Over the past few years, fitness has emerged as a lucrative business segment promising improved returns. And when it comes to making a foray into the fitness industry, opening a boutique fitness studio seems the most feasible way in the present context. If you are planning to start your own fitness venture, do reap this post which is about the basics of boutique fitness, fitness club management software, tips to start a studio, and the keys to prolonged growth in the long term.
What is Boutique Fitness?
A boutique fitness studio refers to a small gym that concentrates on one or two types of fitness. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), practical fitness, whirling, or barre are the usual nails of the boutique fitness studio. And while conventional health clubs, big-size gyms, and personal training concentrate on the person, boutique lays a big emphasis on community and training in combination.
Boutique studios began to emerge in the late 90s in the form of Barry’s Bootcamp, Orangetheory, and Crossfit. The notion was that they could offer a distinctive fitness experience to the one generally found in the big names—such as Gold’s Gym.
Reasons Behind The Boom of Boutique Fitness
There a several reasons why the boutique approach is outperforming conventional gyms. According to a survey done by Les Milles and Nielsen, 63 percent of people join boutique fitness studios for the community facet, while 47 percent of people choose to join due to the atmosphere. These two factors play a pivotal role in its success.
For those uncertain to join a gym on their own, the high-power social atmosphere can encourage an individual beyond his personal limitations. Add to that the high-tempo music, passionate instructor, sense of camaraderie, and boutique fitness classes offer a powerful mix of fun and fitness.
Another major aspect of its success is the highly specialized and supple nature of boutiques that entice a younger generation of people. The big box gym model just doesn’t match this, with their limited workout offerings and contract-bound memberships. For example, having a functional training studio app for both studio owners and members is something new and exciting. Similarly, social media’s expanded reach has brought more value to fitness studios worldwide.
What Makes a Successful Boutique Fitness Studio
So, now you have enough idea of what a boutique fitness studio is and what it takes to make it thrive, it’s time to give a touch of reality to your business plan.
The primary benefit of setting up a group class-based boutique studio is that it doesn’t need a big space with tons of equipment. Some have even fueled their business without a particular location, running classes down in the local beach or park with a few pieces of equipment. Humble beginnings or not, you will need to take into account various important areas to increase the chances of growing your boutique fitness business venture successfully.
Have A Great Business Plan
Creating a solid business plan is the first step toward a successful entry into the fitness studio industry. So, get a plant that can help you stay armoured even during unprecedented times like COVID19.
Not only does the plan define a way for your business, but it also pushes you to think about the prevailing competition, your marketing approach, and most essentially, who your perfect member is going to be. If you’re looking for more help regarding business operations, keep reading below.
Generate Pre-sales Before Launch
A general mistake committed by a large number of first-time fitness businesspersons is that they wait for the doors to unlock to begin their work on sales and marketing. This is a grave mistake and means you will be surrounded by a plethora of problems from the beginning.
To keep things operational, start registering members while you are setting up the studio. This ensures you get periodic revenue coming to cover overheads in the beginning. Another benefit of doing this is that you can kick off a referral program right from the beginning. Word of mouth can be extremely effective in setting up your membership base quickly.
Choose The Right Mode of Advertising and Marketing
To market your fitness studio effectively in today’s competitive business environment, acquaint yourself with social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. In recent times, the growth of these channels has witnessed tremendous push.
Facebook is something that doesn’t need any introduction as it is already considered a big marketing platform for local businesses. But, in a short period of time, Instagram has also become popular from a commercial perspective. There are tons of activities that can help you market your business faster and quicker.
Make Technology Your Reliable Partner
At present, there are different types of tools available that can help you with the daily management of your studio. For example, you can use a fitness club management software system that can manage all your routine tasks such as new member registration, class scheduling, payments, reminders, and others.
You can utilise this in focusing on your core business functions like sales and marketing. There are lots of other benefits of these tools that would help you gain a competitive edge in the long term.
Build An Image
Your logo, colours, photography stylishness, and font constitute your brand's image. Make sure you choose them carefully that can give your business a distinctive edge in today’s competitive business environment.
Consider a bigger picture of your business and treat it as a brand right from the beginning.
Taking small but concrete steps, in the beginning, can help you ensure the solid growth of your fitness business venture.
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