For the fifth consecutive year, Snap Fitness has been ranked on the annual Inc. 500|5000 list, which presents an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. With 84 percent sales growth over three years, Snap Fitness moved up 1,205 spots on the list to #3,608, from its 2012 rank of #4,813.
Peter Taunton, the founder and CEO of Snap Fitness, gave Club Solutions an exclusive interview concerning the ranking and where Snap Fitness has come since its founding in 2003.
CS: This year, Snap Fitness moved up 1,205 spots on Inc.’s 500/5000 list. What do you think of the move?
PT: We’re very proud of this achievement and it speaks to the fact that Snap Fitness continues to be the leading choice in our industry both for members and entrepreneurs alike.
CS: What are the keys to Snap Fitness’ 84 percent three-year sales growth?
PT: The keys to our continued growth have been finding new ways to provide value for our members, as well as our franchise owners. From nutritional guidance and vitamins to in-club technology, we realize that the expectations of our members are constantly evolving, and it’s our job to provide them the latest tools and support to help them reach their goals. The same can be said for our franchise owners, and finding new ways to help them grow their business and stand out from their competition.
CS: What’s something you think a lot of people don’t know about Snap Fitness itself, or don’t know about your journey founding the franchise?
PT: We practice what we preach. Instead of working in a vacuum and rolling out programs to our franchisees, we have corporate Snap Fitness locations across the country, in markets of various sizes. Every program we put in place for our owners, we first test it in our corporate locations to make sure they’re going to be a success. My motto is that you can’t teach what you don’t know. Anyone can read out of a textbook, but unless you’ve really experienced what you’re teaching first-hand, you don’t really know what to expect. That’s why we try things in our clubs first, make any necessary adjustments, and then roll them out to our field.
CS: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since Snap Fitness was founded in 2003?
PT: The single biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t rest on your laurels. When we started back in 2003, the idea of providing a fast, convenient and affordable fitness center that was open 24/7 and had no contracts, was incredibly innovative and was really successful. Over time, other players started offering those same amenities, and eventually those things became the norm for fitness clubs. It’s sort of like trying to sell a car today and pointing out that it has automatic windows. When they first came out, it was a really impressive feature. But if you’re a salesman who is still talking about power windows in 2013, you’re missing the boat.
There are plenty of health clubs out there that have had that same issue. They’re still talking about their great equipment and 24/7 access. Those are great things to have, but the consumer expects you to have those things. Instead of focusing on how we can help members work out, we’ve focused our efforts on what we can do to help them get results. That’s the philosophy we live by at Snap Fitness, and it’s the forward thinking that has allowed us to keep growing.
As told to Rachel Zabonick
