fitness industry

Gym Insight Into Long Term Fitness Trends

Fitness trends have had lots of ups and downs that are related to culture and fashion. But there is also an influence on trends that comes from the innovations of technology. Still it's hard to read the tea leaves out beyond a year or so, as the apparent trend today can quickly show itself to be a fad that disappears overnight. In the gym business we always have to keep a lookout for what is coming because it can determine the capital investments that we would make and nobody wants to take six months to refurbish for the latest thing [...]

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Social Business And Self Employment

I recently posted a blog about statistics in the fitness business. I really only just scratched the surface with that one. In this blog post I want to address a few things that I had to leave out, and tie up loose ends. It's always good to know where the next generation of competition could come from. I tend to think the source of competition to watch is self-employed trainers building followings through social media and then establishing studios once they have enough of a revenue flow. Also there were some statistics that relate the demographics of the industry to [...]

New Employee Larry Francis poses with Lou Ferrigno

Gym Insight Is Growing!

Gym Insight is pleased to welcome Larry Francis as the head of our Customer Service Department! Larry has great enthusiasm and passion for the fitness industry. Larry is an avid fan of all the fitness heroes in our industry and will use his previous experience as a gym operator to help you build and grow your fitness business!

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Most Current Fitness Industry Statistics – Part 2

This is part 2 of a multiple part series. Fitness Metrics Revisited It's about time for an update of fitness industry trends once again. Although many of the numbers that I relied on last year are still to be released, there are enough statistics around that I thought i could get an early start. There is a lot of information out there and I don't want to dump it all at once. It's much better to put out chunks of numbers in a controlled way. There is some Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data about employment in the industry to [...]

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Crunch Fitness Business Model

All Crunch and No Judgment Every once in a while I like to give a shout-out to a company that's doing their own thing in the fitness industry and being rewarded for it with success. Crunch Fitness and their franchisees are a great example of exactly that. They have a business model that is unique and creative. I'm not suggesting that you should run out and get a Crunch Fitness franchise; I'm writing this out of interest and passion for the industry. I have no affiliation with Crunch Fitness or their franchisees. The last review that I posted was for [...]

ACSM Worldwide Trend Review

You can never have too much information about where the market trends are heading. One really insightful source that I'd like to discuss is the eighth annual American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014. To get the most out of it I recommend that you read the entire survey report yourself. Every year for the last eight years, the ACSM has commissioned a worldwide poll of fitness industry professionals. There are some really interesting issues that turn up in this survey. One of the best things about it is that it attempts to distinguish [...]

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10 Things To Be Thankful For as A Gym Owner

I believe that one of the keys to a happy life, a life well lived is developing an attitude of gratitude for the things that make life worthwhile and rewarding. I think it was Tony Robbins, whom I first heard say that, it's stuck with me ever since. In celebration of the arrival of the holiday season I would like to share my list of things for which I am truly grateful, and that I am giving thanks for this year. My List of Gratitude 1. First, I am very thankful for a career that helps people and promotes health. [...]

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How Targeted Studios & Small Conventional Fitness Centers Can Work Together

Targeted studios are the young guns of the fitness industry. As a small fitness center owner or manager, you have to respond to their potential threat, or they may figuratively eat your lunch. This type of fitness business represents a significant threat to the conventional gym model. But there are actions you can take as a small fitness center owner or manager. Read on and I'll explain how. If you have a small conventional gym with a small selection of group classes or no classes at all, you must start considering how to fulfill members' needs. Be prepared to respond [...]

Is Your Gym Offering 24-Hour Access Yet?

It seems like everybody has such a hectic schedule these days that more and more services have to be offered around-the-clock. Stores, gyms and even fast food restaurants are open 24 hours a day, to cater to the late-night crowds. Large numbers of people now work nontraditional hours. Shift workers like emergency services workers, doctors and nurses and security staff. Then, of course, along with the blurring of traditional work patterns, there are people who just prefer to be active at night. As a fitness club owner or manager it is very important that you capitalize on this market segment. [...]

Gym Management Systems for Dummies

As a gym owner, health club operator, or as a freelance personal trainer, without a doubt, one or more of the following questions crosses your mind daily... How much personal training did our Brentwood gym sell last week? Who is the top grossing salesperson at our Freemont club? How did our Spring Valley team perform against their goals last month? How much EFT do we need to set up at our Downtown club to hit our goal this month? Which one of our health clubs is selling the most annual membership agreements? How much EFT did we set up yesterday? [...]

Special Populations: Responding Proactively to Current Fitness Industry Trends

The emerging trends in healthcare and the fitness industry are starting to become clear, and they are trends that are currently on a path toward merger. What does this mean for fitness club owners? You can increase your potential market size by refocusing, to include programs that are designed to address the health of clients. To do this you need the knowledge base to support the participation of the people who would benefit most from increased fitness. These special populations include the elderly, diabetics, the obese and survivors of heart disease. But how Does That Tie Into Fitness? One thing [...]

Top 4 Gym Equipment Accessories Every Health Club Should Have

I am aware that I am listing 4 accessories and not a more normal "top" number of either 3 or 5 or even 10. I did that for a reason and not to be an overachiever if you think there should only be 3 listed or lazy if you believe that 5 listed accessories would have been a better well rounded number for this article. In a sense, I do agree that 5 sounds better, so I am going to ask you at the end of this article to add in the comment section what the 5th most important gym [...]

Broaden Your Horizons By Supporting Fitness For Special Populations

If you are a gym and fitness center owner you will most likely find that you have to compete in a crowded market, where everyone is trying to court the same clientele. Having a fitness club where the customers are drawn in by the mere fact that you unlocked your front door is a luxury that most owners will never have. To compete effectively in the modern fitness market you've got to be able to offer something extra to your clients. Well, all of that pretty much states the obvious. But did you know that being able to train and [...]