I am part owner in a kettlebell and personal training studio and I’m looking for feedback on how to make it the BEST studio around town.
So, I am throwing this out to my millions hundreds of readers, what is important to YOU?
What would make you sign up for a small studio vs. a big name gym? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below. Thanks!
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For me it is probably 80% about the class schedule and whether it works for me. If I can’t attend enough classes/sessions to make it worth my $, then I just don’t look any further. After that, I want to make sure the instructors are qualified and the facility is clean and safe.
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@Catherine: thanks Catherine! What type of classes do you prefer?
@workoutmommy: Yoga, martial arts, and I haven’t yet tried kettlebells but I would like to!
Catherine´s last [type] ..Best backyard games
Great equipment and classes (spinning and weightlifting specifically). Offering towels and other little perks is definitely a plus.
@JesicaD: thanks Jesica! (does your gym offer kettlebell classes? Just curious….)
Seeing as I have gone to a personal trainer and will again in the future, I actually have an opinion on this!
- 1-on-1 attention – Spend time with ME. I’m your customer, focus on me or a very, very small group of us. The reason I go to a trainer in a small studio is to get the personal attention. If I want a row of treadmills and a bank of dumbbells, I’ll go to the YMCA.
- Attitude – Tell me I can do it. I came here because I was brave enough to ask for help. Now help me by reinforcing my confidence with a positive attitude. Some people like a drill sergeant kind of trainer, I don’t. So maybe some flexibility here would be good to meet the needs of various customers.
- Flexibility – We’re all human and crap happens. Be flexible (to a reasonable degree) when life happens and I can’t make a session. Our trainers have been pretty open to rescheduling but will clamp down a bit in the future to only 1 or 2 reschedules per session.
- The Kid Test – As odd as it sounds, I use my kids as a test to see if somebody is trustworthy or not. If my kids like you, I feel much more comfortable using your services. Granted, you’ll need to pass my own gut check, but kids in general are a good judge of character. And if you react well around them, then it shows me you’re just a little more trustworthy than the shady guy down the street.
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@TK42ONE: GREAT reasons, thank you!
Honestly, for me, when looking for a gym to join… it all boils down to GREAT CHILD CARE!! I am a full time stay at home mom… and in order for me to ‘get approved’ to spend money on ‘me’ and a gym… I need to make sure that there are highly competent people in charge to LOVE on my children (not just plop them in front of the tv).
Rachel @RunningRachel´s last [type] ..Weekly Weigh In
@Rachel @RunningRachel: i so agree! unfortunately we are not in a position right now to offer any childcare but it’s definitely on my radar!
I like a nice and clean facility. And a good class schedule that works for me and are classes I want to take. And also a good child care area where I feel okay leaving my girls. Also, having enough of certain machines- my gym doesn’t have enough treadmills and ellipticals. It’s a huge gym for our area and some mornings there is a wait time.
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@Rachel McPhillips: waiting for cardio equipment was always my biggest complaint! its hard enough to get there but then to have to use up gym time waiting in line always stressed me out!
It’s the classes and instructors that keep me at my current gym. A variety of classes and times and personable instructors is the most important to me. Cost is second. I have been considering boxing specific gym and while I enjoy the equipment, the cost is far too high for me so I haven’t.
@Alicia: hmmm..that is food for thought. we are a specialty facility so our prices are definitely higher but we feel we offer a premium service. I’m trying to figure out how to get people like yourself in the door!
thanks for responding!
At this moment — childcare is a must. I prefer to workout in the morning but I need to flexibility to do it when I have one or all of my kids. Second, variety. I like to have the ability to try new classes, trainers and equipment. Also the teachers and trainers. I want my time in the gym to count, so someone who can really motivate me is crucial!
@Frannie: i so agree! i am hopeful we will get to a place where we can offer childcare. Such a common struggle for most of us!
Decent equipment, clean facility, great trainers, good class schedule and fabulous childcare. I go to a small gym (not a chain) and I love it. Most of the classes are in the morning and evening and childcare is included. The kid area isn’t huge, but it’s well stocked and the ladies that work there are wonderful. My kids always come home with art projects for me
I think the gym has found a nice balance with hours. Childcare is open from 9-1 (the bulk of the classes are during this time) and again in the evening from 6-9. You can reserve a spot for your kids up to a week ahead of time, so you always know you’ll make that great class you had your heart set on 
@Kristen: i’m so happy to hear that a small gym is able to offer such great perks! Most of the time people are forced to pick the big name gyms because they can offer more perks by overloading the membership base. Sounds like your place is a great fit!
Childcare, childcare, childcare = affordable, good (clean, with qualified and competent caretakers) available (more than just 8am-noon). Honestly, I would work out on a broken treadmill, bring my own towel, find a community pool, shower/change at home, as long as I have 1-2 hours a day AWAY from my kids (and knowing they’re in good hands) to get a good workout in.
@SG: LOL! yes, I agree!
I love a good cable workout! Besides that, group bootcamp style classes – or other HARD classes are what I look for. I’m not one for pilates & yoga. BC I’m a mom, childcare is needed OR early morning classes (6am).
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Mother’s hours. That means early in the morning or late in the evening. I tend to get a head start by exercising at 5 a.m. I know that is brutal for most folks, but there are a number of mothers who have to do that. My second thing is getting to know me and my needs. I love being a member of any club that I am known by name and am asked how I am and how things are going. With that, I want to be held accountable, so when you say, “Hi Rosa.” I also want you to ask me why haven’t been around for a while. It lets me know that I am missed.
