Stauffacher Joined the Boutique Fitness Franchise in 2011
Drew Stauffacher takes the helm as president of the 9Round Kickboxing Fitness franchise after joining the brand in 2011 as a trainer. Prior to his promotion, Stauffacher led the creation of 9RoundNOW, a digital training platform that continues to be a major value-add for members and entrepreneurs. Stauffacher also has owned multiple locations of the boutique fitness franchise and now leverages his extensive experience with the Greenville, S.C.-based kickboxing brand to strengthen franchise support and foster innovation.
“Taking on this role feels like the culmination of my journey in the fitness industry and with 9Round,” said Stauffacher, who began training in martial arts at age 7. “What excites me most is the dynamic nature of the leadership opportunities this position brings. I get to collaborate daily with our incredible home office team while still traveling across the country to connect directly with our franchise partners and their communities. There’s tremendous value in seeing how our 9Round model functions in different markets. It helps us continuously refine and adapt the product to serve the general population better, all while staying true to our core experience.”
He cited convenience as a major part of that core experience. “We’re evolving by introducing studio access 365 days a year, including 24/7 access in some locations. Our no-class-times model remains, but now members can choose whether to work out with a trainer or use our Daily Workout Screen technology for guidance.”
Stauffacher said his goal is to have more than 100 9Round locations operating in this new model by the end of 2025. “It’s a big, exciting challenge, and one that aligns with where the industry is going and what our members are asking for. It’s about giving people the flexibility they want while keeping the heart of what makes 9Round so effective and engaging.”
Support from Striking Brands
He said 9Round’s parent company, Striking Brands, will play a major role in the kickboxing franchise’s growth moving forward. “As part of the umbrella of Striking Brands, we move into this new world with a new perspective. It’s been great to get to know another brand, iLoveKickboxing, and learn from its successes.”
Shannon Hudson, founder and CEO of Striking Brands, said 9Round franchisees are in great hands under Stauffacher’s leadership. “Beyond his extensive knowledge of the company and his experience as a franchisee, Drew brings a different voice and a fresh approach that will continue elevating the brand to its fullest potential while taking exceptional care of our franchisees and members. His leadership at 9Round will give me time to nurture other branches of our business,” Hudson said. One of those branches is the newly developed equipment division, which provides boxing, kickboxing and martial arts equipment and apparel to independently owned studios and schools.
Outside of the office, Stauffacher enjoys going on hikes with his wife and their dog in South Carolina, where they live.
About 9Round Kickboxing
Founded in 2008 by professional kickboxer Hudson and his wife, Heather, 9Round offers kickboxing fitness training in a 30-minute, trainer-guided, full-body circuit format. The program is developed around a proprietary and copyrighted system of nine challenging workout stations. The boutique fitness brand has expanded to 350-plus locations throughout the U.S., Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
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