Mind helping a guy out? Looking at opening a gym and need some feedback.

[RbSX]

Hey guys,

I'm evaluating opening a microgym in my area. Right now I'm trying to compile some market data about the average gym attendee, and I would really appreciate it if you guys would mind filling this survey out.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/27BXLZ5

<--- as you can tell I'm not some random trolling AT for people to take my survey.

Cheers guys.

 

[blackdogdeek]

All done.

What kind of gym are you thinking of opening?

 

[RbSX]

All done.

What kind of gym are you thinking of opening?

A micro-gym. Smaller than 3000 s.f., mostly group oriented fitness.

We're trying to figure out what's really important gym-goers at this point... so our final decision will depend a lot on the feedback we get from guys like you!

 

[smackababy]

I did the survey but I pay less than $25 a month for my gym($24 a month to be exact).

The most important things for me is quality and amount of equipment, distance from my house, amount of kids (if they didn't allow them, omg so happy), hours, and the types of people that go (I don't care about their fitness level or commitment, just that they are courteous enough to rack weights and don't goof off on the squat racks not doing anything for an hour).

 

[RbSX]

I did the survey but I pay less than $25 a month for my gym($24 a month to be exact).

The most important things for me is quality and amount of equipment, distance from my house, amount of kids (if they didn't allow them, omg so happy), hours, and the types of people that go (I don't care about their fitness level or commitment, just that they are courteous enough to rack weights and don't goof off on the squat racks not doing anything for an hour).

Thanks, tweaked the cost question.

 

[highland145]

Check out your competition. What are you going to do better? You need to know if there is a demand.

Do you have something like SCORE there?

 

[Koing]

I'm a niche person so my results will be completely skewed...

Lifting platform, Eleiko weightlifting bars, being able to drop weights, bumpers,

People putting their dam weights back.

I don't care for knowledgeable training staff, as to be frank, most are not knowledgeable, group classes or food at the gym. I bring 2 protein shakes with me to the gym.

Parking is VERY important. I would not go to a gym without easy car parking.

Koing

 

[alkemyst]

My ex-boss did a 9 Round and is doing really well. It's a franchise with a low buy-in and they help you out a lot. They are very compact too. 3000 sq-ft isn't a micro-gym to me.

Took your survey.

I wouldn't go to a gym like a 9 Round. I like free weights and stuff. I am not against group classes. When I was young I did them because they were fun and let's face it you get to face some nice T&A at times.

The atmosphere, upkeep and cleanliness of a gym is paramount to me.

I don't care about training nor services.

I would buy my supplements from a gym providing they were competitive with mail order. Sadly they are usually WAY more expensive. That said, in a bind I have bought from a gym before that had pricing slightly better than local stores and I wanted to start a product that day....that was long ago. Now with bodybuilding.com and being in Florida, I can have a product show up the next day or two.

My ideal gym would have some heavy lifting area, the machines, a good set of pulleys, some cardio machines (elliptical, stairs and treadmill). It would also have a stretching / balance area. Has to have parking at it...I tried some gyms that get crappy parking arrangements, no thanks. I want my gym close to my home now since I lift early morning. When I am single, I may travel to a gym by my office or home depending on if it offers what I want plus women. I want a pleasant staff, but they don't have to be ass-kissers; just be ok with me when the scanner isn't reading my card or I come to say the music stopped or that everyone is hating it.

I have a great local gym, it's $37 a month (with tax) one year contract to start and then month to month and each additional member (same household) is $29 a month (with tax) and no contract needed. It's a 10 min slow walk from my house.

 

[RbSX]

Check out your competition. What are you going to do better? You need to know if there is a demand.

Do you have something like SCORE there?

We are - and there is. Vancouver is one of the fittest most active cities in the world... and some areas are being VERY underserved.

 

[highland145]

Updates?

We are - and there is. Vancouver is one of the fittest most active cities in the world... and some areas are being VERY underserved.

That would make me question why? Slim profit margins?

 

[Kaido]

We're trying to figure out what's really important gym-goers at this point

What's really important to gym-goers? Motivation & machines. Having other people around, whether it's in a group exercise or with a trainer, provides the motivation that a lot of people need to get their exercise done. Exercising isn't hard; motivating yourself to do it on a consistent basis is. And most people don't have all of the gym equipment (or spotters) available at home (stair-steppers, ellipticals, bikes, weights, etc.) so it's easier to "lease" them through a gym membership. Throw a few showers in there with a Jamba Juice and you're gold :thumbsup:

I would really like to see a gym with ongoing classes throughout the day that also serves food. My work schedule is busy, but if say spin classes or something started up every 30 minutes, then it'd be like catching the bus - just show up before the start time and join in. I'd also like to see more gyms with food available. One of my local gyms has a Jamba Juice-style juice bar where you can get fresh juice & shakes. I'd like to see one that has hot food available as well...get off of work or school, hop into a group class for an hour, grab a healthy, hot sandwich with a protein shake...that would be pretty awesome, especially if the drink & meal were include in the package price so you could just have a smooth routine:

1. Exercise
2. Shower
3. Eat
4. Leave

Sort of like how movie theaters are now offering premium experiences in a Director's Theater or dedicated places like ArcLight:

https://www.arclightcinemas.com/why-arclight/

They offer benefits that other, run-of-the-mill movie theaters don't. I think gyms could do the same thing - pay a set monthly fee, hop into a class as needed, have a meal & drink paid for under your membership - that'd be fairly different from most places like say LA Fitness that just have machines available, no one to motivate you, and nothing but maybe some dry protein bars to munch on at checkout.

 

[smackababy]

^ I am pretty much the complete opposite of Kaido's "most gym goers" generalization. I would prefer it to be empty, or as close to empty as possible. I dislike waiting for racks, people goofing around, or anything impeding my weight lifting. I would never eat a gym anywhere close to my house.

 

[highland145]

^ I am pretty much the complete opposite of Kaido's "most gym goers" generalization. I would prefer it to be empty, or as close to empty as possible. I dislike waiting for racks, people goofing around, or anything impeding my weight lifting. I would never eat a gym anywhere close to my house.

This. Edit: Which means mine is subsidized by tax dollars at the local university.

And back to the profit margins. 15 quality/semi employees to cover all of the classes/juice bar/etc for 7 days, 15hrs/day(?) is $$. The daycare I own is open 6:30 to 6:00 Mon-Fri and it's ~$18K/mo in payroll.

 

[bononos]

Updates?
That would make me question why? Slim profit margins?

Maybe those areas have people who don't like going to gyms.

 

[gothamhunter]

It might seem weird, but there's a severe lack of gyms that have pools. Pool workouts are great and besides the Y which has ridiculous prices, there's nowhere to do them around here.

 

[smackababy]

It might seem weird, but there's a severe lack of gyms that have pools. Pool workouts are great and besides the Y which has ridiculous prices, there's nowhere to do them around here.

The problem I find with gyms with pools is they are almost always filled with kids during peak hours in the summer. Even if they rope off a few lanes, there still isn't a ton of room. At least, in my experiences. I am still looking for a gym that refuses entrance to anyone under 25.

 

[classy]

There is a real lack of true iron head type gyms anymore. Most are LA Fitness types. Nothing wrong with that, but I think a hardcore gym would do very well today. Just not that many of them anymore.