Starting a business is never easy, but business owner Nancy Cotton quickly found ways to overcome challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, with help from the community.
In 2019, Cotton was having trouble finding ways to keep her sons active since there were no child-friendly workout facilities in the area. Having grown up with access to a YMCA, she wanted her kids to have a similar option for staying active. When she first bought Corner Studio, the plan was for it to be a rented gym space. But once word got out about her plans, community members began coming forward with ideas for the business.
“It took me so long to actually gut the building and remodel it,” Cotton said. “By the time it was ready to open, my whole vision had shifted because so many people in the community came to me with their ideas. The coolest thing about it is that the community actually helped drive what the business became.”
By the time Corner Studio opened its doors, it had transformed into a fully equipped gym offering a variety of classes led by professional instructors. Many instructors sought out Cotton because they resonated with her philosophy.
“I just wanted people to move, be happy, and feel good about themselves,” she said. “It was great because we had so many different types of people, which allowed us to accommodate a variety of workouts under one roof.”
Unfortunately, Corner Studio was only open for three weeks before the pandemic hit. As COVID-19 spread, Nancy Cotton and her husband, Sean Cotton, decided to temporarily close the facility for everyone’s safety. It wasn’t until eight months later that they were able to reopen.
“It was a really stressful situation,” Nancy Cotton said. “We had no reserved finances because we were so new, but I wanted to keep paying all my instructors. Thankfully, Sean helped me do that, which was great, because otherwise we probably would have folded.”
During the pandemic, Cotton offered free online classes to help people stay active, and once it was safe, they held outdoor classes at Kerby Field. Despite the challenges, she continued to grow her business through her social media presence, which she managed herself. Because of her dedication, she was able to open a second location in 2021.
Cotton knew she needed something unique for the new location. She decided to add Lagree, a high intensity, low impact workout, to complement her reformer Pilates offerings.
“I used to go to Pilates at Just Breathe in the Village,” Nancy Cotton said. “But they ended up shutting down during COVID, and some of their instructors came forward and told me they’d be interested in working for me. So when I opened my second studio, I hired them.”
Cotton has always loved the idea of small, intimate workout classes, which guided the design of both her studios. However, the popularity of these smaller classes means long waitlists, as not everyone can be accommodated. The studio’s accessibility is especially appealing to students, as Cotton offers discounts to encourage young people to get involved in fitness.
“Because of how much we’ve been growing,” Nancy Cotton said, “I’ve been looking into spaces in St. Clair Shores to open another location.”
With both of Nancy Cotton’s nieces working for her, she encourages them to one day take on a more serious business role, if they so choose, eventually expanding the business beyond Grosse Pointe.
“My dream is to open a location at MSU,” Nancy Cotton said. “I’d also love to one day open a location out of state, but I want to wait until Teddy and Colin(children) go to college so I’d have more time.”
