona gym opened, a group of members and coaches from Utah decided to road trip down to visit and support the new gym! It’s incredible to see how close-knit the tribe is and what a difference it makes for our members. In fact, as I’m writing this interview, one of our coaches just messaged me to see if I’d be in class today & hold me accountable!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly made a big impact in the fitness industry and sadly led to a lot of smaller gyms needing to shut down or downsize. We’ve been extremely fortunate at Legends to have been able to ride out the Covid-19 impact and pivot when needed, with minimal long-term effects. Looking forward, the boutique fitness industry overall has been slowly shifting toward more flexible options with less long-term commitments, and with a much bigger focus on the class experience. We’re constantly looking at these trends and coming up with fun, new ways to make sure our members always have a great experience.
Contact Info:
- Email: annie.davis@legendsboxing.com
- Website: https://www.legendsboxing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendsboxing_usa/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/legendsboxingusa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtiCve4ZVrPWYSJB7gqs8uA
