The Gerome family, led by Dan and Jill, has a deep-rooted passion for health and wellness that goes beyond their three GNC locations in Cleveland, OH. From their history in competitive bodybuilding to their active role in the local fitness community, the Geromes live and breath everything GNC stands for. Recently opening of their third store, we sat down with Dan and Jill to learn about their journey, the values that drive their business, and how they’re making an impact on the health and wellness of their community.
What inspired your family to become GNC franchise owners?
Dan and Jill Gerome: Our journey began over 30 years ago when we were gym owners. We were fortunate to work with Mr. Olympia Lee Haney as his first franchisee, and that gave us a taste of running a business dedicated to fitness. Dan competed in bodybuilding, and it’s always been a dream of ours to work in the industry. Years later, Dan started working at a GNC part-time, and when the opportunity came up to buy a store, we just knew it was the perfect fit. Now, after opening our third GNC location, we’re even more excited to keep pushing our passion for health and fitness with GNC.
What’s been the most rewarding part of opening a third location?
Dan and Jill Gerome: Meeting new people and helping them reach their health and fitness goals has been the most rewarding. Every customer brings a new story and a new opportunity for us to make a positive impact in their lives.
As a family-operated business, how do you balance family dynamics with running multiple stores?
Dan and Jill Gerome: It’s a total family effort. Our children have grown up around fitness, helping us run our gym in the early days and now our GNC stores. Our daughters and even their husbands lend a hand when needed. Working together is something we’ve instilled in our family from the start. We even joke that all our daughters’ boyfriends had to work at the store to see if they were “worthy” of being part of the family! Watching our family grow together around this same shared mission has been one of the most fulfilling parts of our journey.
What challenges have you faced as GNC franchisees, and how have you overcome them?
Dan and Jill Gerome: One of our biggest challenges is not being able to be in every store every day. We’ve built strong relationships with our customers, and we miss seeing them regularly. To address this, we make sure our staff shares our passion for health and has a personable approach. We say, “nice beats knowledge every time.” We also work closely with our team to keep our stores fully stocked with the products our customers love, taking note of any requests to stay on top of inventory needs.
What advice would you give to aspiring GNC franchisees?
Dan and Jill Gerome: First, find a location with reasonable rent! it’s a set cost that doesn’t change, and that has a big impact on your bottom line. Second, create a business plan and review it every year. Adjusting your plan as needed is key to staying on track with your goals.
Dan, how has your background in bodybuilding influenced your work with GNC?
Dan and Jill Gerome: Competing in bodybuilding taught Dan a lot about nutrition, discipline, and persistence. These are the qualities that are essential to running a business. Our family has always prioritized health, and our daughters grew up around the lifestyle of fitness and wellness. Now, our oldest daughter and her husband have even taken up bodybuilding – keeping the family tradition alive!
Are you active in the local fitness community?
Dan and Jill Gerome: Absolutely. Twice a year, we sponsor the Ohio Natural Northern USA bodybuilding and physique competition, where we set up a GNC booth, present trophies, and meet the competitors. This past weekend, we were there supporting our son-in-law and one of our employees who competed. Dan, who loved winning posing awards back in his competitive days, now sponsors the “Best Poser” trophies. It’s another way to share his passion and represent GNC in the fitness world. We’ve also held health events locally and have partnered with a college to talk to athletes about supplements and wellness.
How do you incorporate health and wellness knowledge into helping your customers?
Dan and Jill Gerome: Our background in fitness makes it easier to guide customers in reaching their health goals. But we also have a knowledgeable team that’s always ready to answer questions, and if something stumps an employee, they’ll reach out to us to make sure our customers get accurate information.
What trends are you seeing in supplements and fitness that excite you?
Dan and Jill Gerome: A big trend we’re seeing is a focus on taste. People are more likely to stick with a product that tastes good, so it’s great to see companies creating supplements that are both effective and enjoyable.
Looking ahead, what are your family’s goals for your GNC franchise?
Dan and Jill Gerome: With three daughters in the medical field and one who’s a pro golfer, we’re all deeply committed to health and wellness. We want to continue growing our business with GNC and stay active in the fitness community, supporting both our customers and our passion to Live Well.
The Gerome family is the perfect representation of dedication, family values, and a passion for health that goes beyond business. If you’re in the Cleveland area, stop by one of their three GNC locations to support a family-owned business that truly lives and breathes health and wellness.
Behind the Scenes at GNC:
