Active Management

Category: Management

Elevated Fitness Could Elevate Service Levels
When you are on holidays and sneaking a workout in, you hope it is worth it. And when there are not many choices in Lake Tahoe, you take the closest and most convenient. So off I toddled to Elevated Fitness, across a car park from my hotel and in the centre of town.

I booked the night before my 6am session and should have been concerned as the website was slow to load. I’m sure if I was in NYC, LA, London or Sydney if the website was that slow to load, I’d have clicked off the site and searched another gym.

Who is Elevated Fitness?

Taken from their web site http://www.elevatedtahoe.com:

Elevated is a high altitude, carbon-neutral, human-powered fitness facility focusing on dynamic, scientific workouts.

What I Love About Elevated Fitness?

There are 3 things:
1. The location!
2. The bikes that were generating electricity.
3. The way the clothing was stacked.
My Experience At Elevated Fitness

The class I booked for was 6am so perhaps whoever was opening didn’t get the memo!

I arrived at the studio at 5:50am and it was cold outside. I waited and waited at 6:05am (yep the class was 6am) a guy arrives carrying a dog! And sure enough he was there to open the studio. In fact as he opened the door, people leapt from the warmth of their cars to the studio.

My fellow class participants started their pre for the class and I stood around! I felt like I shouldn’t have been there or perhaps in the wrong place. Finally, the guy with the dog asked if I was Justin. I said yes and waited to hear his name but instead received the instructions for the class preparation: static stretches.

At this point I had no idea of this guys name (or the dog’s!) and really no idea what was going to happen. I was simply following the lead from the other members.

At no stage did the owner introduce himself. Still to this day, I am unsure of his name. We had to work with partners, he didn’t connect anyone with anyone, we had to do that ourselves. And during the class, he was checking his computer more than checking in on us.

To be honest, I just got into ‘my zone’ and trained. And it was afterwards I thought, what an opportunity he has missed this morning. Not with me but with everyone. With no connection or engagement, the attendees were ripe for the picking from a competitor!

My summary:
- On-line booking – 7/10
- Branding – 4/10
- Workout experience – 6/10
- Service experience – 4/10
- Ongoing communication – 2/10
- Chances I would return for another workout – 6/10
Note – I paid $US30 for the visit and these are my personal experiences on the days of workout.

To see inside Elevated Fitness with JT’s eyes, become an Active Management Member for as little as 24.90 a month.

Plus you can see other gyms, studios and facilities in the world like:
Become A Member Now

Already a member? Click here to login
December 2, 2016
10 Daily Tasks To Make Your Business Financially Fit
You May Not Be An Accountant BUT You Are A Critical Cog In The Financial Success Of Your Business

In order to make our fitness business (no matter the size) more profitable we have to:
- Raise our prices; or
- Sell more to our current customers; or
- Sell to more customers; or
- Examine our expenses; or
- All of the above
The ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest this month for Active Management members is focusing on our cash flow, expenses and our professional help to achieve profitability. You can join the fun as we focus on getting our financial shit together.

The ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest is for Active Management Members and you can become a member today by clicking here. Your investment is less than a dollar a day and you will not only get that investment back in the ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest, you receive:
- Over 200 social media tiles to create engagement on social media platforms;
- Monthly marketing templates that just need your logo and club details inserted;
- Professional development videos for you and your team;
- Virtual roundtables run by world leaders in their field of expertise;
- A network of International fitness business owners you can connect and engage with; and
- More resources to make life easier as a fitness business owner or manager.
Business success is never easy. There are so many moving pieces to achieve our goals, so this month we want to focus on one moving piece: the expenses. The ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest will add to your cash flow, increase your profit and help you feel in more control of your business.

Your first decision is do you want a financially fitter business?

If the answer is yes, then get your business financially fit this December and become a member now!

If you are already an Active Management Member . . .

How To Register

Step 1

Log on to the Member Hub. If you are not sure how to do this, click here.

Step 2

Once on the Member Hub you will see a Forum (green line with white writing) that says ‘Quest Central’ and below that a thread (black writing that will have a small red box with ‘NEW’ in it) that says ‘Get Financially Fit – starts 1st December.’ Click on this thread.

