Platinum Body empowering women from new studio in Blakeview

The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is embracing equity. To celebrate, this month we are featuring three women-led businesses who do exactly that.

Each of these businesswomen are cornerstones of their community who take time out of their busy schedules to support others and lift other women to be the best that they can be.

One of these businesses is Platinum Body, with founder Renee Platt offering a new style of group fitness out of her brand new studio on Main North Road, Blakeview.

I offer group training and group fitness to women – particularly women who have children and those who wouldn’t be comfortable at an average gym.

We’ve been running for eight years now. I started by learning how to build a website, and then I did that all by myself. I then got an email from a lady called Danielle, who still holds a special place in my heart. She was my very first client who came across my website, and she brought along my first five customers.

It started in my garage and word kept spreading to the point where I had to hire the hall at my local primary school, which then grew to multiple halls. Recently I’ve become a brick-and-mortar business in Blakeview, which is a big commitment, but I’m really excited by it.

My background is actually in the army. I joined when I was 18 and spent 20 years serving. I felt like I had too many mindset and fitness skills to keep to myself. As part of this business, I felt that I could pass on what the army taught me.

I also identified a whole demographic who weren’t being looked after. They were very overweight women who were terrified to go to a gym and mums who were dragging toddlers around with them who can’t go to a gym.

I wanted to take away all their barriers. So, there’s no equipment, no men, no mirrors, that’s how Platinum Body was born.

My plan at the moment is to grow our offering here in Blakeview. We’ve had such a great reception. I would like Platinum Body to become a household name. There’s scope for a second and third location. The feedback I’m getting is that there is nothing else like this.

We’ve also just started running sensory classes. There’s lots of mums missing out still who have children with special needs. We turn the lights and music off and it just works so well.

We are just so central to so many little communities – places like Blakeview, Blakes Crossing, Craigmore, Munno Para and Andrews Farm. Business wise, we are the only fitness business like it in the north. There are gyms everywhere, but there is nothing else like this.

Just do it. If you have an idea, you’ve had it for a reason, and if you can, you need to follow it. For me, I just wish I did it sooner.

Another important thing to remember is that anything can be figured out. 99% of the time, someone has already done everything you’re trying to do, and you can learn a lot very quickly on Google.

To me it means giving people a fair starting point. A fair opportunity. I feel like through Platinum Body I am opening opportunities to people who would have otherwise missed out. It’s important to recognise that everyone is starting at a different point. Someone might be coming back from giving birth, someone else may be coming back from injury or being inactive. We acknowledge where people are in their journey and give them a judgement free space.

My favourite podcast is Chic Money by Jessica Giles. There’s lots of pearls of wisdom there that play over and over again in my head.

Audiobook wise, I love anything to do with mindset – authors like David Goggins and Tony Robbins. I was falling asleep last night to How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.

It’s important to make an effort to know everybody’s name. It makes people feel so valued. I know everyone’s names, I know their kids names, I know what their hobbies are.

You can find out more about the amazing work of Renee by visiting the Platinum Body website, or by following her on LinkedIn.