Meet Stephanie Butterfield- Richardson | Founder + Coach at Activate House

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Butterfield- Richardson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting Activate House in San Diego was the result of a passion to motivate others to live a healthy lifestyle through working out. We’re here to help you activate your best life with intentional training and movement, a supportive community, and a lifestyle that can transform your mind, body, and spirit.

My thought process behind Activate House stems from my travels, living in Australia and over 10 years of experience in the fitness/ wellness industry. I realized that there was a gap that needed to be filled in the fitness scene in San Diego. One which would collaborate purposeful workouts that not only change you physically but mentally too. And so I set out to build a brand and my business from ground up and to do what I’ve always been great at which was- to build community within a space, be innovative and disrupt the fitness scene by merging three workouts under one roof.

I started my business over the pandemic as many others did as well. I started teaching classes online, taking over other studios Instagram accounts and connecting on a more global level. I realized there was definitely a market for what I was offering. I just knew that I wouldn’t find fulfillment grinding for someone else’s goals. I started a social media account mentoring and teaching other coaches to level up their game. I mentored coaches from Belgium, Tennessee, Texas, San Diego and Mexico. Fast forward a year, and I started to look for a physical space where I could host 3 workouts under one roof in San Diego. In November 2021, my family went full time in construction of the space. My husband and dad started building the brick and mortar from ground up. My mom and I were able to help with the design, space planning and aesthetics of the space. Activate House is what it is today because of all the help and support we received from my family.

We opened up on March 12, 2022 and over the past months, we have grown fast to serve the community of North Park and beyond. We have a growing membership and have been able to cultivate a community that knows what a difference it is to their mental and physical well-being to workout in multiple ways. Today, Activate House helps impact-driven coaches and members create a balanced routine that works FOR their lifestyle. We’re here for the long-term.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Activate House is your one-stop wellness space, more than just a place to workout, we are a lifestyle brand that goes beyond our studio rooms. It is truly a ‘House Of Wellness’ because it is all encompassing. We aim to create a spa-like experience from start to finish. We host Spin, Sculpt and Yoga classes 7 days a week. Our classes blend physical + mental strength making each workout feel complete. Our coaches incorporate breathwork, meditations, music and movement to create a unique and well-rounded class.

Our Vision
To build a new-age fitness studio that offers all of the best workouts, brings together a community of diverse individuals, and encourages others to work towards a healthy and energized lifestyle.

Our Purpose
To make an impact on the community by holding a supportive space for others on their wellness journey.

Our Mission
To help you activate your best life with intentional training through movement, a supportive community, and a lifestyle that can transform your mind, body, and spirit.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We take a community-based approach to all things relevant to Activate House, we have open hearted conversations and make decisions for the long-term, and believe that individuals that works out together can change the world.

I’ve faced a lot of challenges in building this business. I taught so many online classes that hardly anyone attended- and now we host events that are sold out within hours of announcing. At the beginning, I questioned whether I could actually pull this off. I questioned whether my dreams were even possible.

The drive to continue pushing through comes from our community. Our coaches, members and community are such an inspiration to me! They are why we are here and will continue to be here.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in San Diego and it’s such a unique place, lots of things to do every day of the week. My musts: Brunch at Madison on Park in University Heights, sunrise or sunset beach walks at Birdrock, Coffee & Tea Collective for coffee and tacos- a must have! Javiers in La Jolla is chef’s kiss, Ketch on the water is a great view.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A podcast that’s been really influential in my vision for Activate House. is The Gary Vee Audio Experience. It tells the story of his founding of multiple businesses, his life as an entrepreneur and goes through all the failures, pivots, starts and stops that took him to that place. I really relate to Gary Vee as he comes from an immigrant family and offers such good insight of what’s really important in life It offered me such valuable perspective, I would recommend to anyone who is thinking of becoming an entrepreneur.

Website: https://activate-house.com/#home

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activate.house/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTwlR4i2_l7bGgpFfnq_KOg/videos

Image Credits
Carlos Frayre