Step 3

Click on the ‘Who is in?’ thread at the bottom of the page and type “I’m in!” This will tell us which members are participating in the quest and you will immediately receive a badge and points in the Game of Fitness Leadership.

HINT: Your first tip to successfully complete the ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest is as soon as you register, go to your diary – paper or computer – and allocate just one hour every workday for 2 weeks beginning 1st December. Have the discipline to do this NOW and manage your time to work on the business not in it. Not every challenge will take 60 minutes, so you will have some extra time in your day!

How To Participate

Step 1

The Quest begins today with your first daily challenge. Login to see what that challenge is and in your hour set aside for getting financially fit, complete the first challenge.

Step 2

Collaborative thinking and sharing in the ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest is where the real learning happens. Go to the Daily Challenge in the Member Hub (by logging on) and share what you did, your experience and any advice you have for your fellow members. You will learn from their experiences and they will learn from you.

Step 3

Repeat every work day for 10 days.

Enjoy the ‘Get Financially Fit’ Quest and share your successes on the Member Hub. We know you’ll have many!
December 1, 2016
Top 10 Tips And Traps When Buying Or Selling A Health Club
Buying or selling a health club may seem like a relatively simple process; however there is a significant legal risk that it may turn sour if a sub-standard sale contract is entered into.

For a buyer, it is important that you know exactly what you are buying and that you cover the key legal risks involved.

For a seller, it is imperative to optimise the value of your business prior to the sale by understanding the key items purchasers will be looking for.

Some of the ‘key items’ from a legal perspective include:
1. The historical financial data of the business. We would ordinarily expect the vendor to provide some degree of comfort to the purchaser (via the sale contract) in relation to the accuracy of the financials of the business.
2. Existing membership contracts in place and whether their terms and conditions are desirable. For example, you must be careful to not inherit liability for membership contacts which are non-compliant with legislation and / or you may wish to overhaul the membership model. Also, disputes often arise in relation to who gets the revenue from paid in advance memberships.
3. Employment contracts. Given that personal trainers are often a key source of recurring revenue, it is important to ensure that appropriate and enforceable employer protections are included in their employment contracts (e.g. cascading restraint clauses and protections from stealing clients).
4. Concentration of competitors in the surrounding region and whether there are any newly established gyms due to open after the sale is complete.
5. Lease / property due diligence, including the terms of the lease, landlord consent provisions, make good obligations, operating hours and rent review mechanisms (to name a few).
6. Assessment of the safety and suitability of any gym equipment being purchased. This is a critical aspect of minimising any potential future exposure.
7. Parking facilities. Inadequate parking can stifle membership growth and cause issues with neighbours and the local council.
8. The adequacy and cost of current insurance arrangements, including levels of cover and premiums payable.
9. Existing banking and finance arrangements (including the nature of any registered security interests).
10. Intellectual property. Whether any trademarks have been registered and whether there have been any actual or claimed infringements by competitors.
If issues with any of the above matters are identified, then it is worth engaging with the other party to discuss how risks should be appropriately covered in the legal documentation for the sale. Carefully tailored provisions are often required to ensure that both parties are comfortable to proceed.

Getting the legal documentations done properly are the legal equivalents of leg day. They are often overlooked, massively under-appreciated and failure to do it results in some serious pain. You should always seek legal advice before entering into any future sales contracts to ensure your legal processes run smoothly.

Scott McKenzie
Lawyer (Fitness Industry)
Velocity Legal
www.velocitylegal.com.au
Scott McKenzie is a corporate lawyer who is recognised as
“Australia’s leading lawyer to the fitness industry”.

Scott will be running our November ‘Virtual Roundtable’ for members on the Member Hub from 5th November to the 15th November. This is your chance to get Scott’s advice and ask any legal questions relating to your business.

