Fitness Business Blog

How to Handle Late Cancellations at Your Studio

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Throughout my many years managing big-box health clubs and consulting with other fitness studios, the issue of how to effectively handle cancellations was always top of mind with my training teams.

How many times has this happen to you... You get up at 5am, throw on some clothes, and get to the studio or health club just in time for your 6am client. You might arrive a few minutes early and get the chance to check your email when, low and behold, at 5:40am there's an email from your 6am client stating they had to cancel. Great way to start of the day, huh?

Learn What to Say and How to Say it When Increasing Pricing at Your Studio

Sunday, September 18, 2016

When I was the Fitness Director of a small health and fitness facility, I dreaded the inevitable times we had to send out the “price increase” letters *insert head thumping on desk here*. It’s never pleasant to tell members you’re going to take more of their hard earned money.

Working in a neighborhood club allowed me many advantages a large scale fitness center simply could not; I was on a first name basis with most of the members, I knew what was going on their lives, heck, I even helped a member name her first child! I was IN with these people!

How to Position Your Studio as Part of the Solution to the Healthcare Crisis

Friday, September 16, 2016

The healthcare crisis is a complicated issue with many layers. The big takeaways? Today, fewer than 50% of companies offer medical insurance for their employees.

Many insurance premiums have escalated to difficult-to-afford levels. And to top it all off, insurance coverage sometimes barely functions and acts more like a subsidy than a comprehensive plan. So what the heck does this have to do with you as a studio owner in fitness?

Beating the Competition - What Every Studio Owner Needs to Know

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Do you ever feel like there’s a competitor around every corner? Budding entrepreneurs often hesitate to follow their business dreams because they believe their target market is already so saturated that there simply is no more room to absorb any new entrants.

However, savvy small business owners can make it in a crowded field, even one filled with a couple of big players. The key to your business' success doesn’t hinge on finding a completely empty field, but how you define your company and its place in the market.

Body Language, Self-Awareness and the Client Experience

Monday, September 12, 2016

As a trainer, you wear many different hats during a typical work week. In turn, you are pulled in many different directions among family, friends and clients.

If you are focusing on too many topics at once you cannot be in the moment, which can lead to a lack of client retention.

How Heart Rate can be Leveraged into Gaining Meaningful Insight into your Client

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Wearable technology is one of the fastest growing spaces in the world. The appeal of wearable technology is part motivation, with goal setting, challenges and social recognition and part insight, with clients looking to obtain more information about their overall physical health. In this article, we will talk about meaningful insight.

As a fitness business operator or personal trainer incorporating wearable technology, you'll not only further increase your members’ lifetime value, but educate them on what makes a workout effective (meaning your clients know what the numbers actually mean when they purchase wearable technology).

Motivation + Results = Increased Attendance & Retention

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Fitness has never been bigger. In fact, it's the world's biggest sport with 61% of people who exercise regularly doing gym-type activities, according to the Global Consumer Fitness Survey 2013. But retention remains the industry's biggest problem.

And where previous acquisition of new members could fill the gap, new levels of competition and industry segmentation have made gaining and retaining members harder than ever.

‘Stationary Cycling’ Ranks #10 Among Activities in America in 2015

Thursday, September 1, 2016

If you’ve noticed the fitness trend toward indoor cycling, you’re not alone. According to fitness and sports experts and the organizations that track such data*, “Stationary Cycling” was the 10th-most popular activity in America in a 2015 survey of all activities in which Americans participated.

Of course, if you’re reading these words you already know the health and fitness benefits of indoor cycling, but it’s also nice to know that you’re among the millions who have selected this vigorous, fun, and uplifting fitness regiment.

Three Marketing Strategies to Crush the Summer Slow Down

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Summer is here again! If you’re like many of us in the fitness industry, June, July, and August can be brutal months.

The unfortunate part is that instead of planning and preparing for this slow down, many trainers and studio owners are too busy working “in” the business and suffer the consequences such as decreased revenue, less sessions serviced, and lack of profitability.

How to Build a Debt Free Training Business

Monday, August 29, 2016

Over 10 years ago, I took the hardest yet most gratifying step of my career: Getting out of debt.

At just 26, my wife and I accumulated over $220,000 in personal and business debt. My future outlook was bleak to say the least since we just opened Avenu, had a handful of clients and rent was due soon.