Build Pilates: How Two Best Friends Made Their Dream Studio a Reality

About Build Pilates

Build Pilates is a boutique Reformer Pilates studio in Germany’s southern Ruhr region, founded by Jaqui and Betty. In March 2026, they opened their first studio – creating a space meant to be far more than “just a gym”.

Their vision: a safe space for anyone looking to find their own way of moving. And all of it in a region where nothing comparable had existed before.

A Friendship, a Passion, a Vision

Jaqui and Betty have known each other since primary school. What kept them connected over the years was a shared love of sport and movement. The idea of turning that passion into something bigger had been there for a long time – it only became truly concrete in one pivotal summer.

“We thought: if we don’t do it now, we never will. And if we never do it, we’ll regret it one day.”

They made the decision in June 2025. By September, they were already viewing their future location – and only a few months later, in March 2026, Build Pilates opened its doors.

Before Opening: Creating Visibility and Building a Community

Build Pilates didn’t simply “start” on opening day. Long before that, Jaqui and Betty began bringing people along on their journey.

During the founding process, they built an Instagram account that initially didn’t even carry the name Build Pilates. They shared their Pilates training, early private events, and later the entire studio build-out. This created a small but genuinely engaged community well before opening.

Over the winter, they also organised a free run-and-Pilates club. Once a week, they met with interested locals at the regional sports field: first a short run, then a Pilates session together. It didn’t just generate awareness – it created a real sense of community from day one.

They complemented it all with flyers, posters, local press outreach, and partnerships with regional businesses – including a bridal boutique.

“My top tip: make as much noise as possible beforehand, so people know you’re there and when you’re opening.”

Why bsport Was There from the Start

Jaqui and Betty already knew bsport from a customer’s perspective – they had used the platform at other studios. That positive experience made the decision for their own studio an easy one.

“With bsport, we found everything we needed in one tool: email campaigns, a self-branded app, and a professional presence from day one.”

As a two-person operation, it was especially important to keep admin tasks as efficient as possible. Invoicing, data storage, and member management needed to be professional, compliant, and low-effort.

The relationship with the bsport team also played a big role. From the very first conversations, they felt supported – and confident they were choosing a partner that could grow with their studio.

Getting Started: Intuitive, Structured, Professional

They completed onboarding entirely at their own pace. Step-by-step guides, video walkthroughs, and a comprehensive knowledge base helped them quickly feel confident using the platform.

Whenever questions came up, they received fast support from the support team or the built-in help resources.

At first, they focused on the essentials: building a schedule, creating classes, and linking memberships. Everything was intuitive and ready to use straight away. Not long after, they began using the first marketing features as well – sending targeted email campaigns to different member segments via Smart Lists.

Their members’ feedback confirmed the professional impression:

“A lot of people said it feels really professional and super easy to use. They love that they can just download an app, log in, and get started right away.”

What’s Next?

Today, Build Pilates continues to grow steadily. Jaqui and Betty regularly analyse class attendance, track which time slots perform best, and keep optimising their offering. They also monitor revenue and membership growth closely.

They see plenty of untapped potential in bsport. For now, they’re focusing on the core features – while knowing the platform can evolve with their needs without forcing them to switch providers later.

That long-term perspective mattered to them from the very beginning.

And what advice would they give other founders?

“Take action and tell people about it. That was the absolute game changer for us. There are so many people ready to support you and believe in your idea.”

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And You?

Take the next step and build your own studio with bsport.