by jimthomas | Sep 14, 2018 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, gym business, gym business plan, gym closing, gym consultant, Gym Sales Help, gym sales training, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
Running a fitness club is like running any other business. And in any business, there is one element which is of utmost importance—the people. Your employees need to be hired with care because they’re going to influence the impression that your fitness club makes on customers. Positive, energetic employees will impart the same feelings to your customers. However, employees who are disgruntled, unhappy in their jobs and overall sloppy will in turn impart those same feelings to your customers. And you obviously don’t want that to happen. So how do you make sure you hire the right fitness club help?
- Fitness: You’re hiring someone for a fitness club. So it goes without saying that they should be fit themselves. Of course, this only applies to people who are going to be interacting with customers. You can hire an accountant who is not fit, as long as they’re doing their job correctly. But in terms of receptionists, trainers, people who lead group classes and anyone else who will be interacting with customers, it’s a good idea to go with someone who is fit and enthusiastic about fitness. This will make sure your customers remain upbeat about their fitness goals too, which is what you want.
- Education and Experience: The first thing you’re going to look at on anyone’s resume is how much education and experience they have. Do they have any diplomas or certifications in various aspects of fitness? How long have they been working in the industry? In general, the longer someone has been around, the more you’re going to have to pay them, especially when it comes to fitness training. But this might be worth it because then you know that those people know how to deal with customers. They understand their fitness aims and the best way to motivate them.
- Presentation: When you’re interviewing someone for a certain position, you’ve got to keep an eye on how they present themselves. Are they professional in their appearance and their speech? Of course, this is the fitness world. So you don’t expect anyone to show up in a suit. But it’s important for them to be well-groomed, neat and clean. Plus, you should also try to evaluate how they’re going to interact with people. Some trainers like to push people to the limits of their endurance. Others take a more laid-back approach. Both methods are good; it depends on what your clientele prefers.
Contact us for more great tips on hiring fitness club help.
by jimthomas | Aug 31, 2018 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, gym business, gym business plan, gym consultant, gym marketing, Gym Marketing Promotion, Gym Sales Help, gym sales training, New Gym Start Up
People who just moved into your neighborhood are excellent prospects for your health club, but how do you turn them into members? Use new mover mailing lists to send them a postcard offering them a temporary free membership pass. It’s a technique that has been successful for many fitness centers. Here are some ideas for making it work.
When to Mail: Start by targeting people who just moved in within the last 30 days or so. If they work out regularly, they’re probably looking for a new health club. Even if they don’t, they may be wanting to start new habits along with their new address. Plus, a health club can be a safe and friendly place to meet people when you’re new in town. If you get a good response, you can do a follow up mailing to the names that didn’t respond the first time.
What to Mail: For the best response, try mailing a good-looking heavy glossy postcard with a fun photo and a perforated temporary membership pass that the recipient can tear off and bring in to take advantage of your offer. Yes, you could say the same thing at less cost with an ordinary letter or postcard, but you’re likely to get much better results if you make it obvious that you’re giving them something of value.
What to Say: While the specific offer may vary based on your business, a 3-day free pass for the recipient and a guest is a good place to start. People will also want to know your location and hours, and a brief description of your services. Include an expiration date, usually within 30 days. You may want to use seasonal language too to emphasize that this is a special time-limited opportunity.
Are you a gym owner or potential owner looking to increase your profitability? Contact us at Fitness Management & Consulting. We cover all types of operations from full athletic clubs to small corporate fitness centers.
by jimthomas | Feb 23, 2018 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, gym consultant, Gym Jobs, gym marketing, Gym Sales Help, gym sales training, Health Club Jobs, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
Managing a gym is more than making sure the gym is filled with people. Of course, the ultimate goal is a high membership count and ensuring the club is a profitable business but it takes quality management to get there.
In order to manage a quality gym, hiring quality staff is essential.
Staffing can be one of the most difficult parts of managing any establishment but it is possible to put together an unstoppable team. Make sure you are hiring because the applicant is the right person for the job, not because you want to hurry and fill the position. Onboarding is costly and when the members see high turnover it can reflect poorly on the establishment. People may wonder what is wrong with the management or leadership at this club… why does nobody want to work here? But the reality of the matter is, the right people were not hired for the job.
Screen Resumes
Before calling applicants in for interviews, spend time screening their resumes. Avoid candidates with high turnover showing on their resumes. For example, if an individual worked 8 jobs in one year, chances are they will not stay with you longer than a few months. If you find an applicant that jumps jobs but you are still interested in interviewing them, it is okay to call them in but be sure to find out why they left their previous positions. It is also okay to conduct phone interviews before face-to-face interviews, it could potentially save your time and theirs.
Interviewing Applicants
This is the time you will be spending with the applicants, so do yourself a favor and make time for your interviews. Interviewing person after person can be draining and sometimes seem hopeless, but the right person is bound to find their way in front of you eventually, so be ready!
During the interviews, pay attention to their attitude and confidence. There may be instances where they are working alone in the club. Do they seem responsible and trustworthy?
Find out what influenced the applicant to apply to your gym. Be sure to provide them with a clear rundown of the job responsibilities and a day-to-day visual. Be honest about the job description and pay structure. They may decide it is not the job for them and this could save you time in the long run.
