The Aussie thirst for gym facilities is as strong as ever and the greatest challenge for fitness business owners is retaining members in a highly competitive market. There are some pieces of equipment that you could expect to find in pretty much any fitness centre, such as weight plates, dumbbells and cardio machines, but what else is going to provide the best bang for buck? Here, we look at some way you can attract new members through your doors as well as retaining the ones you already have with these fitness products you should have in your gym.
Recovery products adding revenue to your gym
It’s hard to look past the meteoric rise that recovery has had as part of the overall fitness landscape. Sauna, ice baths, red light therapy, compression boots – the recovery space is having a moment. Perhaps it was the global pandemic that brought about ‘wellness’ being viewed as more than just ‘fitness’, or maybe it’s the influence of the biohacking and longevity movement. Whatever the reason, it could be argued that if you aren’t offering some form of recovery tool to your members in 2025, you are missing the brief!
The best part about offering recovery tools is that they allows you to broaden your membership types. Whether it’s a premium level membership or an add-on service, it gives you a way to bring in extra revenue for your facility.
Ben Ridgway is the National Operations Manager at SDS Australia, a leader in construction and design of both traditional and infrared saunas. He says that there’s been a noticeable rise in the popularity of saunas. “Since COVID-19, people have really changed the way they think about health and recovery… It’s not just about working out; it’s about looking after your overall well-being. That’s why we’re seeing more gyms installing saunas too, to offer their members a complete recovery experience.”
Specialty gym flooring for diversified training
Sled tracks are another addition to gyms and indoor training spaces that can offer a point of difference with very little maintenance. With large chains such as BFT and Fitness Cartel incorporating sled tracks in their studios, you can bet that the research has shown they are a worthwhile investment. Not only does a sled track offer a unique workout experience to your members, it can be a great addition to group or team workouts or fitness challenge events as well. With fitness endurance events such as HYROX gaining popularity, a sled track can be a great incentive for someone to choose your facility as their training ground. Sled tracks can be customised to match in with your branding and colour schemes too, adding a visual lift to your gym floor.
Using body composition scanning technology to boost retention
There’s nothing more disheartening for someone on a weight loss mission than putting in the effort and seeing little to no difference on the scales. And while we all know that the scales aren’t everything, the simple metric of weight is used as a yard stick.
Tangible feedback through a body composition scanner can motivate and encourage your hard-working members to keep going with their training, as they see muscle gains and changes in both visceral and subcutaneous fat. It’s a great way to not only engage members in short term ‘challenges’, but to also retain members over the long term as they track their stats from one year to the next.
Body scanners can also be a great tool for building partnerships with other businesses in your area. A local nutritionist or supplement store could be interested in forming a relationship whereby you allow body scans for their customers in return for benefits for your own members.
Choosing fitness products for your gym
The options really are endless when it comes to choosing what products to offer your members. If in doubt, a simple member survey with some options available could be a great way to ensure you’re spending money on items that will get used as well as fostering a sense of community within your member base.
Finance options are also available through many fitness equipment suppliers, so if you know the ROI makes sense, but cashflow is tight upfront, a financed option could be the solution. It’s also worth chatting with your accountant to see if making a business related purchase before the end of the financial year will offer tax advantages.
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