Welcome to The Engine Founders' Stories Podcast. Host Donna Owen sits down with Nathan Bethell, Founder of REFORMERPILATES.COM, a platform uniting studios, instructors, and fans of REFORMERPILATES. Nathan is also a B2B Marketing Consultant at B2B CMO, with over 20 years of experience in marketing across publishing, tech, and IT services. In this episode, Nathan shares how he went from running nightclubs as a teenager to building a fast-growing fitness community. Starting in a working-class household, his story is one of hustle, smart risks, and turning passion into impact.

In this episode, Nathan shares his journey from a working-class background to launching REFORMERPILATES.COM, a hub for studios, content, and community. He talks about how two decades in marketing shaped his business approach and why he believes there is a business inside everyone. Nathan also explains how REFORMERPILATES is growing fast and how his platform supports new studio owners with tools, guidance, and a strong network.

Key Takeaways:

How Nathan went from a 20-year marketing career to founding REFORMERPILATES.COM.
Why REFORMERPILATES is more than a workout and how it builds lasting community.
The power of domain ownership in creating a trusted brand in a growing industry.
How Nathan supports studio owners with tools, content, and commercial advice.
The value of taking risks, trusting your skills, and finding green space in any market.

Additional Insights:

How Nathan’s early hustle shaped his mindset as a founder and marketer.
The role of community in both fitness and business success.
Why is there still untapped space for digital platforms in niche markets?
The importance of helping first-time studio owners grow with the right tools and support.
How personal connections and real value build long-term business trust.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

“There is a business in everyone.” - Nathan Bethell
“You won’t run out of things to learn with REFORMERPILATES.” - Nathan Bethell
“Don’t be scared about the things you don’t have. Just get started.” - Nathan Bethell

Join Nathan as he shares how his background in marketing and love for fitness led to REFORMERPILATES.COM, a platform built to support studio owners and grow a strong Pilates community through content, tools, and real connections.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] - Teaser

[01:20] - Intro to Nathan Bethell and REFORMERPILATES.COM

[04:41] - REFORMERPILATES for Everyone

[09:02] - From Marketing to Pilates

[12:04] - Building the REFORMERPILATES.COM Hub

[14:56] - Empowering Studios to Grow

[19:58] - From Hustle to Entrepreneurship

[24:35] - Lessons from Football and Family

[26:53] - Working-Class Roots and Simpler Times

[28:37] - From Football to Film to Marketing

[32:25] - Marketers, AI, and Entrepreneurship

[35:48] - Staying Human in the AI Era

[38:46] - Celebrating Studio Success

[41:20] - Creating a Marketplace for Studios

[45:50] - Growth, Retention, and Risk

[49:16] - Why You Should Try Reformer Pilates

FOLLOW THE GUEST & HIS COMPANY:

Website:

REFORMERPILATES.COM: https://www.reformerpilates.com/
B2B CMO: http://www.breakfastbriefing.co.uk/

FOLLOW THE HOST:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnalowen/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-engine-growth/
Website: https://www.theengine.uk/
Email: donna@theengine.uk