Active Management

Author: JT

  • Are Your T&Cs Hurting Your Member Experience?

    Are Your T&Cs Hurting Your Member Experience?

    This week I found myself scratching my head over a hotel’s terms and conditions – and it got me thinking about your business.

    We were booking a venue for a REX Roundtable meeting, and they offered tea and coffee for the day… for $120! That’s on top of morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea already booked.

    When we said no thanks, they replied, “Oh, sorry, tea and coffee aren’t included with any of the meals.”

    Wait… what?!

    It was a clear reminder that some rules and policies are set up for the business’s benefit – not the customer’s experience.

    So here’s the challenge I throw to you in this week’s 3-minute JT in the Raw: Are your rules and regulations designed to protect your business or to protect your members?

    It’s a simple question – but one that could transform your customer experience.

  • Snap Fitness Powers Ahead with 10 New Clubs in 10 Weeks Across Australia and New Zealand

    Snap Fitness Powers Ahead with 10 New Clubs in 10 Weeks Across Australia and New Zealand

    Snap Fitness is celebrating a remarkable milestone, opening 10 new clubs in just 10 weeks as the brand continues to go from strength to strength.Snap Fitness

    The rapid expansion reflects the strong demand for the Snap Fitness brand, recognised for its state-of-the-art club layouts, dedicated wellness spaces, and its proven 24/7 model that delivers flexibility and value to members.

    Despite cost-of-living pressures, Australians and New Zealanders are continuing to prioritise their health and fitness — and the Snap Fitness model is proving more popular than ever.

    Chris Caldwell, CEO of Lift Brands Asia Pacific (parent company of Snap Fitness), said the momentum is a clear sign of the brand’s strength and growing relevance.

    “To open 10 new clubs in 10 weeks is a phenomenal achievement and a testament to the demand we’re seeing for the Snap Fitness model,” Mr Caldwell said.

    “Our members are drawn to the combination of state-of-the-art facilities, wellness-focused spaces, and the flexibility of a 24/7 offering that works with busy lives.”

    10 New Snap Fitness Clubs in 10 Weeks include:

    New South Wales

    • Tweed South (NSW)
    • Belmont (NSW)
    • Bomaderry (NSW)

    Victoria

    • Moonee Ponds (VIC)
    • Box Hill (VIC)
    • Charlemont Rise (VIC)
    • Botanic Ridge (VIC)

    Queensland

    • Burpengary East (QLD)

    New Zealand

    • Havelock North (NZ)
    • Highland Park (NZ)

    The record-breaking period of growth also coincides with record-high franchisee enquiries, as entrepreneurs increasingly look for the security of proven, trusted brands while owning and growing their own businesses.

    Notably, several of the new clubs are being opened by existing Snap Fitness franchisees, expanding into second or even third clubs — a strong endorsement of the brand’s success.

    “Our record level of franchise enquiries shows the confidence entrepreneurs have in Snap Fitness. Equally, many of our new clubs are being opened by existing franchisees, which speaks volumes about the strength of our business model and the culture we’ve built.”

    Caldwell said the expansion highlighted the resilience of the fitness industry and the growing importance of health and wellbeing in people’s lives.

    “Even in the face of cost-of-living pressures, people are continuing to prioritise their health and fitness,” Mr Caldwell said.

    “At Snap Fitness, we’ve built an offering that is both cost-effective and high quality, giving members the best of both worlds.”

    With momentum building, Snap Fitness is looking ahead to more growth into 2026, when it will open its 350th location in ANZ, cementing its position as one of the leading fitness brands across Australia and New Zealand.

  • Recovery and wellness brand O-Studio launches in Australia

    Recovery and wellness brand O-Studio launches in Australia

    Newly formed franchising group, BeWell Brands has announced a joint venture with O-Studio, a fast-growing recovery and wellness concept from New Zealand, which will make its Australian debut in early 2026.

    This partnership marks an exciting step in BeWell Brands’ strategy to expand its reach beyond its current brand, Jetts Fitness, into holistic health and recovery experiences that complement and enhance its traditional gym offerings.

    “O-Studio has already proven its success across New Zealand with 13 franchises sold and we are thrilled to be introducing this innovative concept to Australia,” said Elaine Jobson, CEO and Managing Director of BeWell Brands.

    “This joint venture represents the future of wellness by bringing together fitness, recovery, and wellbeing in a way that truly benefits our communities.

