Own the member relationship, your data, and keep the revenue in your studio

You work hard to create a unique experience for all of your members. Their loyalty – and consistent payments – are paramount to establishing and running a profitable business. You’ve done the work, you should reap the benefits. That’s why it’s important that you own that relationship everywhere, including your mobile app. It should be apparent that all apps are not created equal – and that multiple brand apps were never intended to build loyalty for your business. When selecting a mobile app to build your business or franchise consider the following.

Don’t Open the Door for Your Competition

While a rising tide might lift all ships, the fitness business is competitive. You have to operate through low tide periods as well. Your members know they have options and likely pass several on the way to their session at your business. You don’t need to present offers from other clubs on your mobile app that could steer them away from your business.

Do Build Engagement

The relationships you build with members is what creates their loyalty. Your mobile app is the extension of the 1:1 in-person interactions when they are outside of your walls. Ensure that you can offer the content and encouragement for members to reach their goals while you track their activity and progress.

Do Take What’s Yours

Long-term viability requires profitability. You should value and charge for your unique offerings accordingly, not enter into a race to the bottom based on price. What comes through your doors should be yours. Additionally, as you grow and scale, it’s important that you have insights to accurately attribute revenue to members and locations. That sounds simple, but only an app and system that prioritizes your business and loyalty makes it possible.

See what a custom-branded fitness app could do for you!

It’s a mobile-first world – we see that every day in the fitness industry! However, delivering a professional mobile app can create a number of challenges for owners and managers.

Those challenges get exponentially harder as they look to scale and grow their businesses. From branding consistency to addressing omnichannel audiences to custom coding and costs, it can be a burden. Discover how creative companies are using the power of myFitApp to focus on their business, not their app, to address their needs, create exceptional experiences, and increase revenue.

“The App is a fabulous platform to engage with current and future customers. We are delighted with the results from the Lead Generation module.”

Paula Spencer-Snell
Digital Media Officer, South Downs Leisure

“Best bookings platform. With all Queen’s Sport activities now bookable via the App, membership sign up and news items also on the App, it is a one-stop platform for everyone.”

Frank McCusker
Marketing and Systems Manager, Queen’s University Belfast

“Our App has transformed how we interact with our customers, allowing us to react quickly to changing circumstances. Before, we couldn’t change anything on our App – with the myFitApp platform we are in full control, and we can change everything ourselves.”

Steve Ward
Associate Director of Marketing, Sales & Digital, GLL

“We were skeptical at first, whether the myFitApp lead generation tool would really work as well. But the results speak for themselves! The implementation was super easy and quick. Leads can be managed very easily and we always have an overview of all recommendations. Without further effort, new leads are generated continuously.”

Markus Fandry
Maxx!

Click here to learn more about all of the advantages of ClubReady + myFitApp

Creating a fresh member experience that aligns with your brand vision can seem impossible. At the very least, it will take more time and expertise than you have available. Not any more.

ClubReady and myFitApp have worked together to create a great modern and scalable experience that you control, starting with a mobile app. Watch a quick overview video:

• Highly customized app with the ease of an off-the-shelf solution
• Android and iOS
• Create and control your brand’s customer journey
• Publish your content
• Message members
• Enable members to book and pay for classes

Beta testing for mobile-friendly and independent Scheduling Reimagined is underway. Learn more about the streamlined user interface and intuitive experience that simplify days for you and your staff.

Some Enhancements Include:
– Streamline interactions for instructors to book, rebook and log off
– Simplify navigation and workflows by leaving scheduling open in its own tab
– Customize your display with day, week, and list views
– Easily adjust instructor availability
– Minimize check-in time with bulk class updates, e.g. recording all “present” or “no-shows,” at one time

Learn more about the streamlined user interface and intuitive experience that simplify operations for you and your staff. Look for a full release at the end of September 2022!

WATCH NOW

ClubReady rocked IHRSA in Miami Beach, Florida this past week. Between discussing the features of ClubReady, showing the capabilities of Performance IQ, and the explanations of iKizmet, our new partnership with myFitApp knocked it out of the park and we are very excited to be working with them.

