Why Blackstone River CrossFit Uses Adobe Express (And You Should Too)
At Feisworld Media, I speak and work with many small business owners looking to streamline their marketing. One of my favorite tools to recommend is Adobe Express—an affordable, easy-to-use design platform that helps busy entrepreneurs create beautiful graphics, social posts, and marketing materials quickly.
Recently, I signed up at a local CrossFit gym and spent time with Zathan Simpson, owner of Blackstone River CrossFit in Millbury, MA. Like many local business owners, Zathan wears many hats—coaching classes, managing operations, and handling marketing himself. Adobe Express has become an essential part of his workflow, helping him promote events like Memorial Day Murph, Run Club, and more. Take a look at their Instagram account here.
Why Adobe Express Works for Small Businesses Like Zathan’s CrossFit gym
Quick Video Walkthrough
Here’s what I observed during a recent session at Blackstone River CrossFit:
- Ready-to-use templates: Zathan can pull up templates he’s already created for regular events—no need to start from scratch.
- Drag-and-drop simplicity: No advanced design skills required. Even with a packed coaching schedule, he can build eye-catching posts in minutes.
- Brand consistency: Using reusable templates helps ensure that Blackstone River CrossFit’s brand looks consistent across Instagram, Facebook, and email newsletters.
- Mobile-friendly: Adobe Express works great on desktop or mobile, so Zathan can make quick edits between classes.
How to Get Started With Adobe Express for Your Business
If you’re a local business owner—gym, coffee shop, boutique, service provider—these steps will help you set up a time-saving workflow:
1️⃣ Create a Free or Premium Adobe Express Account
2️⃣ Build Your Brand Kit (here’s a beginner’s guide)
- Logo
- Brand colors
- Fonts
3️⃣ Start With Templates
You don’t need to start from scratch. Browse templates for:
- Social media (i.e. Instagram, Facebook seem to be the most popular among local business owners. Adobe Express has a huge selection of high quality templates designed for these platforms)
- Event flyers
- Newsletters
- Business cards
Pro tip: Customize one or two templates, then reuse them each month to save time.
4️⃣ Organize Projects
In your Adobe Express “Your Stuff” dashboard (as seen in Zathan’s workspace), organize templates by event or campaign:
- Weekly WOD (Workout of the Day)
- Seasonal events (Murph, holiday specials)
- Community updates (Run Club, member highlights)
5️⃣ Schedule and Publish
Use Adobe Express’s built-in Content Scheduler or download assets to post manually.
Real Example: Blackstone River CrossFit
In Zathan’s Adobe Express dashboard, you’ll see:
- Memorial Day Murph posts
- Run Club graphics
- Spin class schedules
- Motivational quotes
These are ready-to-go templates that save him hours per week—and ensure that his gym’s marketing stays consistent, professional, and on-brand.
BONUS Tip: How to Add QR Code in Adobe Express (for free)
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re running a gym, a bakery, or a consulting firm—Adobe Express can help you create marketing that works. For local business owners like Zathan, it’s about saving time while staying visible to your community.
👉 Ready to give it a try?
Start your Adobe Express journey here
Interested in working with us to kick off your small business design templates alongside with tried-and-true content strategy? Drop us a line here.
