By D’Marion Alexander
In the heart of McPherson, Kansas, The Locker Room is more than just a place to go for a
nutritious drink, it’s a staple in the community. The Locker Room is a place where customers come to build relationships, physical health is a major part of the culture, but mental health is just as important. I sat down with the owner, Katie Murray, who is a former Division I athlete. During our interview, we discussed her challenges within the business, her journey, and how she has overcome everything in her way to build the successful business we are here to talk about today.
The Locker Room was created from the passion of nutrition and wellness. “I actually was a Division I athlete in college, and so this is kind of a nutrition-based business, so it was always kind of an interest of mine,” Murray shared. The business started out as only a job opportunity, but this later changed into a mission. “Now it’s all about pouring into the community and giving back.”
Experiencing the lifestyle of an athlete played a big part in her role of shaping this business. Understanding how important nutrition is for athletes during their performance and health provided her with an opportunity to provide products to improve their craft. Being the caring person she is, The Locker Room has become a welcoming spot for everyone, not only athletes. The aim of the business is to connect people from all occupations, making sure that everybody feels accepted and encouraged to make healthier choices.
Expansion is important for the Locker Room. Even though Murray has found a home in McPherson, she is still looking to expand in new locations in Kansas. “So, we actually have 12 locations as of right now, and long term we’ll obviously increase anytime there is an opportunity to.” The expansion is not only about the numbers side of business, but Murray also wants to expand to give more people a place to feel supported in their journey to wellness. No matter how much business has grown, the mission of The Locker Room will always stay the same, to be a safe and comfortable place for any and all supporters. Building her company has come with many challenges, from finding new spaces to hiring inexperienced staff. The process of expanding is no joke, but Murray sees every opportunity to expand as an opportunity to have a positive impact on another community in ways that would not be attainable if she were to just only stay stagnant in one place. This makes all the challenges she faces worth all the challenging work.
The main marketing strategy of the business is social media, Instagram and Facebook. Local groups, such as the Booster Club. The Booster Club is an affiliate of McPerson College, assisting the college with funding towards McPherson sports. The Locker Room is a proud sponsor of the college, and is another member who makes an effort for marketing, sponsoring school and sport teams helping loyal customers, usually resulting in family members joining from the community. Word of mouth has been a great tool for the business, experiences are more likely to be shared when customers are satisfied, turning new visitors into regulars. Customer engagement is a priority both in person and online, the reputation remains strong as this is a huge part of their culture.
Business can be challenging and does not always work out, this is not the case for Murray. She has persevered and overcome all the doubters and challengers brought her way. Staffing and maintaining quality has been a big issue, “It’s tough making sure the quality is the same as if I were doing it myself,” Murray admitted. She is deeply committed to training her employees in a manner that will uphold the standard of her customer service. The biggest challenge she has faced was breaking the stereotype being a young female entrepreneur. “I started this business when I was eighteen. As a young female business owner, I got a lot of push backs being a young female. Because everyone was, oh you know, you are too young, or you are, you know, a female, you are not designed to own a business.” Her story is a reflection of perseverance. Despite all the people doubting her, she pushed through in the face of adversity and demolished all the stereotypes thrown at her. She has built a thriving business that has no limits. She has made such an enormous impact on the community that she has joined. We are so glad to have businesses and owners like The Locker Room and Murray. For the people out there, who are interested in starting their own business but are skeptical or afraid, Murray has shared some personal advice. “I would have to say you do have to love it, because business ownership is going to be the hardest thing you have ever done. It is going to be the most rewarding, but it is going to be harder.
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