From Burnout to Business Owner: How Meraki Studios Thrives with Mindbody

Charlie Carvalho is the owner of Meraki Studios, a thriving fitness studio with locations in Banstead, Surrey, and Kensington, London. Carvalho’s journey into the fitness industry was driven by personal experience. She began her career as a broker in a male-dominated industry, where the intense pressure led to burnout at a young age. Long hours at a desk with little movement or stretching took a toll on her body.   

During a holiday in Spain, her aunt, a longtime Pilates instructor, invited her to join a class. That experience was life changing. She quickly realized that Pilates was exactly what her body needed and that others could also benefit from the practice. Carvalho set out to explore different training methodologies, traveling the world to deepen her expertise. Once she returned home to the UK, she realized that the nearest studio was 40 minutes from her. In 2023, she opened her first studio, creating a space where clients could experience the same transformative benefits of reformer Pilates. Today, with two thriving locations and a passionate team, Carvalho is dedicated to helping others prioritize their health and well-being. 

The challenge: Managing growth while staying hands-on

Before adopting Mindbody, Carvalho faced the challenge of managing manual processes that drained valuable time and created inefficiencies. Balancing teaching, payroll, class scheduling, and client bookings left her with less time for the practice she loved. She knew she wanted to stay involved in teaching while running her business, but she needed a platform that could simplify operations and free her to focus on her clients. After eight years of using Mindbody as a customer at various studios, she knew it was the right solution for her own.

The solution: a seamless system with Mindbody

With a day that starts at 6 a.m. and extends well into the evening, Carvalho seamlessly balances group sessions, one-on-one training, managing a team of 20 employees, and even time for creative content creation. Mindbody makes this possible by streamlining scheduling, client communications, and marketing automation. The platform’s seamless booking experience ensures smooth operations, allowing her to focus on what truly matters: her clients and her passion for movement. 

Mindbody has become an essential part of Meraki Studios, helping streamline operations, enhance the client experience, and improve staff efficiency. For Carvalho, one of the biggest game-changers has been the platform’s marketing features, which allow her to stay connected with clients while keeping her involvement minimal. Previously, she relied on Mailchimp for monthly newsletters, requiring manual data imports. Now, with Mindbody’s built-in automation, she can easily send targeted emails without extra steps.

The results: A thriving business

Since implementing Mindbody, Meraki Studios has seen significant improvements in client retention, revenue, and overall operational efficiency. Here’s how Mindbody supports Meraki Studios’ success: 

• Marketing automation: Previously, identifying and following up with inactive clients was a time-consuming process that could take days or even weeks. Now, the system automatically reaches out to clients who haven’t attended in 45 days or haven't completed the sign-up process, bringing them back into the studio with minimal effort. In addition to retention emails, automated messages for birthdays and first-time visits help strengthen client relationships. “Marketing can take so much time away from everything, but if you have something running in the background, you know it’s doing what it needs to do," Carvalho shared.
• Powerful reporting and insights: Carvalho shared that she’s obsessed with the reports and frequently checks revenue trends, autopay, reviews, client retention stats, and class popularity to make informed, data-driven decisions. She loves the simplicity of the reports and her ability to understand the studios' performance daily.
• Membership and revenue growth: After introducing unlimited membership packages through Mindbody, the studio saw a significant boost in client commitment. A summer promo led to the busiest month ever, converting 17 clients into long-term members.
• Payroll and staff management: Mindbody’s payroll and scheduling tools simplify shift management, eliminating administrative headaches for Carvalho and her team.
• Scheduling and cancellations: What was once a manual, pen-and-paper process is now fully automated. Clients can move themselves in and out of classes, and late cancellations are automatically processed, ensuring the studio recovers lost revenue. “To chase someone who’s canceled late is next to impossible, but now, that’s all handled in the background.”
• Client experience: The branded app streamlines booking and class tracking, making it effortless for clients. They can favorite classes for quick access, redeem codes directly in the app, and check class availability. The app also improves client engagement with Club 100, a rewards program celebrating those who attend 100 classes. Upon reaching this milestone, clients receive a special badge, reinforcing their sense of achievement. “It’s little things that seem so small, but they make a big difference.” Clients love the recognition and the ease of managing their own schedules. 

Business ownership made easy

As Meraki Studios continues to grow, Carvalho sees Mindbody as a vital partner in scaling operations. “Once it’s set up, it basically does everything for you. You don’t have to worry about that stress,” she shared. Whether expanding offerings, refining marketing strategies, or analyzing reports, Mindbody provides the tools needed to elevate the business while maintaining a seamless booking experience for clients.   

By centralizing all aspects of the studio into one intuitive platform, Mindbody has helped Meraki Studios stay organized, reduce stress, and support sustainable growth. With the right tools in place, Carvalho can confidently focus on bringing Pilates to Banstead and Kensington.