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You all want clients to feel welcome when they walk through your door every day. After all, it’s that sense of community, family, and inclusivity that keeps clients coming back—and bringing their friends along. It doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right people, space, and partners, you’ll be growing your tight-knit “fit fam”’ in no time.
1. Your people
Once you’ve opened your own fitness studio, you know you’ve entered a people business. Your staff is going to be what drives your studio’s performance, and they’re also part of what differentiates you from the studio across the street. Because of this, your coaches and trainers will play as large a role in community-building as you. Here are four simple ways to approach it.
- Encourage staff to not only introduce themselves multiple times but also make a point to remember members’ names, taking note of any personal details they’ve shared. Members will feel more comfortable knowing the staff member’s names and feeling that reciprocated when they return.
- Find staff members who are passionate about your business and actively engage with members. These people are the face of your business, and they can significantly affect a member’s experience in a positive—or negative—way.
- Track class attendance and incentivize instructors who keep clients coming back. There are various tools available to you that can help you track instructor performance and popularity to better manage your schedule.
- Use challenges to not only promote camaraderie within your studio but to encourage consistent practice as well. As Kate Davies, owner of YO BK, a hot yoga and Pilates studio in Brooklyn puts it, “They see the same faces in class and create friendships within the community. High fives during Hot Pilates class also help!”