In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I chat with Andrew Hou from Uplift Climbing in Shoreline, Washington.

We dive into what it really takes to build a community first climbing gym in a competitive market. Andrew shares how he spent years preparing for ownership, why Uplift doubled down on overhanging terrain, how they differentiate themselves from other Seattle gyms, and why focusing on health over growth is core to their mission.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Introduction

00:10 – Intro class & free week membership experiment

00:20 – Referral strategy that drives long-term growth

00:30 – Working on vs. working in the business

00:37 – Newsletters & building relational marketing

00:43 – Differentiation in a saturated market

00:54 – Andrew’s advice for new gym owners

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

What does it really take to open a climbing gym from scratch?

In this episode, I talk with Parker Sims, founder of Gravity Bear Climbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We dive into how Parker identified a market gap, managed construction while holding a full-time job, and why he thinks climbing gyms are undervalued.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Parker’s story & Tulsa’s climbing scene

05:00 – Opening Gravity Bear & early surprises

09:00 – The meaning behind “Gravity Bear”

12:00 – Learning flexibility through setbacks

30:00 – Membership goals & community building

45:00 – Why climbing gyms are undervalued

53:00 – “A plan is a place to deviate from.”

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Chris Marsaglia, co-founder of Tomo Bouldering Club in Portland, Oregon.

We dive into what it takes to open a new gym in a saturated market, how Tomo’s founders built a brand that balances playfulness and professionalism, and the philosophy behind their unique “T” circuit grading system. Chris also shares how they built a loyal community through thoughtful design, creative events, and an authentic approach to marketing.

Show Notes:
00:00 – Welcome to Tomo Bouldering Club

02:15 – From kitchen table planning to opening day

05:00 – Permitting delays and opening surprises

07:30 – Marketing in a crowded Portland market

09:30 – Authentic branding

12:25 – Hitting 300 members

15:00 – Competing with nearby gyms

23:00 – Tomo’s “T” circuit system

31:00 – Retention and member engagement

33:00 – Future goals

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/