From suits to shorts
01st Mar 2024
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By Emily Ainsworth
Fresh out of university with a business degree under his belt, Scott Capelin was set to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Then, three years after sporting suits in Sydney’s CBD, Scott followed his heart – a path that has led the now 47-year-old to a life of success and happiness.
“My dad worked in an office for 45 years and didn't like one day of it,” Scott muses.
“I just thought that's how work worked. So I did a business degree at university and went and got a job in the CBD for three years, wearing a suit and tie.
“It wasn’t terrible but I’ve always been immersed in sports; I used to coach junior baseball, basketball and rugby league.
“I realised I could always go back to working in an office but I never looked back – I went straight from the suit into shorts. I was never an amazing athlete but I just loved the team environment.”
At 23, Scott became a personal trainer, drawing on his lifelong athletic passions to transform lives.
Over 12 years he grew from strength to strength in the fitness industry – from trainer to manager to franchise owner, soaking up lessons on marketing, accounting and leadership along the way.
“I worked really hard, I was doing 40-50 hours of face-to-face personal training for five or six years.
“I learnt so much about marketing, business, accounting and recruitment, all those things that fitness people never think about.”
In 2005, Scott opened his first business and by 2011, sold five thriving franchise outlets to open a new gym with his brother, who took complete ownership of the business in 2015.
After decades of high-impact sports, Scott discovered Reformer Pilates that same year, which was a game-changer for his battered body.
This experience led him to open Australia’s first inLIFE Wellness studio in 2019. Today, the brand has 20 studios across Sydney and Perth, with expansion plans now underway for the lucrative US market.
As the architect of an accessible business model costing a fraction of typical Pilates studios, the initial buy-in to the inLIFE Wellness brand starts at just $75,000 under a joint venture option.
“We wanted to make it accessible and affordable for everyone – this business mindset is the same ethos we bring to our classes.
“I strongly believe in the power of Reformer Pilates but we also blend this with other forms of training like cardio boxing, weights and barre – we even end each class with a mindfulness session which our members love.”
An international best-selling author, Scott has published two books; inSHAPE, inLOVE, inSPIRED! and Fit to Flourish, on utilising fitness as a springboard for life fulfillment.
From a desk-bound business employee to a successful entrepreneur and author, Scott demonstrates how pivoting to your passion unlocks growth. He has distilled his business acumen and knowledge of fitness trends into an accessible – and successful – wellness franchise model.
Discover more about the inLIFE Wellness franchise.
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