Jamie DeMartino, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, has always valued community and connection. But at the onset of the pandemic, she felt lonely and isolated and was seeking ways to reconnect with others. So when she saw a local fitness franchise, FIT4MOM Bergen, go up for sale, she was intrigued. She was already well versed in the FIT4MOM brand—a national program for prenatal, postnatal, and beyond offering fitness and wellness classes and a network of moms for connection and support—having been an instructor at the Rockland franchise. Jamie knew it was a place where she could create the connections and community she was seeking, but it was also a challenge—the once-thriving business had taken a massive hit during the pandemic. But she took the plunge and became the owner of the Bergen franchise two years ago, and it’s paid off in spades, growing into a supportive community of moms seeking health, fun, and a place to meet up with friends (the classes and events are held in different spaces in the community). We caught up with this Park Ridge mom of two to discover the “OG” Workout that put this brand on the map, the lesson she learned in education that she uses to plan her business, and the Jersey Shore amusement park that her kids love more than Disney World. (featured photo credit: Jamie Shields Photography)
Please share a bit about your family and background. I was born in upstate New York, moved to Florida when I was young, and then moved to Hillsdale, NJ when I was almost 13 because my dad’s company was acquired. My husband of 10 years, Dan, and I knew we wanted to live in Bergen County, and Park Ridge has proven to be the perfect place to raise our daughters, Maya, 6, and Ella, 4. It’s wooded and quiet and has a quaint small-town feel—you walk into the coffee shop and restaurants, and you know people there. It’s also easily accessible to New York City, where I still have many friends. It’s the perfect mix!
Tell us a bit about your career journey and your path to business ownership. I graduated with a degree in economics from Barnard College right around the time the economy collapsed, so working in finance wasn’t really on the table. Teach for America was actively recruiting on my campus, so I took a job teaching high school math in the South Bronx, and though I’d only planned on staying there for 2 or 3 years, I fell in love with teaching. I discovered that I was good at it and felt fulfilled doing it–I ended up staying in math education for around a decade. When Covid hit, I could work from home for the school year, which had its challenges. I was able to take some unpaid time off, but pretty quickly, I started to feel a little antsy and needed more. I’d already been teaching at FIT4MOM Rockland on Saturdays, and then FIT4MOM Bergen went up for sale—I felt like the timing was perfect, even though the circumstances were not because it had once been a thriving business, Covid had decimated it. I knew it was a tall order, but I was searching for community for myself and my children, and I knew other moms would feel the same way. I was up for the challenge and took over the business in January of 2022.
Was there anything from your career in education that has proven helpful in running your business? Yes! I acquired many teaching skills that seamlessly transfer into running a business. The concept of teaching is the same, no matter what it is that you’re teaching. I always prided myself on building community within my classrooms—that connection between my students and me and their connections to each other was always so important to me. I’ve been able to do that here and help the moms build connections with each other and the community at large, too. I think many women tend to think small about what they do, but if they shift their perspective, they’ll probably see that certain things in their background would make them ideal for entrepreneurship, too.
Jamie DeMartino at a FIT4MOM Bergen playgroup.
How do you keep things interesting for your FIT4MOM Bergen regulars? The beauty of this business is that we offer so much in terms of quantity and types of classes and events. Our programs grow with our moms as their kids get older. Baby moms fall in love with stroller strides, which is how they usually start with us. They’re the classic “OG” workouts that put us on the map. The babies are in strollers, and the moms engage with them during their workouts. As the kids get older, moms can add more diversity to their workouts, even coming every day if they choose because we have so much to offer. Ignite has been a very popular class lately, most likely because there’s been a spotlight on core strengthening workouts and the benefits of strength training for women. You can actually feel yourself getting stronger each week from these workouts. At least once a month, we also have Moms Night Out, which isn’t always held at night–it can sometimes be a morning or daytime event. It’s a great way for moms who are getting to know each other in class to meet up without the kids, and it’s also a nice way for moms with different-aged kids to start chatting.
What are some of your favorite NJ businesses and go-to garden state spots that our readers should know about? The Ridge, a local diner, is wonderful. It’s a bit more high-end than a typical Jersey Diner, and their Sunday brunch menu has something to keep everyone happy. They’re so friendly, know my kids by name, and give us cookies on the way out. Five Dimes is a cool, low-key brewery in Westwood and another family favorite. They have tons of space, a beautiful rooftop, air hockey and games, cozy couches to hang with the kids, and great beers. We love the Jersey Shore, particularly LBI. The girls can’t get enough of Fantasy Island Amusement Park there and even prefer it to Disney. They think it’s called Fancy Island, and I think it’s so sweet that I do nothing to correct them.
What’s your best practical advice for a mompreneur just starting out? Be honest with yourself about where your business is and where you want it to be, and then have a plan to get it there. It’s something that I learned in teaching. You create a ladder for yourself and get there step by step. Initially, I should have hired for the growth I envisioned rather than my current size because there were a few months when it was me doing everything. If you’re not prepared for growth, you won’t grow. Always look to your future growth and plan 90 days of where you currently are. Now, I’m not afraid to bring on team members earlier than I might need them. It’s hard to see where you’re heading if you don’t have that vision.
For more information on Jamie DeMartino and Fit4Mom Bergen, please see their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
