Franchisee Spotlight: Bob Viani of Smoothie King

Bob Viani has been working in the health and fitness field for over 30 years. He's thrived all along and, at 53-years old, has no intention of slowing down. After selling his fitness franchises, Viani decided to pursue an opportunity to franchise with Smoothie King.

I’ve been in the fitness business since I opened a World Gym in 1989. I took a leap of faith and opted to follow a few passions of mine -- health, fitness, and sports. Recognizing that the market was moving more mainstream, I transitioned that gym into a Planet Fitness after 15 successful years.

Planet Fitness was an up-and-coming concept in 2004 and we jumped at the opportunity to be the 10th location in the country. The brand now has over 1,300 gyms nationwide. Because we got in at the ground level, we were able to expand quickly, opening a total of 17 locations between Hudson Valley, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia.

Planet Fitness reached a large demographic that other brands were struggling to reach -- we targeted the average Joe. The gyms are labeled a “judgement free zone,” we weren't looking for hardcore gym rats; we were searching for members who were intimidated by the stereotypical gym environment. We wanted to offer solutions to all of the common excuses not to exercise.

I’m 53 and I’m not ready to retire. After selling my Planet Fitness franchises in November 2016, I didn’t have a need to continue working, but I wanted to. Following the same guidelines as I had when I first got started, I wanted to find another opportunity I was passionate about.

Smoothie King was a great fit. It’s one of the only fast casual chains that not only offers healthy-eating options but also helps accommodate those living an active lifestyle. It’s not just a place people stop by for an occasional treat, it’s habitual -- part of a routine that complements and enhances good eating habits.

People visit Smoothie King daily. I used to have a smoothie stand in my gym and it was incredibly successful, it’s something that’s lacking in this market. I also love how the NBA acts as brand validation -- seeing the Smoothie King Center hosting the action at the NBA's All-Star Weekend this year was great.

I’ve been a part of this community my entire life and have seen success growing my businesses here. We’re actually opening our first location right across from my second gym with a drive-thru. I understand the ins and outs of expansion in Hudson Valley and know that this is an underserved market. With Smoothie King’s offerings and varied menu, the concept is growing and people in this area will love it.

We’re going to get the first location up and running, then focus on future development in Hudson Valley. My wife, Kathy, and children, Dan and Rachel (ages 20 and 17), are going to help run the business and their involvement will be a big part of its future success.