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Franchise owner at 24:
Is it the end of the road for the Gym industry as we know it?
Words Victoria Deborah
With the news of gyms reopening on July 25 all fitness lovers can breathe a sigh of relief as some kind of normality resumes in people’s lives. However, with reduced capacity; temperature checks, and no more late-night sessions due to reduced opening hours, reopened gyms may claim to be safe from Covid-19, but they’re becoming less attractive to their remaining customers.
PureGym CEO Humphrey Cobbold told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the chain was working to upgrade hygiene and sanitation procedures to “provide a safe environment for the future.” Subsequently, just like with everything else in the world right now the gym industry has been shaken and the future of it is still very uncertain and unstable. So where does that leave you, the customer?
Take me for example, I worked 9-5, having other priorities meant that my only window of opportunity was either early morning before work or very late at night. With the gym’s new restricted opening times, If you are in employment then the luxury of having the choice that’s convenient for you is diminished and if the likes of those who work in the city are now working from home, city centre gyms will start to look somewhat redundant.
Many subscriptions are now unfrozen meaning people have to start monthly payments for a gym that they won’t get the chance to visit half as often as before. Numerous customers' financial situations have changed so will the monthly payments really be worth it?
Accompanied by the fact that it’s not just you who is yearning for the gym so cue the queues.
With the shut down of gyms, an alternative that was not so popular has taken the front seat. Home workouts have become extremely popular. Big companies such as Nike have joined in on the action, introducing The Living Room Cup. Global fitness celebrities like Joe Wicks, Les Mills, Kayla Itsines, Ciara Madden, and many more have offered programmes throughout the lockdown. Digital workouts are not just a means to get fit the programs have especially helped women build supportive online social networks around their workouts. Groups include Fitness First at Home with 10,000 members and the hashtag #GotAHomeGotAGym.
As a result, the argument of what’s the best, gym, or home workouts is ongoing but I believe it’s simply down to preference.
Now imagine if you had an option that was the best of both worlds, an option that was convenient, customised, and creative. An alternative that had the following:
1. BRING THE WORKOUT TO YOU
Working out should be stress-free and enjoyable, online is amazing but sometimes you need that face to face interaction for an extra push. So a service that can bring the workout to your favourite location, whether that’s your home or the local park or workplace.
2. WORK WITH YOUR SCHEDULE
Whether you’re a morning, afternoon, or night person, having a service that is flexible with the current daily routine you already have.
3. EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
No need to purchase equipment, with over 360 equipment and training tools that you need all stocked up in a big bright red van that is accessible to all the trainers. All the necessary equipment you need for a unique workout experience is crafted just for you.
4. CUSTOMISED WORKOUT OUT PLAN
A tailor-made personal workout plan that aligns with your skill level to help you achieve your goals.
Well, that option is available and with over 250 Franchises over the world, GYMGUYZ has landed in the UK. GYMGUYZ was established in 2008 by Josh York, an American entrepreneur and has been named in Entrepreneur Magazine's top 100 Fastest Growing Franchises for the last four years. A fitness franchise whose main focus is home personal training committed to enhancing the health and fitness of individuals by providing mobile personal training to help you get fit and achieve your goals on your own terms.
“In the midst of all the chaos
I had found a solution”
February 1st, Pre-Pandemic I had taken some young mentees to the British Franchise Show, in the bid to get them to understand business and franchising options. It was a fun-packed day that ended with us stumbling upon a franchise that we all loved but suited my passion, fitness.
In the following weeks with the help from mentorship, I decided to go ahead with purchasing a franchise. At that time I had two options for a physical gym or a mobile gym. My mentor asked me the question.“What is the problem in your industry, and is what you're about to invest in solve any of those problems?'' It was not about what I liked or my preferences, it was about what solved the problem at the time. So unbeknown to me that in the following weeks the fitness industry was going to be turned upside down and I had picked a business that not only solved an issue within that space but will be mostly unaffected.
A pandemic gives you a thousand reasons why you can’t do something, at the peak of the lockdown fear was instilled into so many people, yet here I was taking risks and hoping to prosper. Some major global businesses arose out of tough economic times, some that we know of such as; AIRBNB, DISNEY, MICROSOFT, WHATSAPP, and many more. I had two choices that day: one that would have come crashing down during this time and one that will thrive.
I’m currently 24 years old and I am the owner of a gym franchise that I raised investment for during a pandemic. Did I ever have any doubts? Yes of course, but I also had mentorship and sound advice. So in the words of my Mentor “True leaders are born in crisis” so whether it’s the fear of going back to the gym or starting something new, feel the fear and do it anyway.
If you are a qualified personal trainer or you would like to know more about the GYMGUYZ services please contact: VICTORIA.DEBORAH@GYMGUYZ.CO.UK
