As a club owner who wishes to retain your members, it’s important to ensure your members feel they’re appreciated. And what better way to do so than during a “Member Appreciation Day?”
This Monday was “Member Appreciation Day” at my gym. Because I had such a good time, I thought I’d share my experience, in hopes you might be able to execute a similar event.
First, I knew it was “Member Appreciation Day” because I follow my gym on Facebook, and a week before the event they began promoting it heavily. Although free food and fitness classes were a major draw, the possibility of winning $8,000 worth of prizes was a huge incentive to stop by. After all, who doesn’t enjoy free stuff?
So I invited a coworker to join me (guests were welcome) to try a free CrossFit class, as my gym had just opened its own CrossFit Box. Although the class itself was brutal, the experience was anything but. The trainer was encouraging and friendly, and if CrossFit were something I wanted to do on a weekly basis, I’d probably not hesitate to join this one. And my friend had a great time too.
After the CrossFit class, we were given a free t-shirt and sugar-free Red Bull to commemorate our experience. We also could have taken advantage of free bananas, free pizza and other giveaways sponsored by local vendors. And of course, we entered to win some of the $8,000 worth of prizes previously mentioned.
Overall, the experience was great. The staff was warm and friendly, my friend and I were exposed to a new program, and most importantly, I felt appreciated.
If you don’t host an annual “Member Appreciation Day,” what’s stopping you? Talk to local companies about sponsoring the event (it’s a great way for them to get exposure), and offer free classes. Provide free food and other small gifts your members would enjoy receiving. A little effort goes a long way, and so does a little appreciation.
Rachel Zabonick is the assistant editor for Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@clubsolutionsmagazine.com. Reach out to her about exciting events or programs your club has implemented, or to share the amazing accomplishments of a member.
