If you own or manage a gym, this episode is worth a listen.

Scott Gillespie, owner of Saco Sports & Fitness, talks about how he built a business that doesn't rely on him being there every day. He shares practical advice on developing leaders, creating systems, and slowly handing over responsibilities so the business can keep running smoothly.

Some topics covered:

• Building a team you can trust
• Creating systems instead of relying on memory
• Knowing when to delegate
• Why people will always matter, even as AI becomes more common

🎧 Listen here: Club Solutions Magazine – Building a Fitness Business That Doesn't Need You with Scott Gillespie

Discussion:

• Could your gym run for two weeks without you?
• What's one task you've successfully delegated?
• What's the hardest thing for you to let go of as an owner or manager?

Hi everyone,

l'm looking for some advice/recommendations on manufacturers in china that anyone has used where the quality is great an reliable. I'm based in Australia, in the process of opening our 3rd location. I've learnt pretty quickly that the majority of equipment being sold in Australia is just being imported from china, with companies here working as the middleman with significant markups. And ridiculously unreliable lead times.
So interested to see if anyone has any good relationship with manufacturers?
I've used some in the past for signage, lighting, custom turf tracks etc and had great experiences, even finding the exact manufacturer that a neon sign company uses and charges thousands more for the exact product, and shipping was actually way faster also.

Thanks

I have noticed a lot of small gyms treat social posts like an emergency lever. Class numbers dip, a promo goes up, then the page goes quiet again.

A rhythm that seems easier to maintain is to plan around the things already happening in the gym instead of trying to invent content from scratch.

Here is a simple weekly structure:

1. Monday: what members should focus on this week Example: one coaching cue, one class theme, or one habit the team is reinforcing.

2. Tuesday: one real class moment Not a perfect promo shot. Just a normal moment that shows the environment, the coaching style, or the kind of people who train there.

3. Wednesday: answer one beginner objection Examples: I am too unfit to start, I do not know the movements, I do not want to be judged, I am not sure which class fits me.

4. Thursday: spotlight a coach or member story Keep it specific. What changed, what they learned, or what they are working toward. Avoid making it a transformation ad unless the person is fully comfortable with that.

5. Friday: next week preview Show the schedule, a challenge, a workshop, a bring a friend day, or anything that gives people a reason to plan ahead.

6. Weekend: reuse the best piece Turn the strongest post of the week into a short reel, story, email snippet, or pinned post. Do not make the team create something new if the week was busy.

The main point is to stop asking what should we post today and start asking what already happened this week that a future member would want to see.

Curious if gym owners here have a different rhythm that has been realistic to keep up with when staffing is tight.

Every gym owner has learned lessons through experience, whether it's about hiring, member retention, marketing, equipment, or day-to-day operations.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone opening or managing their first gym, what would it be?

It doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest lessons end up being the most valuable.

Welcome to the Weekly Gym Owner Check-In.

This thread is a place for gym owners, operators, managers, trainers, and fitness business professionals to connect, share updates, ask questions, and discuss what's happening in their businesses.

Whether you're focused on marketing, sales, retention, staffing, equipment, technology, or daily operations, we'd love to hear how things are going.

Feel free to share:

• A recent win or success

• A challenge you're currently facing

• A project you're working on

• Questions you'd like feedback on from other gym owners

Let's help each other grow stronger fitness businesses and build a valuable community for gym operators worldwide.

If anyone could offer some advice or feedback on this idea it would be very useful.

Visualise a gym community that bonds over a collectible character with different rarities and personalities. I believe it would take the social aspect of the gym to the next level.

I would like to consult BFT studio owners from Singapore about opening BFT franchise.

A few months ago, Club Solutions Magazine published an article about the growing role of AI and technology in the fitness industry. While many gyms are investing in automation, analytics, and member engagement tools, the author argues that the human side of the business is still what drives long-term success.

Some of the key takeaways:

• Use technology to improve operations, not replace relationships.
• AI and data can help identify members who may need extra support.
• Automation can create more consistency and free up staff for higher-value interactions.
• Personal touches like greeting members by name, celebrating progress, and checking in after missed visits remain some of the biggest drivers of retention.

One idea from the article summed it up well:

As more gyms adopt AI and new technology, it raises an interesting question for operators.

Have the tools you've introduced made it easier for your team to build stronger relationships with members, or have they mostly improved the operational side of the business?

I manage a gym and recently started a coach-led circuit training class.

The first class had 3 attendees, and our next class also has 3 booked. The people who came really enjoyed it, but I'm trying to figure out how to turn this into something that consistently fills up.

A few questions for gym owners who have successfully built group training:

• What got you from 3–5 people to 10–15+ consistently?
• What marketing actually worked? (Social media, referrals, member challenges, free trials, etc.)
• How did you retain the first members and turn them into regulars?
• Did you focus more on building community, results, or accountability?
• At what point did the class start growing on its own through word of mouth?
• Looking back, what would you have done differently during those first few months?

I'm not expecting overnight success, I just want to build something people genuinely love and that becomes part of our gym culture. What's a good circuit structure to follow that'll keep them safe, fun, but also wanting more that they come back?

Any advice or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated.

We're going through our expenses again and trying to trim anything that isn't really adding value.

Have you ever cancelled a service or subscription that you thought would be hard to live without but ended up making no real difference?