Flexible/extended hours, for sure~!
I am finally at a point where I no longer need to worry about child care but rather what’s it like during the hours the kids are in school when I have the time to workout – can I find classes that interest me during that time? is the equipment I need/want to use available during that time? While not a germaphobe by any means–cleanliness is huge!! If it’s a visibly dirty place what else is hiding that I can’t see? Another thing I look at is the staff are they friendly? welcoming? etc?
@Celeste: cleanliness is a good one, thanks Celeste!
I can’t even step foot in a gym too pricey and way too many ppl. I am just not a “work out with a bunch of strangers” kinda girl i guess.
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@eschelle: eschelle–what if it was a very small group of people that encouraged you to meet your goals? Just curious…..I know lots of people who prefer the workouts on their own. (way long ago I used to be one of them!)
Thanks for commenting!
I currently attend a kettlebell bootcamp (held in the instructor’s neighborhood’s clubhouse) and I love it because it’s a supportive environment of other mom’s like myself, we have an encouraging and knowledgable instructor and the class is 30 minutes of intense, effective and efficient training. .
@kia: supportive environment is key! sounds like a fun way to get in shape with your friends, thanks for commenting!
For years I went to a private studio to work with a personal trainer. Really, people will come if there is a product — or a trainer — they can’t live without. We were willing to deal with the small space and lack of fancy/new equipment because the trainer was so awesome. Personal attention, prepared, and results.
Child care since I’ve had kids has been of utmost importance. However, if you can’t offer that, or lush towels, or a fancy environment, just be sure your training is awesome. Which, I’m sure it will be! People will follow their trainers. It’s happens all the time.
@Mandi: Mandi—so very true about people following their trainers! thanks for commenting!
This list is in no particular order:
knowing that you were there. Big gyms advertise big, for me to find out about a small gym you would need to get the word out.
trainers I could trust. People I knew who would be willing to work with me and not just push their agenda.
Flexible schedules. Classes at various times. This is a hard one for smaller gyms to do, but a big plus for the big gyms is how often they offer certain classes
child care. This is not much of an issue for me now, but it use to be. Good childcare is a must. I guess, as an alternative, you could have a list of suggested daycares or sitters, but onsite childcare is best.
equipment I wouldn’t have at home. Not the cheap bike or ordinary treadmills, but the machines that mimic courses, and something like an arc machine, which I would never have at home.
flexible costs. You probably couldn’t offer the 19.99 a month deal the big boxes give (which they can do because so many join and don’t use), but a flexible plan based on how I used the gym or how often, would work.
Those are just a few off the top of my head. I hope your business does well. I would love to have a gym that offered kettlebell near me.
@Kim: thanks Kim! Great tips!
one of the things I love the most about my CrossFit box is that every coach there knows my name. I have met the owner exactly one time and when I walk in the door he says “Hey [Legally fabulous] how it’s goin?”
As has been mentioned – schedule is huge.
It’s also super important to me that progress is recognized. I will never be the guy backsquatting 300 lbs. But I still like to be recognized for having excellent form with 100 lbs. Or for overcoming box jump fear.
At the same time – being pushed and told i CAN do something that I think I can’t.
Modifications are huge. Mentioning modifications before I have to ask, since I basically have to modify everything. If I constantly have to ask what I should be doing instead of a pullup, I feel fat and out of shape and unmotivated. But if the trainer says “okay pullups or jumping pullups or ring rows or negatives, whatever you can do”, i don’t feel bad for not being able to do a pullup!
so with kettlebells I’d say reminding people that just because they aren’t using a 30lb kettlebell doesn’t mean they aren’t still working hard and getting results!
@Legally Fabulous: thanks Legally Fabulous! And these are such important things that most big box gyms just cannot offer, especially with the modifications!
Kc6wk2 That’s the best answer of all time! JMHO
The absolute most important thing I would pay big bucks for – is a program designed to help me, help my kids not have the same weight and fitness problem that I am dealing with. Mommy and me workout classes or even little treadmills in the childcare area where they can “workout” too. When my girls were young we bought some kids workout stuff (a little treadmill that was primary color and an exercise bike) that they could exercise with us. It made exercise fun and they got to spend time with us plus they made us do it with them. Now that they are older, we don’t have that luxury so for me to go workout in the gym, I am leaving them home or in child care so we just walk/jog instead. I would love it if we could work out together and encourage each other because then it would be another person to be accountable to. We hired a certified trainer to come to the house and teach us all Kettlebells so now we do that at home together but it sure would be nice to have a class we could go to and workout together. I’m guessing there are some insurance restrictions and such but that would be my ultimate dream gym…
A workout that works…I’ve gone to classes where I feel as though I am flailing and flinging myself around yet don’t feel or see any benefit from the workout….plus I feel silly doing some of the moves. I enjoy running but I have currently broken my toe so I’ve been looking into a workout with weights…either dumb bells or kettleball works great for me. A clean, small, enviroment is definitely better than a large gym. I usually bring my own towels and mat…so a good locker/changing area is always a bonus…supplying towels seems a bit much to me….
Punch bag. It`s a great way to burn calories especially if you know how to hit the bag. I just love hitting the punch bag after the work out with weights.
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