Client Corner: Innerstellar Pilates and The Hatch

Our clients do amazing things in their communities – some give back to their fellow business owners through advice and connections, others make waves by bringing new products and services to their neighborhoods. 

Giving Back: Innerstellar Pilates

Kiki Lovelace, owner of Innerstellar Pilates in Berkeley, knows a thing or two about starting and expanding a fitness studio. Since her initial Working Solutions loan funded five years ago for studio improvements, Kiki has done quite well with her studio. She currently has two full-time employees and seventeen contractors, and has seen her own profits exceed what she was earning as a private instructor.

Recently, Kiki shared her expertise with the Working Solutions client community by hosting a conference call with three other start-up Pilates studio owners. Kiki discussed hiring practices, employee management, pricing, and marketing. She closed the conference call with important advice: "Don't be afraid to experiment early on – give yourself permission to try new things, make mistakes, and try again!"

Expanding Community: The Hatch

Pancho Kachingwe founded The Hatch Oakland Bar & Restaurant in 2014 to cater to a booming downtown Oakland. As his customer base continued to grow, Pancho sought financing to remodel his space and increase the bar's capacity. The microloan he received from Working Solutions in April 2016 allowed The Hatch to triple its nightly serving capacity.

One month after his loan funded, Pancho signed on to attend the Working Solutions Legal Audit Clinic, hosted bi-annually by Working Solutions, DLA Piper, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. Pancho firmly believes in the usefulness of this event and thinks that “the legal clinic is a must for every small business." Pancho joined five other Working Solutions clients and received a private three-hour session with a team of lawyers to discuss everything from employee contracts to leases and intellectual property. 

Working Solutions connects our clients to expert advice – whether through peers like Kiki or our pro bono legal partners. This is one of the many benefits that Working Solutions provides through our Business Consulting program. 

For more information about the Working Solutions Business Consulting Program, visit our website at workingsolutions.org/business-consulting-home.