Noel Davis, an archaeologist turned personal trainer, built her home fitness brand Paris Fit to help people stay active and lead healthier lifestyles. And while it may not seem like the normal career path for an archeologist to become the head of a fitness company, Noel is not your average entrepreneur.

Like many, her radical decision followed a difficult point in her life. After having worked in archeology for only a year, she was in a serious car accident and confronted with a long road to physical recovery. Fitness then became her anchor, and she decided to build her business around her newfound passion.

Noel started working with Alibaba.com in 2018 using the Request for Quotation (RFQ) function, which helped her quickly collate a list of suitable suppliers to choose from. Through VR tours of these suppliers’ factories, she was able to get a feel for their production capabilities from the comfort of her home. She was so satisfied with the first seller she found four years ago that she has been using the same company ever since.

Her brand saw some success over the first few years, but it really took off during the pandemic, when people couldn’t get to the gym. That’s also when her Gym in a Box product line was born. By building a long-term partnership, Noel easily expanded her product line when traveling was impossible.

The positive impact Noel’s Gym in a Box product offered people during the pandemic later helped her secure a US $10,000 grant through the Alibaba.com Grants Program. Out of over 12,000 applicants, she was one of 50 entrepreneurs chosen to receive a grant. Noel says she will use the grant to add even more eco-friendly products to the Gym in a Box brand.

Listen to Noel tell her success story above and be inspired as to how you too might find new possibilities at Alibaba.com.