What is in this article?:
With the growing popularity of small group training, some club operators are taking small group training out of the personal training department and are moving it into the group exercise department as a fee-based program, a move that is breathing new life into group exercise.
Charging a Fee
Mills recommends that operators charge for small group training—at the very least charge a booking fee. Microgyms that are based on small group or team training often charge dues ranging from $100 to $200 per month. And people are paying those higher fees as readily as others pay just $15 per month to belong to budget clubs, which shows that different people value exercise differently.
But small group training is adding more value to group exercise departments for many club operators.
"I think that the industry is starting to value group exercise more," Mills says. "Especially as the traditional clubs have had to compete with the budget clubs, they have started to see that group exercise is one of the important differentiators that the budgets do not have."
Operators who focus their capital on buying equipment are trying to compete with the budget clubs, Mills says.
"Unless you are prepared to put some of your economic focus on other things that create more motivation, that are more fun and social, more high stimulation, then you are really planting yourself in a corner," Mills says. "I think the industry has realized that."
