Each month Blair McHaney, the CEO of MXM, sits down with Rachel Zabonick-Chonko, the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine, for a frank discussion on the current state of the fitness industry.
BLAIR MCHANEY’S POV SHOW NOTES
The Fitness Technology Summit
- Attendees were all consistent on their websites being what attracts new members, and their apps are all about their current members.
- This will accelerate how many younger people are coming into the gyms. More people will want to buy and manage their memberships online.
- Blair was very pleased with how member-centered the summit was. Improving the member experience was a huge point of focus.
- Many companies were thinking very deeply about who should own member data, and how should data be stored in an effective way for the future?
- Blair urged gym owners to understand the quality of their integrations and APIs when investing in tech.
Gyms are Still Having a Tough Time Getting Members to Return
- One recent report said only one of the 50 major metro U.S. markets have more people with memberships post-pandemic then pre-pandemic.
- Urban locations aren’t coming back very strong, but suburban areas are.
- Group fitness and cycling classes are also having a hard time getting attendees and instructors to return as well.
Other Top of Mind Thoughts
- From visiting other clubs, Blair is seeing a problem from clutter accumulating in the fitness area, due to members gravitating toward free weight and functional strength areas, which have a lot of accessories.
- San Diego saw the biggest reduction in members from pre- to post-pandemic.
- Seattle also saw a major drop, but there has been a major spike in hiking there.
- More gyms are continuing to embrace open floor plans and outdoor fitness to provide members adequate space.
For more insights from Blair McHaney and to learn more about MXM, the world’s leading experts on Operational Member Experience Management, visit mxmetrics.com.