    About O-Studio

    O-Studio was founded by Tim Bateman, who played 17 years of professional rugby with the Crusaders and captained the Māori All Blacks.

    Tim’s journey into recovery and wellness was deeply personal when his wife Laura was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her mid-twenties, leading the couple to discover flotation therapy during her treatment in Singapore.

    O-Studio was created as a training ground for mental performance and physical recovery along with a community where people come together to build resilience, recharge, and take steps towards becoming their best selves.

    “My own journey through professional rugby and supporting Laura with her MS diagnosis taught me firsthand how important it is to invest in wellbeing. It wasn’t my body that held me back, it was the weight of life’s pressures, and learning to step back and recover made all the difference on and off the field,” said Tim Bateman, O-Studio Founder.

    “O-Studio was born from that realisation, and seeing it now grow beyond New Zealand is something I’m truly proud of.”

    “We are incredibly excited to bring O-Studio to Australia. From the beginning, our mission has been to create beautiful and welcoming spaces where people connect, recharge, and build the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges, and it’s exciting to now share that with a whole new community.”

    Expansion Beyond Fitness 

    With Jetts Fitness already established as a global franchise success story with over 250+ clubs worldwide, thriving master franchises in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and entry into India later this year, the BeWell Brands partnership with O-Studio is about building a broader ecosystem of wellness experiences.

    “The launch of O-Studio in Australia is an exciting milestone for us, as it marks the first step in our growth beyond Jetts Fitness,” said Elaine Jobson.

    “BeWell Brands is focused on working with like-minded businesses in the health, fitness and wellbeing space and we are proud to have O-Studio onboard for our first joint venture partnership.”

    “We know the Australian market will love the O-Studio concept, with people looking beyond the gym floor to look after their mind and body.”

    As part of the O-Studio launch, BeWell Brands will open the door to franchising opportunities for O-Studio across Australia, inviting entrepreneurs and investors who share a passion for health and wellbeing to join the movement.

    With Jetts continuing its international growth, O-Studio preparing to launch in Australia, and further partnerships already on the horizon, BeWell Brands is poised to become a leading force in the health and wellness sector.

    For media enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

    For more information or O-Studio Australia Franchise enquiries, please visit bewellbrands.com.au or [email protected]

  • Recruiting Superstars In Your Business

    Recruiting Superstars In Your Business

    As heard on The Fitness Business Podcast Episode 541

    Stop Looking for Employees and Start Recruiting Superstars

    How much time, energy, and money does your business spend on marketing and acquiring new customers? Most businesses allocate a significant portion of their revenue to these efforts, but what about the cost of acquiring great talent?

    This episode of The Fitness Business Podcast with Fletcher Wimbush is all about shifting your mindset to start applying the same marketing and sales strategies you use for customer acquisition to your recruitment efforts. By the end, you’ll have actionable ideas to make your job ads stand out and build a pipeline of potential superstar employees.

    Wise Words: Managing Stress with Dr. Patrick Porter

    Before diving into recruitment, this episode kicks off with Dr. Patrick Porter, an expert in brain health and wellness who has been featured in top publications like The Wall Street Journal and People. The segment focuses on the impact of stress on the body and highlights a simple tip: hit pause and bookmark Dr. Porter’s details from the show notes for a powerful resource on brain health.

    The Main Interview: Fletcher Wimbush on Hiring Rockstars

    The core of the episode is an interview with Fletcher Wimbush, the CEO of Discovered Performance Hiring Software. He has spent over a decade solving the toughest problems in hiring and has published extensively on topics like reference checking, aptitude assessments, and the role of AI in candidate selection. His “FACT Driven Hiring System” is a game-changer in the field.

    Here are some key insights from the interview:

    • Where to Find Rockstars: The first question tackles how to find top-tier candidates. The podcast encourages listeners to think beyond traditional job boards and to leverage their existing network.
    • The Power of Your Team: Wimbush suggests that a great way to find new hires is through your current staff. Your team members know the company culture and what it takes to succeed, so they will only refer people they can trust. This creates a referral culture where your team acts as a natural filter, saving you from cleaning up messes caused by bad hires.
    • Leveraging AI in Recruitment: The conversation also explores how artificial intelligence can help streamline various steps of the recruitment process.
    • A Call to Action: Wimbush shares an exclusive call to action for listeners: go into your office and write one action on a whiteboard to get your hiring process on track. He also recommends reading the book Who by Geoff Smart for further insight.
    • Fletcher Wimbush – LinkedIn, Website, Facebook
    • FACT Driven Hire System – Use code: hirebetter
    • Hiring Expert GPT – Watch how it works here
    • Unlock your coaching potential with DISC
    • Fletcher’s Book Recommendation – Who by Geoff Smart
    • Indeed – Website
    • ZipRecruiter – Website

    More from the Episode

    Your Challenge: From Talk to Action

    The theme for this season is “From Talk to Action”. JT encourages listeners to take immediate steps based on the episode’s advice.