And it was great to be back together and in force. “Nothing can replicate the energy on display at an IHRSA trade-show floor.” said Chris Gallo, Vice President of Sales, ClubReady.  “In Miami 2022, even after the harsh challenges of the last few years, the positive vibes were palpable as this industry, led by IHRSA, is relentless in all of our pursuits for success.”

If you were unable to experience the energy of IHRSA 2022 firsthand, here is a recap of what ClubReady featured at the show.

The ClubReady CORE solution has ten different components that enable you and your team to expand business, utilize smart communications, scale your operations and more. Click the link below to read more about how the CORE solution can impact your staff and members inside and outside the studio.

Interactive performance data and power training. Need we say more? Performance IQ (PIQ) allows your members to visually watch their data during their group fitness class. It can be branded for your club and your members while they are on spin bikes and rowers. Performance IQ provides your members and staff with the ability to watch each member visibility hit their goals.

Where does your business stand? Are you making smart business decisions? If you’re unsure of both of those questions, iKizmet can help you. iKizmet provides you with real-time data visualizations of your key performance indicators to let you know where your fitness business stands. With its automated dashboard to stay up-to-date on attendance, membership, revenue, and marketing, you can focus your time on your members.

Our newest enhanced integration. The myFitApp capabilities will allow ClubReady customers to build a customized app with the features and flexibility you need. The customized app will allow you to do booking and event scheduling, content marketing, utilize and build a live-stream video platform, and much more.

Overall, the excitement at IHRSA was unbeatable. “From meeting new potential customers, to re-connecting in person with existing clientele; thanks for giving us this platform IHRSA Team” said Chris Gallo, Vice President of Sales, ClubReady. “Looking forward to the IHRSA epicenter for events, San Diego 2023!” 

Are you interested in diving deeper and would like to have a demonstration of a particular product? The ClubReady team would be happy to meet with you. Click the button below to get in contact with a team member.

Discover the best in fitness technology and profitably grow your business to your ultimate goals, whatever stage you’re in right now.

From start-up to scale-up to enterprise-level growth, whatever your business stage, Clubessential Holdings fitness technology and services create the foundation you need for success and profitability. With unmatched global experience and breadth of offerings, our solutions are made by and for fitness business owners with an unwavering focus on delivering an exceptional experience.

With 9,150 fitness businesses, over 350 employees, 13 million members, 10 million app downloads, and used in over 17 countries, the Clubessential Holdings Fitness technology and services has everything you need to build your business.

Discover the best in fitness technology and profitably grow your business. Download an infographic to see what’s right for you.

The leading full-suite provider in-studio fitness and wellness club management, ClubReady is designed to scale your business from the start.

“I love ClubReady. It’s turned into my lifeline for everything. The software is amazing. The reporting tools have helped me a lot just as a business owner, looking at it from a different lens than maybe my GM does.”  – Irina Kapetanakis, Club Owner, Rumble Boxing

The world’s most strategic fitness companies rely on Exerp for the foundation of their business, including 40% of the biggest operators in Europe.

“Exerp brings an advantage in reducing TCO given the operational efficiencies they deliver, coupled with the fact they do not add on transaction fees within their license cost model.” – Jeff Zwiefel, Executive VP and COO, LifeTime

A pioneer in mobile marketing, myFitApp is an open, flexible, independent, and digital marketing platform for the fitness industry.

“The App is simple to use, and effective. The @home solution is an invaluable tool to help us stay connected to our members. We don’t know how a club could operate without the features offered by myFitApp!” – Kevin Doyle, Club Manager, Westpark Fitness

TAC Software provides the spa, fitness, and thermal bath industries with membership, and access control software to enhance member experiences and streamline operations.

“We have been working with TAC for more than 10 years and we still believe that we have chosen the right program and the right company. The reporting of this system is sensationally detailed and enables both the highest quality for the guest and maximum competence in controlling.” – Marc Traubel, Hubertus Alpine Lodge & Spa

With a global mission across eight brands – Clubessential, ClubReady, Exerp, foreUP, Innovatise, PrestoSports, TAC, and Vermont Systems – Clubessential Holdings offers forward-thinking technology and services which help more than 10,000 customers attract, engage, and retain members and fans for life.

Which solution is right for you? Find out in this infographic.

