UpSwell Marketing was born out of two companies guided by the same goal — to help small businesses gain more customers.
UpSwell was founded in 2020 through the merger of Mudlick Mail — a leader in auto repair, dental and chiropractic direct mail — and Muscle Up Marketing — a full-service fitness marketing agency. UpSwell Marketing is backed by over 15 years of experience working with small to medium-sized businesses across multiple industries — 10 of those years focusing solely on the fitness industry.
UpSwell’s origins are based in entrepreneurs who collectively understood the success of any business requires the ability to effectively attract new customers/members. This is why the company got its start in direct mail, as no other channel has ever proven to be more effective, even in today’s digitally-driven landscape.
“Obviously as the consumer and industry has changed, we’ve changed too, adding paid social, search engine marketing and prospect email capabilities,” said Eric Goodstadt, the CEO of UpSwell. “Although digital has quickly become our largest channel for fitness clients, we find the clients who take a multichannel approach to their marketing have the greatest results.”
Today, UpSwell proudly offers over 20 print and digital marketing tools that have been proven to perform for the fitness industry and beyond. These tools help aid in the company’s overall mission to provide small business owners with high-growth marketing solutions backed by years of data and industry expertise.
“Our vision and mission are simple: we wake up each day focused on driving new member growth for our fitness clients to help them achieve business success,” explained Goodstadt. “If we do that, then we’re confident UpSwell will prosper as well. And so far, we’ve been right. Since 2021, UpSwell has grown more than double in size, employing nearly 70 people, and we enjoy working with more clubs today than we did before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Beyond watching the company grow, Goodstadt said he’s most fulfilled when UpSwell can truly help an entrepreneur succeed.
“As a fellow entrepreneur I understand the unrelenting challenges, pressures and fears that impact gym and fitness owners and operators every day,” said Goodstadt. “You’re often so busy focused on running the business, you don’t have time to work on the business. Knowing we’re driven by one thing — helping you grow through new members — we rejoice when we hear classes are full and membership goals are achieved.”
UpSwell prides itself in being able to help fitness facilities with growing its membership base. Whether you’re planning a grand opening, struggling to fill classes or just want to maintain current membership levels, UpSwell has expertise and tools to help you succeed. “UpSwell is without question the proven leader in new member acquisition,” added Goodstadt.
For the UpSwell team, they’re confident they can help fitness facilities thrive by sticking to their keys of success: industry expertise, local marketing experience and a focus on direct response marketing tactics that drive membership growth.
“We don’t get distracted by the latest fads or attempt to sell you tactics that may look good but don’t move the membership needle,” said Goodstadt. “There are other firms to redesign your logo or sell you a water bottle with your name on it. Our focus is solely on making sure your facilities are full of valuable members. We only use time-tested proven approaches to your marketing, aligning our strategies and budgets directly to the goals you wish to achieve. Our concierge approach ensures you receive the expertise and guidance you need, without wasting a single minute of your precious time with idle chatter.”
Whether you’re a single location entrepreneur like Kraig Langheinrich of The Pickle Guild, the CMO of one the nation’s largest gym systems like Chad Waetzig of Crunch, or the CEO of a new budding franchise system like Matt Collum of Body Bar, UpSwell has the experience, tools and marketing services needed to help you succeed.
“As a leader, I have spent decades working with Fortune 500 brands, and while I wouldn’t give back those years, there is nothing more rewarding than helping a fellow entrepreneur who has put it all on the line to achieve success,” said Goodstadt. “Your passion is our passion, your drive is our drive and your challenges are our challenges. Together, we will succeed.”
