Company: Baumann & Semmler Management GmbH - PRIMETIME fitness Kastel
Founders: Patrick Baumann, Jannik Semmler
Date of foundation: August 21, 2023
Industry and company: Fitness & health

What drives you? What is your motto?
The early worm is eaten first. It's not important when you tackle things, just that you tackle them.

What is your start-up about and what is special about it?
PRIME TIME fitness Home is a fitness studio concept for anyone who has a clear fitness goal and appreciates a supervised and pleasant atmosphere. Thanks to the appealing club and the clear focus on motivation and training, anyone can achieve their goal here. It may sound banal, but it is one of the very few fitness concepts where the focus is on training.

What are your initial successes?
Advance sales: Advance sales over the cold winter months went surprisingly well, despite all the adverse circumstances. Renovation: It was a major renovation project, during which we faced a number of hurdles. The former bank building still had one or two treasures hidden for us, for example in the form of the huge vault. Employees: Hiring your first employee is something very special.

What is your professional career like?
Patrick Baumann: After my time as a civilian, I was lucky enough to be able to do a dual course of study. After 5 years of Bachelor's and Master's studies, I had already seen a lot in the fitness world. In the end, love drove me to Wiesbaden and put me in touch with PRIME TIME fitness, where I have been working in many areas since 2017, right up to becoming Head of Member Management and then self-employed.

Jannik Semmler is scratching the 10-year anniversary mark as an employee at PRIME TIME fitness GmbH. With a B.A. in Fitness Economics, he is currently the nation sales manager of the PRIME TIME chain.

What was the trigger for you to start your own company?
Patrick: The trigger is always the hunger to create something that lasts. For me, it's about realizing an inner desire. For example, I'm spurred on by being addressed as "the one from fitness" when I'm sitting comfortably at the wine stand in Kostheim or driving home from work. You realize that you're making a difference and that you've arrived in suburban life.

Who has advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?
Patrick: One of my most important mentors was and is definitely Nils Kupprat. He owns several PRIME TIME fitness clubs in Hamburg and is a big pillar in my life, not only as a mentor but also as a person. I have received support from many sides and from a wide variety of sources, so thank you very much at this point.

How did you experience the first few days as a founder?
Patrick: In the club business, the opening day - when the members come to train for the first time - is definitely the moment when the plan becomes a reality. After a busy night, I was at the club shortly after five in the morning preparing for the start of training. The first guest arrived at 6:42 am. That moment does something to you.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Patrick: Despite all the help and advisors, it's still up to you to keep an overview and not let the little things get in the way. It's incredibly difficult to decide what needs your attention at certain moments. Accordingly, I see the biggest challenge in dealing with colleagues under stress.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?
We primarily pursue an established, safe, but also costly marketing strategy. We go out on the street and talk to people. There is no other strategy that can be planned as precisely. Of course, we also use social media channels such as Instagram.

How did you finance your start-up?
Since the coronavirus crisis, fitness studios have been considered a high-risk investment to this day. Accordingly, it was not possible to obtain financing and we raised the funds privately.

What dream would you still like to realize?
With fitness and health, we have one of the most beautiful products in the world. We can use it to help change people's attitudes to life and create motivation. A dream has already been realized. Now we need to expand this dream.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time, I would...
Patrick: ... I would use it with my children.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?
I can only advise founders to get on well with their families, their trades and their customers. There is nothing like good relationships in business life.