One thing that can definitely boost a health club ahead of the rest is an efficient, exciting smoothie or juice bar. Gym members today are looking for a place where they can relax and socialize in an energized, healthy environment. A smoothie bar can provide that great social arena to make this connection, and can become the heart of the club! In this age of social media, it’s only natural that a club would want to capitalize on any type of social element.
A smoothie bar will also give the club owner another excellent revenue source and added amenity. For a good juice bar or café to succeed, it needs to be given the time and attention it deserves. After all, it is a business within a business and needs to be promoted as such. In most cases, a juice bar requires no more space than the front desk and costs about as much as one treadmill. Every club owner is looking for the greatest return per square foot, and a juice bar is a perfect solution. Done correctly, a juice bar can do wonders for a club’s bottom line.
The most important things to consider when adding a juice bar to a facility:
- Nutrition: Consider the nutritional value of the smoothies you offer. Look for low sugar and high protein.
- Ease of Use: Look for a simple system — turnkey operations save time and money.
- Profitability: Look for smoothies that have the best return on your investment.
In developing your juice bar, look for a turnkey system that is cost effective, consistent and simple. You want a program that allows for the easy training of employees, and tastes great for your customers. Why reinvent the wheel — look for a proven, successful model!
A professional juice bar helps your club in other ways too, like providing an amenity that your competitor may not. It also can offer your staff an area to sit and complete new member sales. Free smoothies can be given during tours of the club!
Effective and consistent promotions are the key to getting the juice bar off to a great start:
- Sample, sample, sample! Sampling works.
- Offer a frequent buyers program — Buy 10 Get 1 Free.
- Increase the amount of purchase with “Add-ons.”
- Promote the benefits of drinking a protein smoothie after workouts.
- Enhance employee compensation programs for juice bar sales.
Remember that the success of your juice bar depends on building sales. Just opening the doors everyday doesn’t work! Sales take consistent energy and effort. Planning and implementing weekly or monthly marketing helps keep your sales consistent, without experiencing big peaks and dips. Also, sampling plays a large role in getting members to purchase smoothies on a regular basis.
Finally, you want to offer a branded product that carries with it name recognition. Homemade systems rarely work. You want and need a system that looks professional, is nutritious and has marketing and support. There are numerous smoothie options out there to choose from, so consider only those that offer these important qualities.