    If you loved this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform or leave a voicemail for the show to let them know what you think.

    Stay tuned for the next episode, which will feature Part 3 of Dr. Patrick Porter’s Wise Words and a “cracking chat” with Danielle Krischik about using storytelling in marketing.

  • The 1% Better Hack: The Clipboard Secret

    The 1% Better Hack: The Clipboard Secret

     

    Please imagine that you’ve got a sick pet. You have a choice of 3 qualified vets to look after your very sick pet:

    • One wears activewear
    • One wears casual wear
    • One wears a white lab coat with a stethoscope and biz-cas wear

    Who do you trust most?

    Research shows people overwhelmingly trust the lab coat as perception matters.

    In my recent travels, I’ve seen PTs running sessions with no clipboard, no device, no notes. I have seen sales people touring prospects with no clipboard.

    Here’s my 1% better tip for this week: Grab a clipboard and write stuff down. This screams credibility, presence, and genuine care.

    If you want clients to believe in your service, it starts with what they perceive.

  • The Power of Group Fitness: Why It’s Still Your Retention Secret Weapon

    The Power of Group Fitness: Why It’s Still Your Retention Secret Weapon

    When it comes to keeping members engaged, nothing beats the energy, accountability, and community created in Group Fitness. In the Fitness Business Podcast’s  latest live event, Nik Herold explored why Group X is more than just classes on a timetable.  It still is the core driver of member retention and club culture.

    Here’s the good news: you can still catch the replay.

    This session with Nik covered:

    💡 Why some clubs thrive in Group Fitness while others decline
    💡 How treating classes as experiences drives deeper connection
    💡 Why instructors are the heartbeat of Group Fitness success
    💡 How to balance proven favourites with fresh new formats
    💡 The role of technology in hybrid, livestream, and on-demand Group X
    💡 Why social bonds in classes are your best retention strategy
    💡 Practical action steps to audit and improve your Group Fitness program
    💡 How to position Group Fitness as a culture-builder, not a cost centre

    Do Not Miss This Opportunity

    Become a Fitness Business Podcast Insider for less than $5/month and you’ll unlock this replay plus the other 5 webinars from this year and the next 3 still to come! Join now and you instantly watch: Patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast 

    If You Want To Contact Nik

    Nik Herold

    Website

    Email

    An Important Comparison

    Let’s put this in perspective, for one less coffee this month, you get the replay plus the other 5 already conducted, plus access to the next 3 not to mention you get your ad-free episode 7 days earlier than everyone delivered directly to you. 

    Be an FBP Insider today.

  • Is Your Team Forgetting This Retention Hack?

    Is Your Team Forgetting This Retention Hack?

    Remember the bar Cheers where “everybody knows your name”?

    That wasn’t just a TV slogan, it was a retention strategy used across the industry in the 90’s.

    I feel between 2000 and 2022, we let team members off the hook when they said “I’m no good at remembering names.” But today, in a world of super personalisation, that no longer flies.

    When the member walks through the door:

    • Start with eye contact
    • Add a genuine smile

    Then say their name. Because nothing lights up the brain like hearing your own name. It makes members feel seen, valued, and more likely to stay.

    Remembering Member Name Hacks:

    1. Link their name to what they wear. I always wear a No Bull sleeveless top – easy visual cue.
    2. Tie their name to a unique trait – training time, tattoos, or that pink star keyring Sandra O’Donnell always had.
    3. Repeat their name 3 times in the first 90 seconds. Repetition locks it in.

    This week, get your team asking for, remembering, and using names. It’s a muscle, so use it, train it and it will grow.

  • The Future Of Fitness Leadership: REX Roundtables And Industry Evolution

    The Future Of Fitness Leadership: REX Roundtables And Industry Evolution

    I was interviewed on The Future of Fitness podcast recently and had a great chat with Eric!

