I sold my car to pay for an idea and ended up running a business empire out of 40 storage units

Jamie Bowen sold his car to fund his first gym - now he's opened two

A man who once sold his car to fund his first fitness classes now owns two gyms. Jamie Bowen, who was a "bit overweight", got into fitness training a few years ago.

At 34 he gained qualifications and started mobile fitness sessions in 2017. However, due to illness, he had to stop driving for a couple of years, which led him to sell his car to pay for his first unit to hold classes.

During lockdown he began renting out equipment from a Lock Stock storage facility in Llandudno Junction. Demand skyrocketed and when lockdown eased, the 34 year old opened a new Ignite gym on Oxford Road in Llandudno.

He has now opened a second gym on Church Road in Rhos on Sea.

Jamie said: "I got into fitness as it was something I enjoyed and was eager to help others and coming from being a bit overweight I felt I could really help people in the same position. I got my qualifications and was doing mobile sessions back in 2017 when I had to give up my driving licence for a couple of years due to illness.", reports North Wales Live.

"I sold my car to fund my first unit to hold fitness classes and installed a few gym machines and then in lockdown I started renting out the equipment to locals to use in their homes to stay fit and saw an opportunity to rent more widely and afterwards I saw that gyms further afield wanted gym equipment so jumped on this."

"I sold the machines in my gym, generated extra money and started buying more equipment and it snowballed from there but I needed extra storage fast and turned to Lock Stock to help me out. I stored new and reconditioned gym equipment in 40-foot units at Lock Stock's site in Llandudno Junction for sale and rental - rental had helped a lot of people who couldn't afford to buy keep themselves fit and active in lockdown."

He now has six workers and is planning to open more gyms.

Jamie said: "The gym has created a really strong community and people have found lifelong friends here. We see people come in after having a bad day and leave feeling amazing. It is really so much more than just a gym and we want to keep this going in more areas because we could see there was a gap in the market for a good, well-equipped modern gym and it has grown from there."

"This year has really started well. January is always a really busy time and we get people of all ages. Of course they want to get fit but it's really good for mental health as well and many come just for that."

"I want our gyms to be nice places to be. Spit and sawdust are things of the past - we've got a special posing room for people to look their best, merchandise and sunbeds because our customers want to look good as well as feel good."

Lock Stock Regional Sites Manager Lee Hanson, who loves outdoor activities and working out, has been thrilled to see Ignite's business grow.

He shared: "It's amazing how many businesses operate from our units - we know that they account for about 40 per cent of our rentals and while most are self-employed people in the building trade who store their materials and equipment in their units, many are taken by people like Jamie."

"Ignite is a great business, excellent facilities and top quality equipment and they're doing really well so we're pleased to have played a part in their success."