Meet Aries Sports Performance. A strength and conditioning service for athletes and active people alike. Owner Orlando says that “ASP.’s goal is to deliver results and meet the goals of its clients.”

Let’s first go back to the start and the story behind the name of the brand. Orlando quickly explains, “I’m an Aries, and I like the Greek mythological stories behind this God. Also my first job at a high-performance facility had the last two words, ‘sports’ and ‘performance”  in their name, which spoke to what my profession is all about. So I added those to create ASP.”

For Orlando, running ASP is full-time for him and not just a side hustle. And he admits that his days aren’t like everyone else’s. “I work full time, but my work day isn’t like everyone else’s.  I don’t have a 9-5. My day is broken up into a morning shift and afternoon shift that are based on my clients’ and athletes’ schedules. I use the time during the day to train myself, run errands, cook and most importantly, rest to be fresh for the afternoon.”

So what inspired Orlando to start the business in the first place? He said that to him there was a void in the industry when it came to high-performance strength and conditioning. “When I was a young athlete in T&T, and while administrators and desk jockeys only talked about what’s needed with no supported action, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do something about it and subsequently become what I needed as an athlete.” Orlando hopes to help those who have the talent and technical abilities meet their fullest potential with his intervention.

Since starting the brand, Orlando sees a few events as significant milestones under the brand’s belt. “Being able to open and stay in business for my first year was awesome, and this was my first milestone. Growing the business to the size it has become is a testament to good business practices and the support from my loyal clients and I see this as my second milestone. Making it through the pandemic because of good planning, divine grace and mercy was my third. Finally, all the successes each client and athlete has celebrated to the milestone of six years is enough for me to keep feeling like every day is a milestone.”

So are there any lessons Orlando has learned as an entrepreneur so far? “I have to stay true to my core values, think like my clients and athletes, so I stay in touch with their needs and compete against myself.” This is definitely a good way to keep a good standard. 

And does Orlando have any advice for those out there who may want to begin their journey as an entrepreneur? “Study your craft. Master it. Focus on the essential things that make your business successful. Don’t be afraid to fail. When you fail, fail fast and bounce back quickly. Be sure to maintain constant communication between you and your clients. Finally, surround yourself with an excellent support team.”

Now in this world of brands, I was keen to get Orlando’s take on the definition of a brand itself. To Orlando, “a brand is a symbol. It should represent something positive that people want to associate with, and they should feel proud to represent it. A brand should immediately send a message that speaks to whoever sees it and create an emotional response.” As for the difference between a business and a brand, Orlando says “A business might only be concerned with money whereas a brand is concerned with making an impact on its environment in hopefully a positive manner.” 

And what about the local brand community here in Trinidad and Tobago? “From my perspective, new local brands are utilizing social media and technology to help spread the word of their business and that’s a good thing. Older established brands use their reputations to keep themselves going. Both newer and older could learn from each other to help meet the desired needs of their clients. As a brand that’s still new but gaining a solid footing in society, I try to utilize the strengths of new school and old school to ensure that I stay relevant.” Wise words, Orlando. 

Check out Aries Sports Performance for the best service when it comes to physical strength and conditioning in Trinidad and Tobago.