How to Survive in Today's Economy
Whether the economy has caused your club operations a little hurt or a lot of hurt, you are undoubtedly looking for guidance right now about what you can do to keep from hurting anymore.
That's why the editors of Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro magazine have put together this special section on the economy, focusing on steps you can take to keep your business operating successfully — and perhaps putting you in competitive shape for when the economy turns around.
Read the following stories from the editors and experts in the industry on marketing, selling, retention, ancillary revenue, financing and cost cutting. We've also included links to additional articles on our Web site that will offer further guidance.
Special Report Articles
NEW! Advice from the Experts
Compiled by Mark Mastrov, columnist
Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness and now CEO of New Evolution Fitness Co., spoke to various experts in the fitness industry for their advice about how to weather today's economy....
Bail Yourself Out
Here are 10 steps to take during these troubled times:
- Create clearer club positioning
- Empower staff
- Increase member and staff communication
- Revise marketing vehicles
- Review and improve sales systems
- Focus on incremental and ancillary revenue
- Invest in your Web site for prospects and members
- Think long term but focus in the short term
- Remember that a dollar saved goes to the bottom line
- This recession will end, so position yourself to thrive when it does
2009 State of the Industry: One Step at a Time
As memberships decrease and attrition increases, clubs will need to do a lot of little things to improve their bottom line in 2009....
A Look Back at What Industry Leaders Said in the Last Recession
Penny for Their Thoughts (Jul 1, 2001)
Marketing in a Tough Economy
For almost a decade, our prospering economy created an environment where average club operators could enjoy a certain level of success regardless of what they did or did not do with their marketing. That has all changed now....
Selling in a Recession
No doubt, there is some shifting going on in the economy. That does not mean doom and gloom or troubles ahead. What it does represent is opportunity....
Ramping Up Retention
Health clubs that focus on sales and neglect customer service may bring in waves of new members, but if their clients are sneaking out the back door as...
Non-dues Revenue Is Key in Current Economy
Fitness clubs all around the country are trying to find ways to stay profitable in this recession, and one of the ways they are doing so is through ancillary, or non-dues, revenue....
The Cost-Cutting Solution
For months before a recession was officially pronounced in the United States, club operators noticed signals of a recession. Decreased revenue, increased attrition rates and slower prospect traffic leading to lower sales all pointed to a troubled economy....
Financing in Today's Economy
No one needs to tell club owners that financing is tight right now, but that doesn't mean that good club operators with good credit and a strong history of success can't get loans today....
More Financing Articles
More Retention Articles
- Retaining Value: Retention Through Fee-based Programming
- Membership Retention for Fitness Clubs
- Getting Retention Right by Offering Good Service
- Increasing Retention, Referrals and Revenue with a Continuous Success Program
More Ancillary Revenue Articles
- Looking Beyond Membership Dues
- Coaching in Fitness Centers
- Tap into Your Members for Non-dues Revenue
More Cost Cutting Articles
Other Helpful Articles
- Leads, Leads, Leads
- Free Reports Equal Increased Revenue
- Marketing with Little or No Money
- Seven Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
- Internal Marketing: Six Ways to Uncover the Gold Mine in Your Club
- Eight Deadly Marketing Sins
- The Retention Plan
- Membership Retention for Fitness Clubs
- Develop a Marketing Plan
- Breaking the Marketing Mold in 2004
- 25 Creative Marketing Ideas for Your Club
- Guidebook to Success
- Diagnosing Financial Failure