If you build it they will come … or you hope. But rather than hoping (not a strategy they say), wouldn’t it be infinitely better to start a studio from day one with hundreds of people lined up to get in and ready to go?

And wouldn’t it be even better if those hundreds of people were already paying members before the doors are opened for the first time? And wouldn’t it be better still to have a strategy to keep adding members and perpetuate growth? I think everyone would agree that is the best-case scenario and the precise position that Irina Kapetanakis found herself in as she went about starting her first Rumble Boxing franchise in Hoboken, New Jersey, just outside of New York City.

We caught up with Irina via Zoom to hear how she approached this first franchise, what her experience has been, and understand what her plans are for the future. 

Irina: I’ll be honest – most of it was done by ClubReady Managed Sales Services! (Laughing) I actually have to say that. I think that the location played a big factor in the receptivity because it was very close to New York City. There was a lot of brand recognition and people knew the brand. I didn’t have to educate the audience so we could spend time discussing membership options and things like that. It was definitely a different type of sale, but at the same time, commendable in terms of the work that was done by the team, who was just absolutely phenomenal to work with.  I can’t say enough good things.

Irina: I think lead quality really matters. If that’s not there, it doesn’t matter if you’re the number one salesperson on the planet, you’re not going to get them to convert. But with the strategy being set and continuously tweaked and looked at – that’s what matters the most. I come from a background of sales.  I look at that and I see a true sales machine because that’s how a true salesman operates. From a sales perspective, it was phenomenal.

Irina: I love ClubReady. It’s turned into my lifeline for everything. ClubReady is amazing. The reporting tools have helped me a lot just as a business owner, looking at it from a different lens than maybe my GM does. There’s a lot of things that I run reports on that are extremely helpful to me to be able to see. With a click of a button I can see certain revenue reports that I need to even for sales tax filing and silly things like that.  I need to have access to information really quickly. It helps me do it in a way that’s very intuitive. I think that it’s easy to use and has a lot of power to it in terms of the things that you can do with it. It’s an amazing platform.

Irina: I bought three, franchises so I’m going to be expanding to two other locations within this area. And then, I’m going to see at that point.  I may expand to other areas, but I’m going to wait. As this expands across the country and the brand gets more recognition, I think other areas of the country will be ready for it. We’ll see how these three go first and then see where I go from there.

Irina: I love the widgets. I love being able to customize my screen and having things pop up that I want to see right away when I open it up. There are numbers that I want to see consistently, every day, over and over that I’m constantly checking. Having those widgets, I love. I also love the ability to really break things down by filters. There are ways that you can filter information, whether it be on your members, or your prospects, that allow you to really get a more targeted list. So as I look to do certain promotions, events, and other things, I can put together a list of people that I feel would make the most sense for it, or that would be the most interested in it.

Also it’s helpful in figuring out from an outreach starting point who we need to contact. Maybe someone hasn’t come in for three weeks or has been canceling a lot of appointments lately. We can customize our sales approach to pick up the phone and say, Hey, I noticed you canceled a couple of classes, is everything cool? Is everything okay? What can we do to help you? That personal touch matters to people. I think that the way you can look at things in ClubReady, really allows you to keep that personal touch when you’re talking to people. Once you’re managing four or 500 members, it’s hard to keep that all up in your head. Having a system where very quickly you can figure all that out is important.

Irina: I think that flexibility in customization is critical because everybody’s territories are not the same. A franchise is meant to look the same in different parts of the country. But what makes up that franchise is not the same. And so we tend to put everything into the same size box. When it comes to your sales approach, your business software, how you’re looking at your members and prospects, and even your approach to business, it has to be different in every location because the membership makeup is different. The flexibility and the strategic approach by Aurora was critical because every territory is different and no one’s going to have the exact same response.

Being able to work with a team that’s willing to adjust and move and knows how to do that is critical. The software too – there’s so much to it in terms of what you can do. I think that’s really important to have that in all in one solution. That’s my lifeline to everything that’s going on in my business. As an entrepreneur it gives me the ability to analyze my business all the way down to, like, who’s not coming to class and, you know, who’s, you know, defaulting on their month or whatever, little, little things that you, maybe your manager would look at are front desk staff, but all the way up to some of the bigger things that I’m dealing with, I can see it all in one place. So that’s really important too.

