Basketball is widely enjoyed and considered one of the most popular sports. Many clubs offer specialized fitness programs tailored to enhance basketball skills and physical fitness. PickUp USA Fitness is one such club that challenges preconceptions and provides a fresh experience for players.
Learn more about the company’s history in this interview with CEO Jordan Meinster.
Tell us about PickUp USA Fitness. What motivated you to start this business?
PickUp USA Fitness is a comprehensive gym dedicated to basketball. We opened our first gym in Irwindale, California, in 2012. Over the past decade, we have granted 43 franchise licenses and established gyms nationwide.
My personal experience playing PickUp basketball during my upbringing inspired me to create PickUp USA Fitness. While I enjoyed playing, I was always bothered by the lack of organization at the gyms I frequented.
To address these issues, we founded PickUp USA as a gym that provides PickUp basketball with referees. We implemented a unique queue system to organize games, and each match is supervised by two referees.
Today, our gyms not only offer complete fitness facilities but also provide group and private basketball training, regular basketball competitions, youth development programs, and more.
What are the primary products or services offered by the business? How do you differentiate yourself from competitors?
Our focus is entirely on basketball. Each of our gyms features a full-weight room, a cardio area, multiple basketball courts, Dr. Dish shooting ranges, Vertimax trainers, and other amenities. We prioritize all basketball-related services at PickUp USA Fitness. This includes daily pick-up basketball games with officials, weekly competitions, and adult basketball training. We also offer Youth Development leagues, one-on-one coaching, and various other programs.
As the largest chain of basketball gyms in the US, PickUp USA Fitness stands out due to our top-notch facilities, exceptional customer service, and exclusive concentration on basketball.
Tell us about your team at PickUp USA Fitness.
At our corporate office, I oversee a team that handles all aspects of our franchise program.
Our development staff is responsible for managing inquiries from over 200 organizations interested in franchising with us each month. They carefully select the best individuals through a thorough evaluation process to ensure a good fit. Once chosen, these individuals are assigned a region and receive support from our development team.
Our finance team assists franchise owners in securing funding for their projects. We offer both conventional and unconventional financing options, and our franchisee assistance is well-known nationwide.
After obtaining financing, franchise owners work with our real estate experts to choose suitable locations for their clubs. We invest significant resources in this process and have a proven track record of providing our franchisees with a range of facility options. We assist them in lease negotiations or property purchases, aiming for long-term success.
Our operations and marketing teams collaborate closely with franchise owners to establish their clubs, run successful pre-sales campaigns, and facilitate soft and grand openings. They continue to support the franchisee even after funding and facilities are secured.
We have a dedicated team with extensive experience that guides franchisees from the initial contact through discovery, financing, site selection, and beyond. When it comes to support, we are unmatched.
Tell us about your professional background.
Before starting PickUp USA Fitness, I held various jobs. During high school, I worked at Jiffy Lube, restaurants, and as a window cleaner. I first encountered franchising through Jiffy Lube and found the concept fascinating.
I financed my college education by managing a fine dining establishment. It was there that I met my wife, Casey, who eventually joined me in founding PickUp USA Fitness.
After graduating from college, I worked in banking and held positions such as vice president at HSBC and business banker at Citibank. My finance background has been beneficial in understanding banks’ perspectives and guiding our franchisees through the financing process.
In 2011, I left my job in finance to launch PickUp USA. I managed our initial location for several years before transitioning to a CEO role and focusing on franchising the concept.
What significant achievements have you accomplished in your business journey?
One of the major milestones in our journey was opening our first location. We now have a solid reputation, strong franchisees, ten years of experience, and a successful track record of never closing a site. We have also successfully navigated through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors make establishing a PickUp USA gym much easier compared to when we initially started without an established brand and resources.
Do you have any memorable client experiences you can share?
I would like to recognize Erick Acosta, one of our early franchise owners in Houston. Erick has been a standout performer and has played a significant role in many of our initiatives. Franchise owners like him, with their exceptional attitude, work ethic, and determination, have contributed to where we are today.
Which quote resonates with you the most?
“In the battle, lessons are found.”
This quote emphasizes the importance of taking action and learning along the way, rather than procrastinating. Through experience, valuable lessons are learned.
