January 2024 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness:
Fitness Premier, Frankfort, Illinois, est. 2002
For over 20 years, Fitness Premier clubs have been serving members by creating loyal and encouraging communities. With over 18 locations across Illinois and Indiana, the brand is dedicated to providing a well-rounded experience that benefits everyone.
Below, Jason Markowicz, the CEO of Fitness Premier, details how the gym encourages excellence from franchisees, staff and members.
How did Fitness Premier come about?
Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs was born out of a need we identified back over 15 years ago in tertiary communities throughout the country. We saw an opportunity to enter small to mid-sized markets and offer a well-rounded fitness solution. We find a great sense of loyalty from our member base, and we really work hard to create a community and small town vibe in our facilities.
What is the mission of Fitness Premier?
Creating stars within each community we serve. We have the star in our logo for a specific reason. For us the star resembles so much. It could be a star team member who works hard every day to service their clients, a franchisee who spends countless hours developing their team and pouring into them so they can pour into others, or a client losing 50 pounds and changing the way they live. Our focus is creating stars at the franchisee, team member and client level throughout every community we serve.
What makes Fitness Premier clubs unique?
There are three main points:
1. Where membership means more. We focus on having a product for everyone. We have tiers of membership depending on the level of service a member is looking for ranging from 24/7 club access, using our relax and restore suites, support from our trainers in our fit wave program, and nutrition. We know everyone is coming from a different starting point. We truly work to meet them where they are and have maximum membership value for each client.
2. Our teams at each location. We spend a lot of time, energy and money in training and developing our people. We believe at our core we have great people. In turn they will do great work and build great relationships which lead to great businesses.
3. Simple and convenient. We’re always located in convenient locations and are open 24/7, every day of the year.
How would you describe the culture at your gyms?
Our clubs become the hub of their communities. We do a ton of community support, events and team building. We pride ourselves on being that club where we know everyone by name and work to personalize the experience the best we can. I think our members get a true sense we have people that care about them and the community. We’re blessed to have a stellar team behind the scenes and on the front lines in the clubs that drive a culture we’re very proud of.
What is your favorite thing about partnering with ABC Fitness?
ABC Fitness has been a great partner for us. They have some great solutions for various aspects of the business including all the key things any operator would need. Their billing functions, support and service are outstanding, especially their payment processing which you want an expert handling for you. They’re the best in the business.
What’s a trend you’re seeing in the fitness industry that other operators should keep on their radar going into 2024?
Recovery amenities offer a variety of benefits including faster muscle recovery, injury prevention, reducing stress, better sleep and adding more value to our membership. We’re doing some things within our relax and restore suites that include infrared sauna, cold plunge, cryotherapy, biochargers and red light therapy. We’re constantly trying to improve and innovate in this world.
What advice or encouragement can you give other club owners looking to start new clubs/franchises?
Find a mentor or a system that has some great leadership and experience. This industry is constantly changing and evolving and can be very competitive. There are key relationships and vendors that could be a great mentor or a system that can help save a lot of time and money.
Created in partnership with ABC Fitness. Visit abcfitness.com for more information on how they can help your fitness business.
