For this week's Trader of the Week we speak to Katherine Bray, director of Body & Soul gym in Malton.

When were you established?

The gym has been a gym since around 2009.

When did you move into your Malton premises?

We took over in January 2020

How many staff work at the business?

Four

What was the inspiration behind starting the business?

To provide a friendly, non intimidating gym to the local community. Providing the best possible service and equipment for getting fit and healthy!

What has been key to your success?

Our superb team. Friendly, fun and vibrant staff and our commitment to keep our equipment up to date, well maintained, clean and safe.

But most of all we care about all our members!

Do you have plans to grow your business?

Yes! Always updating and making new plans to grow. We recently branched to make a sister company with our Body & Soul Tanning and Treatment rooms. We are looking at plans to maybe include an outside training area and enhance the space within the gym.

What is your favourite/least favourite thing about owning your business?

My favourite thing about being in the gym is helping and inspiring people to feel good about themselves, physically and mentally! Exercising our bodies has that effect and is great to see that positive impact on other people when the start to improve their health - it’s life changing!

Do you enjoy being a local business?

Yes I do! Malton is a great place to do business it has a great network of local business that like to help and support each other. Also the people of Malton are a very friend bunch. Always a cheerful and kind word is said!

What makes your business different?

Our business is different as well as being a business it provides a great social hub! Sure people come to train in the gym but many come to meet their friends too. We know all our members by first name and pride ourselves on our warm and friendly welcome!

We also like to support local charities & be active within the community. Recently I ran 100miles in 25 hours and we had a coffee morning and raffle for Ryedale Special Families and raised over £4,500! I was so proud of how our members got behind it and supported it!

For more information go to www.bodyandsoulmalton.co.uk