Opening a franchise or any business is an exciting proposition. Knowing where you want to go is the key to laying a foundation for success. That foundation should include a strategy and tools to help you execute, as well as feedback and reporting tools to monitor your progress. From managed sales services to reporting, see how ClubReady can help you grow and scale your fitness business.

If you build it they will come … or you hope. But rather than hoping (not a strategy they say), wouldn’t it be infinitely better to start a studio from day one with hundreds of people lined up to get in and ready to go?

And wouldn’t it be even better if those hundreds of people were already paying members before the doors are opened for the first time? And wouldn’t it be better still to have a strategy to keep adding members and perpetuate growth? I think everyone would agree that is the best-case scenario and the precise position that Irina Kapetanakis found herself in as she went about starting her first Rumble Boxing franchise in Hoboken, New Jersey, just outside of New York City.

We caught up with Irina via Zoom to hear how she approached this first franchise, what her experience has been, and understand what her plans are for the future. 

Canceled flights. Shorter hours. Slower service – if the place is even open. Empty shelves. Forced into self-serve lanes and self-help channels everywhere. The view across industries is maddeningly repetitive: we’re often paying more and getting less. And people are tired of it.

Late in 2021 the term “skimpflation” appeared to describe how businesses and service providers everywhere have been cutting many expected services and carved operations out of their comfort zone to a bare-bones existence. There are many directions to point the blame, but whether you choose to call it the great resignation or the great assessment, there’s no doubt that workers leaving their jobs in droves had an impact.

Hopefully, that’s not the sparse experience members have when they come to your club, but it will take a change in the way you approach many things to keep that from becoming reality. Across the street, the restaurant industry now employs one million fewer workers than in 2019. That’s just one industry, but the result is that competition for service workers is fierce while customers still want and expect a great experience. Delivering future experiences that wow your members will take creativity. Following are three areas for fitness clubs to focus.

The fact of the matter is employees have options. As Shep Hyken wrote in Forbes, “An employee experience that creates loyalty is every bit as important as a customer experience that creates customer loyalty.” Good employees don’t leave for money alone. They want to be empowered to do their job, improve, and feel appreciated. Word gets around about bad experiences.

What you can do:

• Recognize your employees. Take the extra step to communicate with them in meaningful ways that show you value them.
• Give them the tools they need to focus more on their core responsibilities. If there are administrative and other tedious tasks that you can automate or lift from their plate, take advantage of them.
• Compensation is always top of mind. The fact is that hourly wages are rising, but don’t limit your options to just cash. Consider additional education opportunities, prime time slots, or other benefits that can impact how employees feel.

No one in the club industry would choose skimpflation as an operating strategy – it’s completely against our idea of service. But that fact is that staffing will continue to be an issue. That’s where a variety of technology can play a critical role. Technology empowers your staff to do more with fewer resources, quicker, and with less effort.

What you can do:

• Your members are mobile – use mobile technology to ensure you can connect with them, wherever they are.
• Digital payments – Remove friction in the transaction process for both members and staff – and collect more data in the process
• Track Performance – Results matter. Performance tech enables easy tracking of results by members and staff as well as the ability to offer challenges instantly and over time that build member engagement.

More than 10 years ago every Starbucks around the world knew their loyal customers’ names the minute they walked through the door. Clubs have to do better than that today. Proactive communications in a member’s preferred channel are key, at the club and anywhere. Knowing preferences is one thing, anticipating other things might interest them another.

What you can do: 

• A well-timed SMS message reaching out with a special invite or email about an upcoming event of personal interest to the member can do wonders.
• Recognize their life events and fitness milestones both in communications and in person.
• What are the next steps for members and staff? Planning ahead for your members’ fitness journey keeps them engaged, avoids plateaus, and builds your business bonds. Looking ahead for your staff gives them motivation and their own goals to aim for.

Innovative fitness clubs and boutiques will continue to deliver outstanding experiences across the board despite the challenges they face. The key will be to focus and concentrate their associates where they have the most impact and use technology where appropriate to fill the gaps and empower staff to accelerate member experiences.