Kristie Alicea of ABC Fit Collective shares her story of business risk and reward
June 7, 2022
Describe your business in a few words:
I'm Kristie Alicea, a born and bred New Yorker living her best life in Miami, Florida. I've been in my industry of fitness since 2011 when I got my first certification. My partner and I started our newest business ABC Fit Collective as an answer to many of our clients' needs. ABC Fit Collective is a virtual personal training platform for pre/postnatal fitness. A certified pre/postnatal coach will help you feel strong during your pregnancy, build endurance for your birth and optimize your postpartum recovery journey. Our goal is to have you feel strong and safe as you are living your life and creating a new one.
When I'm not with clients or working on ABC Fit Collective, my partner and I love to be active and outdoors, I'm a foodie who loves to cook and love spending time with friends and family.
What was your background prior to starting your own business?
Prior to starting ABC Fit Collective, I was in the fitness industry as a personal training and fitness instructor. I was a co-founder of a boutique fitness studio in Brooklyn, NY and I felt like that taught me a lot about running my own fitness concept.
Before getting into fitness, I was a recruiter for mobile and web developers which taught me all my administrative and sales skills that I still use today.
Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I always knew that I would work for myself. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that I would be my own boss. I'm grateful that I have a fire in me that keeps me pushing for more and pushing my own limits.
Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?
My first marketing strategy was word of mouth. When I first started ABC Fit Collective, I did a beta client program and emailed about 30 women I knew asking if they knew anyone that is pregnant or recently postpartum that would be interested in virtual personal training. It didn't go as planned because it actually exceeded my expectations.
What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?
I'm most proud of the team of people that are contributing to the success of ABC Fit Collective.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
I 100% believe in a work/life balance. Yes my work is my life but I also know that I am allowed to do other things aside from work. Some of my tips are stepping away from the screen; whether it be your laptop, phone, or tv throughout the day. I also prioritize my sleep and my night routine, leaving my cellphone in another room during the night.
Because I'm in business with my life partner, we also make it a priority to not talk about work when we are out to dinner or taking some time off.
What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?
Recently we have partnered up with some really exceptional people and companies who believe in the work we are doing.
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
Over the next few years, I would love to be helping/coaching thousands of women during their maternity journey, have coaches in all 3 time zones and help women internationally. I would love for ABC Fit Collective to create its own personal training software to enhance the experience between trainer and client.
What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
Since working from home and moving to a new city I have been on the hunt for a community of women who are making it happen and I was really excited about the community that Entreprenista has built.