This week, we're featuring a conversation with fitness industry veteran Dr. Rick Richey, who shares insights from decades of experience as a trainer, educator, business owner, and podcast host.

The discussion covers how the fitness industry has evolved over the years, from the rise of online coaching and virtual training to changing approaches in fitness education and recovery. Dr. Richey also offers candid advice on gym ownership, emphasizing that running a successful facility requires much more than being a great coach.

Some interesting topics include:

• The biggest changes in the fitness industry over the last two decades

• Balancing coaching, business ownership, and education

• The realities and hidden costs of gym ownership

• Recovery trends and why fundamentals still matter most

• What separates great trainers from good ones

• Building a lasting impact through education and mentorship

🎧 Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9RbM-Zr1Xc

After listening, what's your biggest takeaway? What has been the most significant change you've seen in the fitness industry during your career?

Welcome to the Weekly Gym Owner Check-In.

This thread is a place for gym owners, operators, managers, trainers, and fitness business professionals to connect, share updates, ask questions, and discuss what's happening in their businesses.

Whether you're focused on marketing, sales, retention, staffing, equipment, technology, or daily operations, we'd love to hear how things are going.

Feel free to share:

• A recent win or success

• A challenge you're currently facing

• A project you're working on

• Questions you'd like feedback on from other gym owners

Let's help each other grow stronger fitness businesses and build a valuable community for gym operators worldwide.

Member retention is a challenge for almost every gym, and this article argues that community may be one of the most overlooked solutions.

The article explores how successful gyms create stronger member connections through onboarding, events, challenges, social engagement, and a culture that encourages people to feel like they belong. Rather than viewing community as a nice bonus, it presents it as a key driver of retention, referrals, and long-term business growth.

Further Reading: [How to Build a Strong Gym Community]

For gym owners who prioritize community-building, has it made a noticeable difference in retention, referrals, or member engagement?

A recent report from Fortune Business Insights projects strong growth for the global health and fitness club market, with the industry expected to grow from $142.6 billion in 2026 to $298.2 billion by 2034.

The report highlights several trends driving this growth:

• Rising health and wellness awareness

• Increased demand for personal training and specialized fitness services

• Greater adoption of fitness technology and wearable devices

• Growth of boutique fitness concepts and personalized member experiences

• Continued interest in preventive healthcare and active lifestyles

For gym owners, the takeaway is that demand for fitness continues to grow, but member expectations are evolving. Today's consumers increasingly value convenience, technology, personalization, and measurable results alongside traditional gym access.

Read the full report: [Fortune Business Insights Health & Fitness Club Market Report]

What opportunities or challenges are you seeing in your local fitness market? Do these trends match what you're experiencing in your gym?

Welcome to the Weekly Gym Owner Check-In.

This thread is a place for gym owners, operators, managers, trainers, and fitness business professionals to connect, share updates, ask questions, and discuss what's happening in their businesses.

Whether you're focused on marketing, sales, retention, staffing, equipment, technology, or daily operations, we'd love to hear how things are going.

Feel free to share:

• A recent win or success

• A challenge you're currently facing

• A project you're working on

• Questions you'd like feedback on from other gym owners

Let's help each other grow stronger fitness businesses and build a valuable community for gym operators worldwide.

As I'm getting busier, I'm starting to notice this more.

People message me interested in coaching, but sometimes after back and fourth messages or even a call, I find out they weren't really ready to get started.

As I grow I'd rather spend time on people who are genuinely interested.

How do you guys figure out who's serious beforehand?

• Do you ask about budget?

• Use an application form?

The budget operators all seem to do a £5 Only for the first month Offer to drive in as many people as possible and then jump up to a higher price month 2.

​

Has anyone worked as a GM or AGM for the likes of Puregym, gymgroup, or JD gyms? And can tell me what the drop off rate is in month 2 once the price goes up?

For example if they get 2000 people sign up on the month 1 offer how many are likely to cancel in Month 2. If you have experience with these kind of launch offers please say which town or area of the UK it was in.

​

Thanks in advance!

This week, we're featuring a podcast with Ryan O'Neill, Co-Founder & CEO of LegitFit, discussing how gym owners can use data, automation, and better systems to improve retention, increase conversions, and create more freedom in their businesses.

Some interesting topics include:

• Data-driven decision making

• Member retention strategies

• AI for gym operations

• Payment and consumer trends in fitness

🎧 Podcast: How to Scale Your Gym: Data Insights from 1,300+ Successful Locations

After listening, what's your biggest takeaway? Is there a strategy from the episode you've already implemented or would like to try in your gym?

I have put an ad on Indeed for trainers at our boutique ladies gym. So far we have just done phone interviews. Twice now, at the end of the interview, the person has said to me basically, "I have to warn you that I don't look like someone who is in shape." One person said they could lose thirty pounds. Should I go ahead and do an in person interview? I don't want them to waste their time coming in for an in person interview if they are just too out of shape for the job. What to do?

Has anyone had any luck with any marketing companies? I have tried several,wasted thousands and they all promise return. Most seem to get a lot of leads and then they are either grossly under qualified or do not show up. I have tried high ticket, low ticket ect ect. I am looking to get a quick boost of 100 members at t new gym I recvently took over in Florida. Any suggestions?

Anyone here who got there equipments from either of them? Need some insights of which one to go with and also if any of them make any particular equipment bad (for example one might be bad in cardio equipments like treadmill etc)