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Get the most from your commercial fitness equipment by Greg Lawlor

27 Ways to Get The Most From Your Commercial Fitness Equipment

Commercial Fitness Equipment represents a significant investment for many facilities. From hotels to fitness clubs, universities to the law enforcement, fitness clubs to corporations.

Commercial fitness equipment represents a way for more people to get the activity they need and the benefits we all aspire to achieve. It is a tool of the trade if you are in the fitness business.

Lately, the supplier landscape has changed.

* There are more suppliers than ever (remember when there were only 2 or 3 main ones not that long ago?).
* There are more options than ever from each supplier.
* There are more suppliers every day and more disappearing than ever before

So how do you navigate through this landscape?

The stakes can be high.

However, the risk does not have to be. Your risk as someone looking to acquire commercial fitness equipment can be minimized with a little bit of research and empowerment.

Whether you are opening a bootcamp or managing a 6 figure budget, there are time tested and proven ways you can make sure you get the most from your equipment and your investment.

In the almost 20 years I have been in commercial fitness supply and consulting, and from the hundreds of facilities and buyers I have worked with, here are the top 27 that I have experienced can be of the most help.

1. Connect your fitness equipment to a success strategy. Regardless of what setting you are in- if you are corporate fitness center, fitness club, hotel or municipal. An implementation strategy is critical. This strategy represents a connection of the equipment to your guest/patron.

It is no longer good enough to put equipment in a room and expect people to flock through the doors. Understand that you need a strategy to make the room and service inviting.

2. Make sure your staff know all the features and benefits of your equipment. This is often overlooked. “we have our ellipticals over there, and they are ….well….ellipticals, no impact and popular” ..not uncommon verbage in an orientation. Your new member is thinking – SO WHAT ? HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP ME LOSE THAT 10 LBS?

Your people need to know what are selling features on each piece of equipment.

* You have kettlebells – how will that help them ?
* You have TRX Classes? How will that help them?
* You have treadmills ? what makes them appealing ?

3.Link your equipment to current trends

At the end of the year, many organizations publish current fitness trends. Which fitness areas are popular, growing and in demand. Functional Training, Personal Training, Core Training, Team Training, Interval Training are all examples of current trends in 2011. Make sure your equipment is a reflection of what is current and interesting to people.

4. Integrate programming with big pieces AND small pieces. The lost art of programming. Common place with a lot of small equipment, but still lacking. And certainly not prevalent with big equipment (with exception of indoor cycling).

Weight loss programs, sports conditioning, recovery training are all examples programs that can revolve around your equipment big and small.

5. Make sure each piece is versatile and can appeal to different fitness levels .

An elliptical with one range of motion?

You would think something that would allow you to move forwards/backwards and has elevation change to target different muscle groups as well as the standard programming and resistance change would be critical in evaluating that type of commercial fitness equipment.

Having equipment that can appeal to deconditioned and even rehab all the way to elite athletes exists in most every category.

6. Make sure your vendor/supplier has a proven track record. This applies to the basics all the way to technology.

With all the changes in the supply landscape, make sure your vendor and/or manufacturer have the stability to grow with you in the next few years.

There is so much good equipment out there that stability, trust and accountability become HUGE in making sure your equipment speaks well of your fitness offering.

7. Integrate into your sales system and training. Too many fitness offerings leave equipment in the room and do not have programming around it, as mentioned, but it is also critical to make sure your sales training integrates its best features. (FYI sales training can refer to teacher training in schools ..anything educational).

Sales is a skill, and your people should be skilled at making sure the pieces you have are viewed as being “cant live without’ pieces, and “this will help me reach my goals’. This starts in the sales process for your staff and most of the time this is ignored.

8. Integrate into your marketing plan

Your patron wans to achieve results . promote how that will happen at your facility with your instruction and your tools (ie equipment). Years ago, hotels put “fitness center” on the brochure ..simple yet effective. Fitness Centers are the number 2 amenity requested in a hotel today behind location.

9. Make sure there is some educational training available – from kettlebells to steps, from stability balls to ellipticals, from 1 on 1 to group training, there is training for your leaders on how to get the most out of the equipment and keep people coming back. Tap into it – and invest in it- if you do , everything you do will be more consistent. (Note: this training is to be paased along to patrons. “How to” sessions are very popular and some progressive suppliers have in screen tutorials right on the machine (for the piece the patron is on and the others in the room)

10. Have a professional assess your space allocation. What is the space to equipment ration in your cardio area? Where are your washrooms? How about ventilation? Where is the stretching area? What about lighting? We can go on and on…the pros have learned through trial and error, which is always an option, albeit a costly one. A simple room layout and dimensions can make sure you are on the right track and have the right flow to your room and facility. (most of us have been in a badly ventilated, poorly laid out room , right? )

11. Leasing vs other means of financing. Leasing is not for everyone , but understanding its benefits will put you ahead of most. 100% tax deductibility, and deductions of the monthly costs vs just deductions on the interest on bank financing is 1 significant difference. Rotating of equipment easier, trade in is easier. Note: if leasing get full service coverage for the term of the lease.

12. Does the shoe fit Cinderella? Make sure the equipment you are getting is built for the usage it is going to get. Schools, for example, are full of equipment not designed for the demands they will get. Commercial grade and light commercial grade are significantly different. Unlimited usage vs up to 6 hours of use per day. If there is a huge price difference, the too good to be true rule often applies. If you need something durable on a tight budget, tap into a good, reputable reconditioned equipment supplier who has a full warranty and service plan and will document the reconditioning process.

