Defining a Brand, Culture & Community in Houston, Texas
By: Nicole Hughes

“Interested? You should be. Come for the workout and stay for so much more” the About Us section reads on Bayou City CrossFit’s Website. These sentences embody the spirit of Bayou City CrossFit: subtly confident, empowering, witty and fun. In most businesses, the culture, brand and community is cultivated by its leaders and the spirit of Bayou City CrossFit unquestionably vibrates from Vic Zachary, owner of Bayou City CrossFit, and his trainers in Houston, Texas.

If you’ve had the opportunity to meet Vic you were probably greeted with a firm handshake, a hug, and a giant smile. He has an undeniable style, complete with a mohawk and vivid tattoos blazing across his shoulders back, thighs, and calves. Vic is serious about getting people results and he’s confident that CrossFit is the way. He is also equally serious about having fun and maintaining the laid back humble atmosphere in his box.

Not only is Vic Zachary an entrepreneur, fierce competitor, and SICFIT sponsored athlete but he has experienced significant events that few can relate to. At only 28 years old Vic’s list of achievements include (deep breath) joining the Army, graduating Airborne & Ranger school, completing a tour of Iraq in 2003, working on the Special Response Team for Wackenhut Security Service in Tennessee, working as a Federal agent for the D.O.E. on the Special Response Force, Firearms  Instructor for the agency, competing in the Security Protection Officer Training Competition in 2005 & 2006, competing in the World SWAT Challenge in 2006, taking 3rd place in the 2009 CrossFit Regionals, Placing 32nd in the 2009 CrossFit Games, winning 1st place in the 2010 CrossFit Regionals, and taking 36th place in the 2010 CrossFit Games. Two years ago Vic added business owner to this list when he opened a CrossFit affiliate.“I wanted to help the community, there are too many unhealthy people in Houston.”

The box was successful, they had reached 150 clients, hired a handful of coaches and people were getting fit. But there came a point when things seemed to be getting too big, the growth wasn’t controlled, tight systems weren’t in place, and Vic and his team were working non-stop. It was at this tipping point that Bayou City CrossFit decided to sign up for the Garage Gym Blueprint. “I know the great things that Central has done, and wanted to see if it could work with us as well.”

Everyone has their own definition of success. To Vic, Bayou City CrossFit’s success meant the clients were happy, people were reaching their goals, and his trainers were making good money. Before attending the training Vic wrote “I’m not all about the money, I didn’t start this to be rich, but I want my coaches to make good money I want them to be able to do this full time. Businesses is not my thing its been a up and down battle for me, I love to coach, I love to talk to my clients and new clients but I need to improve the business of Bayou City CrossFit”

In May Vic & Katie Russel made the trip to Austin and spent 3 days learning the Blueprint to Central’s success. After the training Vic had a list of things he wanted to improve and implement including systems, implementing Mind Body Online, setting up auto payment, and improving media and marketing. One of the first changes was also a challenge. Bayou City raised its prices and switched to the closed class model after running programs on an open model for two years. They lost 10 clients.

This might seem like a disadvantageous decision; however, in 4 months Bayou City CrossFit has added 55 new clients (going from 150 clients to 215 clients), added 3 full time coaches, moved into a new gym, launched a new website, added coach blogs and twitter to their marketing plan, and held an event with over 270 athletes and spectators. Their classes are filling up and free workouts always operate at full capacity.

Vic has an intense passion for CrossFit, people, life, and creating excellence in the fitness industry. The title of his blog boasts “For the Love Of It” in many posts Vic writes “I love this”, picture albums on Bayou City CrossFit are titled “Love It”, “Love It/Hate It” and when flipping through pictures of Bayou City’s members, everyone is smiling. Aside from implementing tighter structure and systems Bayou City still keeps the energetic atmosphere alive through their camaraderie, family-like environment…and there’s always “spread eagle burpees, that’s always fun”

Since attending The Blueprint, Vic and his team have reached their 3 month goals for Bayou City CrossFit and are well on their way to achieving their 12 month goals. New goals for the box? “To grow our high school program for young athletes, to be able to reach more people in Houston, to have some of the best CF coaches, to always make it fun”