Become A Member Now or Already a member? Click here to login
November 2, 2016
Quick Checklist to fill your Group Fitness classes
- Put your best instructors in your toughest time slots
- Don’t offer too much on your timetable or you may end up with all your classes half full
- Take care which classes you timetable against one another so you are no robbing Peter to pay Paul
- Choose instructors who teach a range of classes as they will bring members from one class style to another
- Hire the best instructors and continue to upskill them
- Ask your instructors to cross-promote each other’s classes
- Communicate with your members
- Publicise what you offer
- Host group fitness events
- Keep your studios clean and looking immaculate
- Ensure air-conditioning works in your studios
- Offer new classes regularly
- Ensure instructors to the timetable as published
- Track class numbers accurately and continually reassess
- Keep abreast of the trends
- Know your member demographic and timetable to their lifestyle needs and available time
- Build community in your club
- Have a café that offers good coffee and healthy food
- Offer crèche facilities
- Have enough parking
Interested in finding out more about coaching for your Group Fitness Manager? Click here
October 31, 2016
ATT: US Fitness Industry Friends & Fans Do You Want JT To Work With Your Team?
We are super pumped at Active Management as for the first time I am heading to the US for a week to work with 3 or 4 US fitness businesses.

In all my trips to the US, I have spent many hours speaking with fitness business owners who have asked “I wish you could come and work with my Team.”

Are you one of those owners or managers?

I am heading to the US twice before the end of the year!

If you would like to have me work with your team or help you plan your 2017 or even have a work out with me, here is your chance on:
- Monday 14^th to Friday 18^th November
- Monday 5^th December & Tuesday 6^th December
I have a complete package for you including airfares, accommodation and a day with you. Plus you will receive up to 5 Active Management memberships for your team – valued at $US1150.

If you want to know more, then drop me an email [email protected] with a potential date and then I’ll work with you to make it happen.

Remember – I can only work with 3 to 4 fitness businesses on these trips. So reach out to me by the 13th October. Email me [email protected]
October 7, 2016
Group Fitness Manager Tip: Getting Your Team To Trust You
By being open, honest and transparent with your team, you can go a long way towards establishing their trust.
- Be fair.
- Be consistent.
- Be a good role model.
Don’t be afraid to share your own challenges.

Demonstrate self awareness and acknowledge ways that you can improve yourself.

Encourage continual learning and practice it.
- Be humble.
- Be gracious.
- Be lavish with your praise.
Interested in finding out more about coaching for your Group Fitness Manager? Click here
October 4, 2016
I Would Get Fhit At The Fhitting Room
Earlier in 2016, I Googled ‘gyms in New York’ and the Fhitting Room popped up. I never heard of them and knew nothing about them but I thought what the heck, let’s go have a session.

The result . . . WOW! This is my favourite boutique studio with incredible branding, great coaching and just a ‘good’ feel.

Who is Fhitting Room?

Taken from their web site www.fhittingroom.com:

The Fhitting Room® is an upscale High Intensity Training (HIT) boutique fitness studio delivering a comprehensive, body-changing workout in a small class environment. Classes bring together all the energy, motivation and contagious culture of an awesome group exercise class with the personal attention and education of an intimate personal training session.

What I Love About The Fhitting Room?

I thought I’d seen great branding but this place takes the cake! There are kettlebells replacing numbers, ‘FH’ replacing any ‘F’s and that consistent green!

Many clubs have their own colour palate but they water down colours and a basic palate becomes complex. Not at the Fhitting Room. They have the most consistent colour use I have seen.

This is a must visit for what is possible and the new benchmark in branding.

My Experience At Fhitting Room

Two gents on the reception desk, who greeted me with a smile and explained where everything was so I get organised for the workout. They told me I was on position 19 and to find position 19, I had to look on the ceiling.

The class started with 2 instructors. There were 4 groups of 5 people and they coached 2 groups and entertained 2 groups. As a participant, I had no idea how they were interacting until after the class. It was then I realised, that for me one instructor was coaching my technique and the other was entertaining me.

I did not look at my watch once in this class. It was a hoot and damn hard – especially the challenge at the end. In fact, what a way to finish a class, a challenge!