13. Mr Clean is always smiling – Dirt is the number 1 cause of service issues on commercial fitness equipment. On treadmills for example, dirt gets attracted under the hood by a hot drive motor, and stays there like nice wad of gum…that causes all kinds of issues. A regular maintenance program does not have to be expensive, and can save you years on your equipment and tons of dough in repairs. A good PM (Preventative Maintenance) program checklist can be forwarded to you upon request.

14. On big pieces of equipment, with moving parts , the 2 most important words are “cost Certainty” . What will your cardio vascular equipment cost you in upkeep in year 2, 3, 4 and beyond when the warranty wears out? It is critical that you know and tied into your ROI. A good supplier has that all figured out for you.

15. Try them before you buy them –“all ellipticals are the same” have caused more than one facility to have a boat anchor. Try them or have your experts try them. The research is now out there. One company even has approx. 60% market share of commercial ellipticals. Luck? Not a chance. Having equipment that is not comfortable is like trying to run with a 200 lb gorilla on your back!!!

16. Don’t Ride it until it dies! Look at rotating your equipment and different purchasing strategy. Everything from where your treadmill is in the line, to refreshing every few years makes a huge difference for your lifeblood – the people that come to your facility. Have a long term plan – 3-7 years and a short term plan 1-2 years. A progressive supplier will help you with this – and hopefully even be around to support you at the later date!

17. Technology alone is not enough. A bad treadmill is not a good treadmill because of snappy screen and ability to surf the web. Fitness equipment does have a future by integrating technology but only on a base of equipment that has the basics covered. Basics include ease of use and comfort, reliability and appeal to a variety of fitness levels. Purchasing a treadmill should not be based on whether your patron can surf the web (note: remind me to write an article on how your fitness center needs to provide escape from the day to day – not another outlet to stay connected ….i love planes for this reason alone ….but don’t get me started ! ) . When integrated TV Screens were first released 7 years ago, many a treadmill was not working because the TV did not work. I am just saying!

18. Innovation is not a trend. Certain makers of equipment have a track record for innovation. I remember one “new , revolutionary”product launch years ago where pieces of cover were splintering in the aisle at the trade show. A new piece of equipment can be fun , interesting and good investment or it can be a boat anchor. Look for a company with a history of innovation and preferably has many, many pieces in the field before the equipment is launched publicly

19. Make sure your supplier has some R & D in the movement patterns. There are 2 types of equipment makers – those who invest in R &D And those who do not. Those who do work with educational institutions, academics and have research published tend to have equipment that is built closer to how the body moves. Check your supplier’s website, they should have lots of research on biomechanics etc.

20. Have a wholesale strategy. Most of your patrons workout at home. Why not offer them good quality equipment at great prices. You are a reliable resource for fitness after all. You care about your patrons health and want this full of vitality and energy. Everything from stability balls to treadmills can be re-sold through your facility and to your network – they will be buying it somewhere else otherwise. Progressive suppliers are all ready to help you hear and provide reliable equipment for your patrons – which will allow you to have another revenue streams.

21. Understand ROI not just up front price. Return of Investment in fitness equipment is measured by equipment cost over 5 to 7 years, has highest trade in value, and allows you to keep the most amount of people coming back, and attract more to your fitness room. Up front price is measured as the be all, end all, because most of us do not know where else to look.

22. Storage solutions do exist. There is no reason for plates ,stability balls, steps and the like, in your studio, dumbbells and the like to be all over the floor. There are suppliers who provide storage solutions and make it easy for you to replenish them at a reasonable cost. A couple of bucks thrown this way is like a nice new coat of paint at home – refreshes everything, in a inexpensive and professional way.

precor ellipticals in a fitness club23. Entertainment is here and now, don’t stick your head in the sand and don’t fall prey to this– It does not have to be expensive. Personal Viewing Screens are only one option. There are a few others, and one in particular is very, very cost effective. It does not require a special brand of equipment, applies to most every age of equipment , can be integrate to an infinite number of pieces, makes your facility appear to be current and can cost a fraction of some of the other options. Note: the whole idea of reliability and proven track record takes on a whole different dimension with this area of equipment.

24. Connect with your local servicer. Whether you are big or small, you need someone who makes their living servicing fitness equipment. By checking references and training certifications , you can weed out the pretenders and only deal with the contenders. The good ones are better than gold and worth a second look. They have connections to your supplier, know how to get things done and will save a ton over the long run. Note: a servicer who is paid hourly by your local equipment dealer is not always the best and most neutral servicer. Get some references.

25. Don’t skimp on the install. Over 90% of service issues in first 6 months are caused by poor installation. You are spending a few thousand dollars on equipment, don’t skimp $200 to get it set up??

26. Where is your equipment made? Nothing wrong with production in different parts of the world. If your equipment has moving parts, reliability is a huge consideration, and, there is something wrong with lack of quality control and parts supply….because that costs you money.

27. Invest and re invest And I don’t just mean money.

Once you have your strategy, look at your equipment as operating necessities. Understanding what is proven is important, but also embracing the new can work well. If you integrate the hardware of the equipment with the software of programming, education, sales and marketing strategies then you can make sure the equipment will always be a cornerstone to your operations and profitable and provide a great ongoing return to you patrons and your bottom line. A great source of staying up to date is your local equipment supplier who carries a number of brands and has evolved over the years to cater their offering to suit your needs. Take advantage of getting their newsletters and information. If not too preachy or sales, they can make your fitness supply life easier. Period.

bout Greg Lawlor. Greg has worked with hundreds of people in supporting their commercial equipment challenges since 1994. Greg’s network and support tools are extensive. With a commitment to helping fitness leaders serve more people, Fitness LeadershipTV was launched in late 2010. www.fitnessleadershiptv.com Contact at greg@greglawlor.com

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Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Get-the-most-from-your-commercial-fitness-equipment/1092731

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