In this issue of Hidden Features, we present our newest software update: Recurring Scheduled Payment (RSP), a tool that lets you automatically charge gym services, punch card add-ons, and annual fees. We’ve also added recurring payments to our Sales Guru© membership software – this way you can automate payments through membership packages. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Truthfully though, this is a game changer. RSP is an essential feature for services requiring regular payments, such as personal training sessions, tanning, massage, smoothie bar access, pickleball courts, towel rentals, and other add-on services. This functionality automates the billing process, ensuring a steady [...]
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The new year is behind us and gym membership sales are dwindling. As a gym owner, now is the time to make every sales opportunity count by slowing down the process and closely evaluating how effectively your staff handles each prospect. Are they missing sales? Let's figure out why. Four steps to a building sales team. Ask yourself: 1. How skilled are your salespeople? First off, to discover which sales people might be facing obstacles, dive into your software and pull up sales data. If a particular salesperson is selling the same membership and/or personal training package over and over again, they [...]
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How can you sell more personal training without losing money or increasing staff? Kage Gym in Mundelein, Illinois, has figured out the secret sauce resulting in an insane closing rate of nearly 70%. They’ve been so successful with personal training that, after two years in business, they’ve just begun promoting memberships to the general public. What's Kage Gym owners story? Owners Omar Sanchez and Gonz Sanchez (no relation) opened Kage Gym in September 2022, taking on and renovating an existing gym. The two young entrepreneurs dipped into their enthusiasm and love of bodybuilding to create a gym that has become a magnet [...]
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Seeing your gym’s company name on a product being worn or used by a member is just a great feeling. That stamp is like a walking billboard. As well, branded gym apparel is an easy and simple marketing technique. So, what's the smartest way to take on branded products ? First, read our top tips for selling branded gym apparel: Make friends with an apparel company. Find a firm that will allow you to order on an as-needed basis. Let them hold onto stock. Keep your stock limited — often an over-abundance of shirts, joggers, hats, etc. will just sit in [...]
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So, let’s talk about January gym membership sales. Too early? No, not really. The January bump in sales is too often just a hangover remedy from a slow fall sign-up season. True, January is the month to become fit. After all, 12% of all new members join at year’s start. That’s easily 40% more than on an average month, when about 8% of your new members come on board. However, many of those new members might have said yes sooner -- if you had just asked them. November and December are traditionally tough months for the health club industry. In [...]
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Within a year, online fitness has become an industry staple for nearly every gym, boutique, or trainer. The question, of course, is can you make money at virtual fitness and, if so, how do you recoup the investment? Online classes are, by their nature, a volume business. You’re going to have to sell more classes or train more people to make the same money as you would with an in-person experience. Why? Because you’re now promoting a lower-cost service while investing in new tools and novel marketing techniques. And, unlike selling a physical product, your concept is vulnerable to market [...]
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What if every gym employee approached their job like a salesperson? How would that affect your health club's businessevery day? Would it help or hurt customer retention? Why would you even want to train employees in basic sales techniques? Wouldn't that become annoying? Probably not. See, sales is not just about selling something. It's an attitude. Employees are a core component of any marketing strategy.They reflect the composition of your gym, your target market.They are the face of who you are as a business and you hired them because of their skills, personality, and ability to relate to customers. So [...]
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Starting your own fitness business has never been easier. That statement, of course, assumes you have the charisma and certifications to run your own shop. Or you have access to a high six-figure sum of capital to invest. I'm mostly talking to the former fitness employees, the gym professionals ready to strike out on their own. I've met many outstanding trainers that could manage the journey if they had to do it. If you fit that description and you've committed to bootstrapping your way into fitness club ownership, keep the following three things in mind. Charge What You're Worth One [...]
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Handling Gym Membership Sales Objections And Closing The Deal Fitness was a $17 billion a year industry in 2014, and it continues to grow every year. Your small gym business has every opportunity to make selling a central skill that will drive your business forward. What's more, all of your employees are counting on you to pull through. So, who in your gym is responsible for selling new memberships? The answer has to be all of you! You need your team to understand that their jobs depend on their ability to bring in new members and turn curious window shoppers [...]
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Customers today understand that it is very important to know as much as they can about a gym, health club, fitness facility, or studio before they decide to join. It is vital for you or your staff to be prepared to answer these queries in a manner which remains truthful during the sales process. How Much does it Cost? Any individual joining a gym will most likely first ask about the membership rates. Be sure to tell them the entire price, including taxes and extras, and then tell give them the breakdown of everything that is included in the total. [...]
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Everything I read on fitness blogs and in trade magazines lately keeps following the same B.S. mantra of "differentiate your gym through customer service." While I agree that excellent customer service should always be a cornerstone of any business, all of these bloggers and writers are ignoring the sea change that's happing in the industry. If they follow their own advice, they're going to end up with a small handful of extremely happy members - unfortunately for them, a small group of very happy members won't pay the bills. If I had to predict how to properly position your gym [...]
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