And sometimes you just have to follow your gut and intuition. If on paper they seem great but in person you know they are not the right fit, keep interviewing until you find the right person. You are managing the gym for a reason, you got this!
Once the right candidates are hired for the job, you can move along to managing your team and structuring your club. Remember that building a strong and solid team is the first step to a successful venture. For additional guidance do not hesitate to contact us!
by jimthomas | Sep 21, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, gym business, gym business plan, gym consultant, Gym Jobs, gym marketing, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
Your team of employees can be the difference between a mediocre gym, and a GREAT gym that gym-goer’s love coming to, and refer it to all of their friends and family. That’s why it’s vital your team is trained to help make your gym the best it could be.
Here are five ways to build a great team for your gym:
1. Choose The Right Employees
You want to build a team of people who are passionate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Having experienced and interactive trainers who know how to explain gym equipment is needed to maintain safety and helpfulness for members. They must also have some level of athleticism so members trust your gym’s professionalism. Most importantly, you want employees whom are enthusiastic and happy to help, because their attitude will leave an impression on gym members. So before you hire any new employees, know what qualities you’re aiming for.
2. Go Over Your Gym’s Manuals
Don’t skip on providing training and employee manuals for all staff members. From the basic ground rules for the gym, to specific role responsibilities and best practices, you want your team to be on the same page. Preparation and training will go a long way. Don’t be afraid to set up role play and questionnaires for employees, or require shadowing for new staff.
3. Automate Simple Tasks To A Gym Software
Make it easier for your employees (and gym members) by implementing a gym software that will take care of member account management, scheduled classes, billing, and inventory. By automating tasks that a gym software can manage and organize, your employees will have more time to focus on more important projects, as well as their customer service.
4. Schedule Team Meetings
You can build up team morale by having a regular team meeting with your employees. This is a great time to discuss weekly highlights and progress, concerns, current projects and promotions, and to set any new goals. Make them feel involved and valued by encouraging participation and input. Always try to inspire their morale by reminding them of your gym’s mission and goals, which is to help people get more healthy and active!
5. Offer Incentives For Your Team
Having employees work with no incentive but a paycheck will not build a team that will go above and beyond for your gym. Offer incentives to work there like a discounted gym membership, free healthy snacks, opportunities for promotion, and throw in a team dinner once in a while.
Employees who feel appreciated and passionate about working in the fitness industry will make for a better gym team, and a gym that customers want to keep coming back to. So make sure to do what you can do build a great team. To help you out, contact us today.
by jimthomas | Sep 18, 2017 | Fitness Jobs, gym business, gym consultant, Gym Jobs, gym marketing, Health Club Jobs, New Gym Start Up
Gym Interview Guide
Applicant’s Name ________________________________________________
Interviewer’s Name _______________________________________________
Target Position _____________________ Date of Interview _______________
Checklist
_____ Review application materials for past jobs/experiences which are most relevant to the interview. Start with oldest job/experience and work toward the present.
_____ The first interview should be no more than 40 minutes. Plan your questions accordingly.
Outline for Opening the Interview:
_____ Greet applicant, giving name and position.
_____ Explain purpose of the interview.
– Acquaint the interviewer and applicant.
– Help organization make fair decision.
– Help applicant understand organization/position.
_____ Describe interview plan.
– Brief review of past job/experiences.
– Questions to get specific information about those jobs/experiences.
– Information on organization and position
– Answer applicant’s questions about organization and position
– Both will benefit from using this plan
– Will be taking notes
Category
Oral Communication Tolerance for Stress Decisiveness
Job Motivation Leadership Professional Competence
Work Standards Adaptability Planning/Organization
Attention to Detail Resilience Delegation
Initiative Judgment Staff Development
Scoring: 0 = Not Observed W = Weak 5 = Outstanding ‘fit”
by jimthomas | Jul 27, 2017 | fitness center business, Fitness Jobs, gym business, gym business plan, gym consultant, gym design, Gym Jobs, gym marketing, Gym Sales Help, Health Club Jobs, Member Retention, New Gym Start Up
Many people today have interest in starting a gym or fitness center. This is a tough business to succeed in with all of the competition in the market. However, there are still lots of opportunities in the industry if you have a solid business plan. Here are some of the most important aspects of developing a profitable business plan for your fitness center or gym.
Starting Out
The most difficult part of starting a gym is getting through the first few months. In the fitness industry, you have to spend a lot of money in the beginning on space and equipment. Equipment is expensive, and without clients your cash flow is negative. Few people have cash on hand to make these purchases, and they have to borrow money in order to get started. Before spending a lot of money, make sure you have a plan for profitability. You need to know how many customers it takes for your business to become profitable. Once you know this number, design your marketing plan around bringing in that many customers.
Marketing
For any new business, marketing is essential to success. This is especially true for fitness centers because of the compressed window when people typically sign up. A lot of people sign up for a gym in the first month of the year. You have to ensure that you capture the local market share during this time. January is the best month to run promotions to drive new customers to your business.
Next Steps
If you want to succeed at a high level in the fitness industry, contact us for advice along the way. Our team helps a variety of gym owners with their business plans. We have years of experience in this industry.
