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What has your gym done for you lately????

Lowfat

By Lowfat
in Gyms & equipment

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Sheta Member

Sheta

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I'd rather my fees went towards maintaining and buying good gear, not promos or "freebies" (it's not free when it's my fees that are paying for it!)

I agree, I pay 10k in gym rent so I'd like to see a few new items!

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runveerun Veteran member

runveerun

Posted
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I'd rather my fees went towards maintaining and buying good gear, not promos or "freebies" (it's not free when it's my fees that are paying for it!)

I agree, I pay 10k in gym rent so I'd like to see a few new items!

A year? Is it a gold plated gym? :shock: and I thought Les mills was expensive!

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poos_n_wees Veteran member

poos_n_wees

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Try and look on positive side, at least you have a choice.

Only have a choice of 3 gyms

1 is mainly focused on aerobics and a few weights- no equipment with electronics ie treadmills, cross trainers, rowers, cycles (only old style)

no TV

None have any staff working in them to help you, PT's (only 3 in counrty that are working) are hard to get when you want them.

Showers are all cold (but its hot here so thats not a real negative)

All closed on Sundays and public holidays

And a years membership is approx $500 NZD!

Geez thats expensive! :shock:

I thought Samoa would have some upgraded gyms with the new facilities that were made especially for the SP Games in '07?

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Grover Senior member

Grover

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Most of the equipment for the games is locked up and not used by anybody, its a waste!

There is a new gym just opened this year JP fitness and has a reasonable selection of equipment, but already the treadmills etc are breaking down due to bad power!

Its a good gym but they don't have any staff to assist you, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford hiring a PT who is a bodybuilder so getting good advice there.

In addition to all the informative threads posted here of course.

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Optimass Veteran member

Optimass

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Its an interesting question, and one that my clients often bring up. No new equipment for 2 years, so where does all the income go?

Advertising at the mo seems to be where most of the funds go, and a dynamite sales team. Get them in, then leave 'em to it seems to be the motto for a lot of gyms.

Theres a suggestion box, but as far as I am aware, the suggestions are ignored.

I often give small gifts to clients, a massage voucher, supplements, food/training diaries etc. I also have a massive xmas party at the end of the year for my cleints. Prezzies, food galore and too many bottles of bubbly. A small gesture for showing my appreciation.

Thats the measure of a good PT Sheta - sounds like your clubs owner is lucky to have loyal members. (and a good trainer)

Having been an owner operator in the past i can tell you its not all glamour and profits though. You hope to sell enough membership to meet your monthly base outgoings then you'll find the profit is in the PT income or services/product sales. What a lot of people don't realise is that as an industry average only 15% of people that join actually rejoin :nod: - I was complete shock when I found out having been in and out of the industry for sometime. I'd say les mills AKl for example would be at the industry peak 60%+

you have to put it in context - if you are running 1200 members and you are not investing in new training concepts to keep them interested... @ 15% churn you are having to sell 1020 memberships per year just to maintain your base income ... this is why so many owners get caught up on bringing in the new member ... because if you don't have competant staff or systems you'll never meet the required sales to beat your churn. Obviously contracted membeships are the way to go as they are guaranteed income. Also the average contracted member that joins and quits early on still pays for 3 months after the contract ends --- 12 months = 15 in real time.

The key is to offer solid PT services and packaged training deals / comprehensive nutrition advice+programs and a good social network. If you offer a start up pt offer and then offer it again every 3 months you can increase your retention by 130% of the avg ... and if your trainers are sales savy you should be able to sell at least a doz sessions 1 in every 3 new member signups ... (I used to do these for around $800 and it included a nutrition guidline and follow up quarterly - additional nutro follow = more $$)

IMO its way cheaper to keep a member than recruit a new one. Members that get results, stay longer and refer friends - thats why pts are critical to your success as an owner ... as are good sales people. But I guess when times are tough it can be harder to get those pt sales so you focus on the front door.

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curtb Junior member

curtb

Posted
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My has my gym done for me lately...

Gave me a parking ticket for $60, because I had been in the parking lot from 6:50 to 8:10. 8am to 12pm weekdays is 'kidsclub' parking. I was one of only three cars in the entire parking lot, and they still saw it fit to ticket me; despite there being at least 40 free parks for any mothers wanting to drop their kids off.

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musclenz Veteran member

musclenz

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Its an interesting question, and one that my clients often bring up. No new equipment for 2 years, so where does all the income go?

