New Website Provides Comprehensive Resource for Improving Wellness

With a shared passion for fitness and health, two Highland Park entrepreneurs have launched a new online resource to help individuals discover a wide range of local wellness opportunities. FitRats.com, unveiled in mid-October, connects visitors to gyms, studios, and a variety of wellness services located in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Along with exclusive discounts and promotional giveaways, the website offers a free participation rewards program that encourages members to visit vendors and try new activities.

FitRats.com provides a centralized platform to improve the visibility and accessibility of wellness-related small businesses. Co-founders Stacey Portugal and Pam Danzig recognized the opportunity for this comprehensive resource through their own personal and professional experience. Danzig, a lifelong fitness enthusiast with a background in marketing, fitness, and nutrition management, found that many small gyms and specialized studios operated on an inadequate word-of-mouth basis without any formal marketing strategy. News about FitRats has spread swiftly through the tight-knit fitness community, leading to a surge of referrals and a dramatic uptick in both business listings and website visits. In a recent 60-day period, 32 businesses added their listings to the website.

“Most of the businesses on our site haven’t done any advertising themselves,” says Danzig, “but they’re partnering with us because they’re excited about our unique approach and the buzz that’s being created. We’ve had a huge reaction since the website launch from both businesses and site visitors.”

The website combines information about local wellness businesses with original educational content. Portugal, a certified life coach and nutrition counselor, writes a blog on new trends in wellness with contributions from guest writers and business owners. A calendar section – “The Lowdown” – showcases special events and promotions at participating businesses. FitRats also promotes its website content through the company’s social media platforms to maximize visibility.

As extra motivation, visitors to the FitRats site are invited to enroll for free in the site’s FitBucks rewards program. The program awards one FitBuck for each purchase at a FitRats participating business, and customers who collect 20 FitBucks receive a $20 coupon that can be used at any FitRats participant. To encourage patrons to visit a variety of businesses, a FitBuck can only be awarded for one purchase per month at a single business. Beginning in January 2015, FitRats will be giving away free workout classes and various other discounts at participating businesses.

The local focus of the FitRats site is a strength for both users and advertising businesses. The site gives businesses the opportunity to participate in local special events, publicity in the community calendar, and a grassroots connection to site visitors. Portugal sees a potential for long-term expansion into a wider Chicago market, but for now is focused on building the depth and quality of information that inspires residents of the northern suburbs.

“There really is a wealth of opportunities in our area for people who are looking to improve their health, but the reality is that they don’t know what’s right in their neighborhood,” notes Portugal. “The goal of FitRats is to provide a one-stop site for resources, motivation, and education. We’re building a real community with our partner businesses and our site visitors, and our personal attention to that community makes it a positive experience for everyone involved.”

Photo Caption: Business owners Stacey Portugal (left) and Pam Danzig launched FitRats.com to connect health enthusiasts to a wide variety of fitness and wellness businesses.

About FitsRats.com

Launched in 2014, FitRats.com connects customers in the northern Chicago suburbs to top-quality providers of fitness, wellness, and life-enhancing services. FitRats.com’s goal is to increase the visibility of small businesses in these arenas through the use of exciting, informative content, as well the innovative FitBucks participant reward program. FitRats.com brings businesses and customers together to help everyone reach their full potential. To learn more, visit FitRats.com or email info@fitrats.com.