When spring and summer come along and the weather improves, people start looking for fun ways to get outside and enjoy it. Unfortunately for fitness club and gym owners, this often means your members start checking in less and attending fewer classes in favor of going to the beach or getting some sun on a morning run.
The good news, though, is that there is a simple way you can engage members when the weather gets warm and attract some new ones in the process—outdoor fitness classes! Outdoor fitness has become a lot more popular in recent years, so why not take advantage of that to boost member acquisition, retention, and revenue?
Let’s look at how offering outdoor fitness classes can help take your club to the next level.
Attract New Members
Outdoor fitness is a growing trend that was accelerated by the pandemic. According to a RunRepeat survey, outdoor exercise was the most popular fitness trend going into last year, with 59.1% of active adults choosing outdoor activities, an increase of 14.6% from 2020. Keeping up with the latest fitness trends is one of the best ways to appeal to prospective members.
Your club can also attract new members with outdoor classes by offering them to both members and non-members. Non-members who are not yet ready to commit to a membership will see it as a cheaper alternative. As they attend your classes, they will get to know your trainers and become more involved in your community, making them more likely to join your club. Plus, outdoor classes are basically a form of free advertising for your gym to passersby.
Pro Tip: With ClubWise’s club management features, you can easily add new classes and locations to your class schedule, making booking easy for both members and non-members. You can also review class attendance and make adjustments to your schedule as needed to ensure it’s optimized at all times.
Increase Membership Value
Active adults considering a gym membership are typically looking for the option with the most value for their money. Offering outdoor fitness classes adds another level of service to your membership, which translates to perceived value in the eyes of current and potential club members.
Additionally, outdoor workouts themselves provide several benefits to participants that add even more value to your membership. Being outside in nature boosts your mood and helps reduce stress, piling on to the endorphins exercise already releases. Outdoor classes also offer variety in member workouts and are often a more convenient and flexible option than going to the gym.
Add a New Revenue Stream
Although gyms are bouncing back, the fitness industry lost $29.2B in revenue between March of 2020 and June of 2021. Additional revenue streams, such as outdoor classes and virtual fitness options, can help your club compensate for the loss.
If you decide to open your outdoor fitness classes to non-members, you can price them competitively since they don’t require a membership. You might consider having a discounted price for members though. You’ll also be able to allow more people to sign up for outdoor workouts because space and equipment won’t be limited. The wider your audience and bigger your class sizes, the more revenue you’ll bring in.
Pro Tip: When your outdoor classes hit capacity, allow members to add themselves to a waitlist. They’ll be automatically added when a space becomes available, and you’ll be sure to make the most profit from each class.
Bring Back Reluctant Members
While many members have returned to their gym since the coronavirus-induced lockdowns, some are still hesitant due to COVID-19 fears. As of last August, only 30.98% of gym members had returned. Although that number has surely risen by now, there is likely still a significant percentage of your former members who have not come back to your gym.
Since the open air offers better ventilation than you get inside a club, COVID-19 particles are more quickly dispersed, making you less likely to breathe them in. Offering outdoor fitness classes is a simple way to keep members who are nervous about returning engaged in your community. It also shows that you care about their concerns and want to find a way to help them stay on track with their fitness goals.
Add & Optimize Outdoor Fitness Classes with ClubWise
Creating new revenue streams for your club and adding membership value shouldn’t be hard. ClubWise makes it easy to add outdoor fitness classes to your schedule, open them up to non-members, and make changes as needed. Members can sign up anytime, anywhere, through the member app and receive automated booking confirmations, as well as add themselves to a waitlist if a class is full.
Book a free demo of ClubWise today to learn more about how our club management software can help your club grow!