Advertising at the mo seems to be where most of the funds go, and a dynamite sales team. Get them in, then leave 'em to it seems to be the motto for a lot of gyms.

Theres a suggestion box, but as far as I am aware, the suggestions are ignored.

I often give small gifts to clients, a massage voucher, supplements, food/training diaries etc. I also have a massive xmas party at the end of the year for my cleints. Prezzies, food galore and too many bottles of bubbly. A small gesture for showing my appreciation.

Thats the measure of a good PT Sheta - sounds like your clubs owner is lucky to have loyal members. (and a good trainer)

Having been an owner operator in the past i can tell you its not all glamour and profits though. You hope to sell enough membership to meet your monthly base outgoings then you'll find the profit is in the PT income or services/product sales. What a lot of people don't realise is that as an industry average only 15% of people that join actually rejoin :nod: - I was complete shock when I found out having been in and out of the industry for sometime. I'd say les mills AKl for example would be at the industry peak 60%+

you have to put it in context - if you are running 1200 members and you are not investing in new training concepts to keep them interested... @ 15% churn you are having to sell 1020 memberships per year just to maintain your base income ... this is why so many owners get caught up on bringing in the new member ... because if you don't have competant staff or systems you'll never meet the required sales to beat your churn. Obviously contracted membeships are the way to go as they are guaranteed income. Also the average contracted member that joins and quits early on still pays for 3 months after the contract ends --- 12 months = 15 in real time.

The key is to offer solid PT services and packaged training deals / comprehensive nutrition advice+programs and a good social network. If you offer a start up pt offer and then offer it again every 3 months you can increase your retention by 130% of the avg ... and if your trainers are sales savy you should be able to sell at least a doz sessions 1 in every 3 new member signups ... (I used to do these for around $800 and it included a nutrition guidline and follow up quarterly - additional nutro follow = more $$)

IMO its way cheaper to keep a member than recruit a new one. Members that get results, stay longer and refer friends - thats why pts are critical to your success as an owner ... as are good sales people. But I guess when times are tough it can be harder to get those pt sales so you focus on the front door.

Interesting points you raise Opti. Its a pity most gyms, mine included, still treat their long term members as liabilities & work on attracting new short term membership. It may be ok financially when things are moving along well, but in hard times, like we are experiencing & with stiff competition like we have in CHC, they are heading for the inevidable fall. What we are seeing is a lack of maintenance, loss of experienced staff & no capital rebuilding program for infrastructure & equipment. I'm not sure what the answer is but I think if I was a gym owner I would be doing everything to keep those loyal members happy. At least then they may be inclined to overlook the new "Health Club" giants & stick with where they feel comfortable & welcomed even if everything is not new & shiney :D

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Optimass Veteran member

Optimass

Posted
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Yeah its a tough one really - now seeing all three sides of the argument trainer/gym owner and member ... each make very practical arguments.

Gym ownership is a tough bussiess - I tried to maintain a 48 hour turn around on all repairs and for the most part this was what happened. Little things like changing cracked leather and replacing frayed cables will go a long way also.

I think if you can get very clean / tidy and functional on your training floors as a minimum standard you can easily win most members over - nothing worse than broken gear. I used to remove it from the floor as soon as it went down and I knew it was going to take a bit longer to sort. (as it's not a good look for new or current members).

Another tip is to only buy good gear - it may cost you more in the short term but it will pay you back 10 fold over time. Some of the chinese import brands you see in some clubs are a cost saver but they generally don't last as long and require more maintinance which will soak up more funds.

Trained and competant staff: you know it used to amuse me how many would be trainers would show up to interviews dressed in trainers and a track suite. Always present yourself in your best light - it shows you take the club owner/managers business seriously. The tradgedy in most courses offer in NZ is that they do not offer a comprehensive enough sales and marketing component. (Les Mills excluded - I have heard they do a very good job). So you get joe blogs gym goer, who quites their job as a cleaner because they are soo passionate about their own training. Then does a course and then expects the clients to come bang on their door. If you can't sell yourself and create a point of difference from what the other, more experienced PTs are doing - you'll get eaten up in a hurry (which is why a lot of trainers come and go - I'm sure you'll find the successful ones rarely move around).

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weener lad Senior member

weener lad

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Its an interesting question, and one that my clients often bring up. No new equipment for 2 years, so where does all the income go?

Advertising at the mo seems to be where most of the funds go, and a dynamite sales team. Get them in, then leave 'em to it seems to be the motto for a lot of gyms.