    Justin “JT” Tamsett is the host/director of the Fitness Business Podcast and Chairman of REX Roundtables (US, Australia, NZ). The Fitness Business Podcast has been publishing episodes for 10 years now and was a huge inspiration for getting the FoF podcast going 8 years ago. I especially enjoyed this one.

    JT has been in fitness for 35+ years and still gets the classic question: “When are you going to get a real job?” His elevator pitch response is pretty solid: “I reduce healthcare costs around the globe by getting more people moving and moving more often.”

    Running REX Roundtables and working with operators globally has given JT a unique perspective on where the industry stands. Some of his insights were encouraging, others were a reality check we probably all need to hear.

    🎯 Key Takeaways:

    ✅ The Numbers Don’t Add Up: Here’s the reality: service providers are growing at 10% annually while market penetration only grows at 1-2%. Industry reports show record penetration, but operators feel the squeeze because the pie isn’t expanding as fast as we’re dividing it up. JT’s take is we need 40% population penetration to really move the needle, and we’re nowhere close to that yet.

    ✅ The Industry is Splitting in Two: There’s a clear divide happening between low-price equipment rental and high-end lifestyle destinations. Premium operators are becoming “third places” that combine work, workout, and social spaces, while budget operators focus on equipment access. The problem? Mid-market operators are getting squeezed – they’re not premium enough for the lifestyle crowd and not budget enough for the equipment renters.

    ✅ We Have a Documentation Crisis: This one really got JT fired up. Too many trainers aren’t recording any client data, and his frustration was clear: “How can we be taken seriously when we don’t do that?” Without data, we have zero credibility with medical professionals. This documentation gap is partially what’s holding us back from healthcare integration; not a lack of desire or capability.

    ✅ Reality Check on Our Size: We feel enormous when we’re together at industry events, but JT reminded me we’re actually tiny in terms of GDP and employment contribution. We punch above our weight but we’re competing against pharma companies with massive budgets. When people can choose between pills and hard work, human nature usually wins. Step outside fitness conferences and the general population’s health status becomes sobering pretty quickly.

    The REX model brings non-competing operators together three times a year to solve problems through peer support and studying other industries for insights. They’ve looked at everything from Savannah Bananas fan experience to five-star hotel operations to find what transfers to fitness.

    If you’ve been to industry events over the past few years, you may have noticed that everyone looks pretty darn healthy and fit. But go to a state fair or baseball game and the reality hits you differently. We’re not reaching the people who need us most.

    The conversation reinforced something I’ve been thinking about often: if we want healthcare integration, we need to get serious about data collection and documentation. We also need to acknowledge that while our penetration stats look good on paper, competition for attention is getting fiercer every day.

    The reality is that our industry is relatively small but we punch above our weight. Now we need to prove our impact with real data while keeping the human connections that make this work meaningful.

    Listen to the full episode here

  • What Can A Non-Dancer Tell A Dance Community?

    What Can A Non-Dancer Tell A Dance Community?

    I was interviewed on The Dance Yourself Brave and had a blast with the host, Mariana!

    We covered so many topics on health, wellness and movement. It doesn’t matter whether you pump iron or dance in a Zumba class, you are moving and movement increases your personal health.

    Check out the chat here

  • The Silent Profit Killer In Your Gym

    The Silent Profit Killer In Your Gym

     

    Chatting with a friend last week about joining a gym, he said “I didn’t think I’d put on any weight… until I saw a photo from 5 years ago.”

    That’s weight creep — and your business has a version of it too: Expense creep.

    Since 2021, here’s what we’ve seen:

    • Electricity: Up to 30% in the US, 50%+ in parts of Australia
    • Wages: 18.8% increase in the US, 13.6% in Australia
    • Super just ticked up from 11.5% to 12% in Australia

    And yet… many gym owners haven’t raised their prices.

    Here’s the thing:

    Your expenses have crept up.

    Your margins have shrunk.

    And if you don’t make a bold move on prices, you’ll be running harder just to stay in place.

    My challenge for you this week:

    1. Compare your P&Ls from the last 3 years.
    2. What’s increased (and what’s still going up) and by how much
    3. Work on the increase needed to maintain your profit levels.
    4. Then start planning your 2026 price strategy now.

    Plan your 2026 prices now to start the price change strategy.