This press release was provided by AFS. The Club Industry editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.
2014 was an incredible year for the Association of Fitness Studios (AFS). As the only membership community dedicated solely to the business of fitness studios, AFS made great strides in bringing products, services and benefits to this elusive market segment.
Here are some of the highlights, for which we thank the hundreds of organizations, executives, fitness professionals, and companies that have helped make it possible.
“We accomplished a great deal in 2014 and we learned a great deal more,” said AFS co-‐founder and President Josh Leve. “We’re both grateful and humbled by the tremendous support the industry has provided. It motivates us to do even more to help studio owners thrive, and studio developers achieve their dream.”
Acceptance by the Fitness Industry
The tremendous acceptance AFS received from the fitness industry is high on the AFS list of accomplishments for 2014. Understanding the AFS mission, believing in the cause, and supporting AFS initiatives was indicative of:
- An Advisory Council made up of high level, influential industry leaders from a variety of disciplines
- The creation of the first community of studio owners and entrepreneurial fitness professionals via interactive peer networking programs where AFS members are connected to people with a shared passion to grow their business
- 2015 Outlook– Expansion of the Advisory Council to include additional disciplines along with growth in peer networking opportunities.
Business Education Events
Bringing quality business education to the studio segment of the fitness industry was an AFS 2014 priority objective.
- Club Industry Show – AFS provided the first-‐ever series of business education seminars specifically dedicated to studio owners
- Continuing Education Credits were applied to the AFS series of seminars at
- Club industry
- Continuing Education Credits were approved by the American Council on
- Exercise for AFS’ exclusive eBook, STUDIO SUCCESS
- 2015 Outlook – AFS has renewed and improved the Club Industry education (October), aligned with the Evolution Sports Expo (June), and is evaluating several other invitations.
Industry Alliances
A key to AFS’ 2014 success is the support from so many industry organizations that actively and aggressively supported our launch and development.
- Alliance partners SPRI Products, SFIC Insurance, and the American Council on Exercise were instrumental in AFS’ creation and development
- Joining forces with over 30 additional leading companies was an important element in driving success for AFS’ associate member program
- Most recent members include GoDaddy, HealthFIT Mobile Media, Rick Mayo and Alloy Training Solutions, and EZFacility
- Among those members, the large number of non-‐endemic companies indicates AFS has tapped into the baseline movement of new, technology-‐ based vendors
- 2015 Outlook – Significant growth is expected as new applications to the fitness industry will touch studios first and ripple out from there.
Market Research
In 2014 AFS addressed the huge industry need for quality studio business data by -‐
- Completing the first studio-‐centric market research study, engaging nearly 600 studios to create baseline statistics
- Identified the major business issues facing studio owners and developed strategies to address those issues
- 2015 Outlook – The second annual AFS Studio Market Research Study will take place in June, expanded to elicit even more business-‐building data.
Membership & Outreach
The essence and ultimate success of any trade association is its ability to be relevant to its constituents, as evidenced by internal support. In 2014, AFS -‐
- Launched its state-‐of-‐the-‐art membership website
- Obtained over 3,500 subscribers
- Provided studio owners and fitness professionals with a business-‐focused educational blog and over 60 exclusive “AFS Academy” articles focused on marketing, business operations, insurance, finance, and more.
- Created and disseminated a monthly e-‐Newsletter to connect the studio community
- 2015 Outlook – Growth is the order of the day with activation of new alliances and new outreach strategies emphasizing direct benefits and business-‐building education
Business Education Products/Services
- The proof is in the pudding and in 2014, AFS delivered by -‐
- Authoring and disseminating the eBook Studio Success – The Authoritative Guide to Studio Ownership
- Identifying and publishing the first studio business Best Practices including monthly Studio Spotlight
- Developing customized studio business analyses
- Creating a Studio Start-‐up Toolkit to help studio developers avoid critical start-‐ up errors
- Hosting a profit-‐enhancing Webinar Series
- Plus over 40 benefits and services for members
- 2015 Outlook – You can never have enough value in your value proposition and
- AFS will be introducing exciting new benefits throughout 2015
About AFS
The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) is the only membership community dedicated solely to the business of fitness studios. AFS provides studio owners and developers a wide array of business-‐specific products, services, and benefits that enable them to more effectively manage and grow their businesses, building on the passion, compassion, and courage they’ve already shown. www.afsfitness.com