Theres a suggestion box, but as far as I am aware, the suggestions are ignored.

I often give small gifts to clients, a massage voucher, supplements, food/training diaries etc. I also have a massive xmas party at the end of the year for my cleints. Prezzies, food galore and too many bottles of bubbly. A small gesture for showing my appreciation.

Thats the measure of a good PT Sheta - sounds like your clubs owner is lucky to have loyal members. (and a good trainer)

Having been an owner operator in the past i can tell you its not all glamour and profits though. You hope to sell enough membership to meet your monthly base outgoings then you'll find the profit is in the PT income or services/product sales. What a lot of people don't realise is that as an industry average only 15% of people that join actually rejoin :nod: - I was complete shock when I found out having been in and out of the industry for sometime. I'd say les mills AKl for example would be at the industry peak 60%+

you have to put it in context - if you are running 1200 members and you are not investing in new training concepts to keep them interested... @ 15% churn you are having to sell 1020 memberships per year just to maintain your base income ... this is why so many owners get caught up on bringing in the new member ... because if you don't have competant staff or systems you'll never meet the required sales to beat your churn. Obviously contracted membeships are the way to go as they are guaranteed income. Also the average contracted member that joins and quits early on still pays for 3 months after the contract ends --- 12 months = 15 in real time.

The key is to offer solid PT services and packaged training deals / comprehensive nutrition advice+programs and a good social network. If you offer a start up pt offer and then offer it again every 3 months you can increase your retention by 130% of the avg ... and if your trainers are sales savy you should be able to sell at least a doz sessions 1 in every 3 new member signups ... (I used to do these for around $800 and it included a nutrition guidline and follow up quarterly - additional nutro follow = more $$)

IMO its way cheaper to keep a member than recruit a new one. Members that get results, stay longer and refer friends - thats why pts are critical to your success as an owner ... as are good sales people. But I guess when times are tough it can be harder to get those pt sales so you focus on the front door.

Interesting points you raise Opti. Its a pity most gyms, mine included, still treat their long term members as liabilities & work on attracting new short term membership. It may be ok financially when things are moving along well, but in hard times, like we are experiencing & with stiff competition like we have in CHC, they are heading for the inevidable fall. What we are seeing is a lack of maintenance, loss of experienced staff & no capital rebuilding program for infrastructure & equipment. I'm not sure what the answer is but I think if I was a gym owner I would be doing everything to keep those loyal members happy. At least then they may be inclined to overlook the new "Health Club" giants & stick with where they feel comfortable & welcomed even if everything is not new & shiney :D

:ditto:

The only thing my gym has done is put my membership rates up 3% a year every year and will continue to do so.

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Rag the Dog Member

Rag the Dog

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I dont look to spend money on advertising if I can help it. I will tend to try and do something news worthy to get my name in the paper every 6 months or so. I would rather ensure my current crop of clients are looked after and rely on word of mouth to bring in new clients. I reward clients with protein bars and other small items when the need arises. Most of my profit will go back into new machines and toys for the studio, even small items (like a new foam pad for the barbell for squats) is noted and appreciated by the clients. It is always pointed out to them when bigger items (such as dumbells or whatever) are purchased so they know where their money is going. People dont want to train with shitty broken equipment now days and they will just go elsewhere

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Chillicat Senior member

Chillicat

Posted
Posted
I won some tickets for Friday's rugby game from my gym today - yay!

WTF? How did you win those???? :shock:

It pays to read the newsletter they email to you - I got it this afternoon, they said they had 20 pairs of tickets and all you had to do is email them and let them know what channels you want on the new screens they're putting in. I guess it's first in first served, as I entered almost immediately when it came into my inbox, and found out a couple of hours later that I was a winner! Yay!

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Lowfat Junior member

Lowfat

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Chill that is friggin awesome - see it sometimes doesnt take much :pfft: New screens sound great. At my gym the instructors say they arent even allowed to change the channels on the 4 screens we have in the cardio area. WTF is with that??!!

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Specter Senior member

Specter

Posted
Posted
I won some tickets for Friday's rugby game from my gym today - yay!

WTF? How did you win those???? :shock:

It pays to read the newsletter they email to you - I got it this afternoon, they said they had 20 pairs of tickets and all you had to do is email them and let them know what channels you want on the new screens they're putting in. I guess it's first in first served, as I entered almost immediately when it came into my inbox, and found out a couple of hours later that I was a winner! Yay!

ohhhhhh.....fair enuf...good on ya chick :grin:

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