I loved the workout! I loved the coaches! And you know I loved the branding. So how do you remember such an unbelievable experience, you buy the t-shirt. And that’s what I did!

The only weakness in the business for me is their ongoing email correspondence. The emails match the brand but the value is poor for me. I don’t read them as I find the layout hard to read. And I get confused with the message they are trying to tell me.

My summary:
- On-line booking – 9/10
- Branding – 11/10
- Workout experience – 9/10
- Service experience – 7/10
- Ongoing communication – 7/10
- Chances I would return for another workout – 10/10
Note – I paid $US30 for the visit and these are my personal experiences on the days of workout.

To see inside the Fhitting Room with JT’s eyes, become an Active Management Member for as little as 24.90 a month. You can see:
- The exercise floor
- Branding samples
- Marketing
- The retail space
- And more . . .
Plus you can see other gyms, studios and facilities in the world like:
Become A Member Now

Already a member? Click here to login
September 21, 2016
ClubIntel Announce Launch of 2nd Annual International Health/Fitness Industry Trend Study
(Dallas, TX 2016) – ClubIntel, the global leader in conducting market research related to the health/fitness industry, announced today the upcoming launch of the 2^nd Annual International Health/Fitness Industry Trend Study.

The research study is scheduled for release into the industry on September 12, 2016 through partnerships with a variety of global health/fitness organizations and publications, including Active Management, Club Industry, Europe Active and Health Club Management. The study is a comprehensive industry trend study that explores the types of facilities/equipment, programs, services, and training protocols and technologies that health/fitness professionals and health/fitness club operators offer consumers to support them in their journey to a healthier life.

The 2015 report provided in-depth insights, such as:
- The level of market adoption experienced by 90 different trends
- The level of growth experienced by each trend over time
- The classification of trends as emerging, growth, mature or in decline
- The identification of niche trends that have a narrow scope of appeal
The 2016 study will provide the same level of insight depth, including the exploration of some industry practices that have emerged over the past year.

The 2015 study garnered engagement from over 1,500 fitness industry professionals. An Executive Summary of the 2016 International Health/Fitness Industry Trend Report – What’s All the Rage will be available free of charge through ClubIntel’s websites, as well as through its study partners by December 2016. An in-depth report will also be available through www.Club-Intel.com or by emailing us at [email protected].

About ClubIntel

ClubIntel is a brand insights and market research firm focused on serving the health/fitness and private club industries. ClubIntel collaborated with IHRSA on several industry-based research initiatives, including the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Health Club Consumer Report. ClubIntel also conducts industry related research for the Association of Fitness Studios and the Club Spa and Fitness Association.
September 5, 2016
Group Fitness Manager Tip: Recognise Weaknesses

When we set new goals for ourselves or our teams, we need to work to our strengths.

It is helpful to get an external perspective on what those strengths and weaknesses might be.

Weaknesses can be developed but they may also be something another individual or team can do whilst you do what you do best and excel at it.

A goal that is imposed is harder to succeed at than one that is chosen and agreed on. This plan will have the necessary commitment from the team to take it to a successful conclusion, with the right support and leadership.

Leisl Klaebe is facilitator of the Group Fitness Managers Roundtable. Leisl is running FitnessBiz Brunch for GFM’s in Sydney and Melbourne or if you’re interested in more information about the roundtable click here.

August 29, 2016
Is your Team Dysfunctional?
An efficient and cohesive team is one of the most elusive yet one of the most powerful business tools at your disposal.

It is hard to quantify and measure, and difficult to report against but when your team is dysfunctional, you know it.

Signs and symptoms of a dysfunctional team will include;
- Poor communication amongst the team
- Lack of trust between team members
- Conflict within the team
- Low buy-in from the team
- Lack of results
The answer – great leadership. A skilled leader will help a team connect to one another, begin to trust and support one another, work together and stay committed to achieving results.

Leisl Klaebe is facilitator of the Group Fitness Managers Roundtable. Leisl is running FitnessBiz Brunch for GFM’s in Sydney and Melbourne or if you’re interested in more information about the roundtable click here.
August 22, 2016