Podcast Episode 1: Bill McBride on 2020 Fitness Trends

The fitness industry is becoming increasingly competitive. What do club operators need to know to ensure they remain competitive and relevant in 2020? 

In episode 1 of the Club Solutions Magazine podcast — sponsored by MXM — host Rachel Zabonick-Chonko spoke with Bill McBride, the president and CEO of Active Wellness, on the state of the fitness industry, including current trends club operators should pay attention to in the year ahead. Listen below.

Sponsored by MXM: 

Show Notes: 

• According to McBride, clubs should be focusing on how to increase revenue per member and ancillary spending in 2020. 
• Traditionally, the fitness industry hasn’t thought of itself as a retailer, but more as a subscription club model. McBride challenges this thinking, explaining clubs should consider what additional apparel, lifestyle, and food and beverage products they can offer to enhance retail spending opportunities. 
• The industry is trending toward “wellness” versus specifically “fitness.” What is required as part of this shift? 
• What to know about trends in club design. 
• McBride recounts a visit to Japan and shares what clubs there are doing to incorporate recovery offerings. 
• Recovery offerings discussed: cryotherapy, compression therapy, light therapy, vibration therapy, electronic muscle stimulation, hydromassage beds, infrared saunas. 
• How to determine what offerings are a good fit for your demographic. 
• How to navigate trends in technology and big data. What are the key metrics and how do you use technologies to deliver better outcomes? 
• Trends surrounding the applicability and challenges of wearables. According to McBride, wearables have a lot of future potential, especially in chronic disease management.
• How can clubs make maximize food and beverage operations, versus it being a background task? 

This episode of the Club Solutions Magazine podcast is sponsored by MXM: 

Your customers love to be heard. MXM provides the tools to listen. In fact, customers who provide feedback are far more likely to recommend your business to others. Turn your customers’ thoughts and feelings into real data and insights, (think economic growth, and resiliency to competitors) to make every customer visit exceptional, and where operational improvements will increase customer loyalty.

Be sure to subscribe to the Club Solutions Magazine podcast on SoundCloud and Spotify. Coming soon to Apple Podcasts.