Troubled entrepreneur forced to close two gyms
Sonia Tafilipepe once advertised herself as a business coach who could instantly double a person’s income, but now her own financial affairs are in disarray.
The former real estate agent, who was censured for lying and trying to sell properties she wasn’t authorised to market, has been forced to close two Christchurch gyms she owned because she wasn’t paying bills. She’s also behind other failed businesses owing creditors hundreds of thousands of dollars.
High-intensity gyms, F45 Ferrymead and F45 Central, were closed by the franchisor on February 21 because Tafilipepe had failed to pay franchise fees. A pilates studio attached to the Ferrymead gym was also shut. It came without warning, shocking staff and clients.
In an email to F45 Ferrymead customers five days later, Tafilipepe said the American-based franchisor closed the gyms abruptly via their New Zealand arm.
“I was in shock as much as anyone else.” Tafilipepe told The Press she believed the franchisor had agreed to let the gyms stay open for another fortnight so she could inform staff and members of the closure.
Tafilipepe said she had hoped to find a solution to save the gyms within the 14 days, including on-selling the franchises. She said negotiations with the franchisor had been difficult due to time zones, and said they had discussed unfavourable payment plans to recover the debt which she described as “harsh” and “quite unrealistic in this environment”.
New Zealand F45 headquarters spokesperson Matt Cooper said: “By running a story you will be creating unnecessary awareness which will align our brand and in turn negatively impact brand perception,” Cooper said.
Tafilipepe blamed the failure on escalating operational expenses compounded by economic factors including inflation. She said monthly rent for the Ferrymead site was $13k, franchise fees were $3k and wages cost $2k.
In a Facebook post, the landlord for the Ferrymead site claimed Tafilipepe owed a lot of money in rental fees. “My husband and I tried so many times over the last year to get Ms Tafilipepe to do the right thing and pay the rent,” the landlord said.
Tafilipepe told The Press the rent had been set five years ago when economic conditions were better, but it was now too high. “You get behind. I hate having to owe money.” She said she had contacted the landlord and intended to pay what was owed.
Although memberships for both gyms had increased since she bought them in April 2022, it wasn’t enough to support the two permanent and eight casual staff. She said she had done all she could to help them find work.
In 2017, Tafilipepe was stripped of three Mike Pero real estate franchises and subjected to a four-month restraint of trade, due to franchise agreement breaches. She was forbidden from selling houses within 25km of her former Belfast office. Two years later, the self-described entrepreneur was censured and suspended by the Real Estate Disputes Tribunal for misconduct when she operated the Mike Pero franchises. She was also fined $6500.
The tribunal found she had lied when she visited a quake-damaged property with a prospective buyer. She told the homeowner’s fiancee the buyer was an EQC specialist and gave them documents revealing the scope of work needed. The information gave the buyer an understanding of the homeowner’s price expectations. However, she didn’t have written authority to market the property via an agency agreement. She lied to Mike Pero Real Estate, saying the buyer was a salesperson.
Tafilipepe has been a director of 18 companies. Five of those companies, Dynamic Realty Ltd, Karaoke Ltd, Performance Fitness Ltd, Pilates Evolved Ltd and Overall Fitness Ltd are still registered.
In June 2020, two tyre companies she was the sole director and shareholder of were forced into liquidation. ST1 Ltd and MPRE Avonhead Ltd ended up owing $244k in preferential creditors and $205k in unsecured creditors. Funds recovered only sufficient to coveredthe cost of the liquidator.