Formosa Fitness

This idea that gyms must be open 24/7 is prevalent now in US because some gyms made opening hours like that their business model many years ago. And I often get requests or complaints that I don't offer an open gym membership. Thing is, I've thought about it many, many times and I just can not wrap my head around doing it. In fact, I'm fairly convinced such models are killing gyms.

Think about it for a minute: if I want to be open from 6am to 12am everyday, how many employees would I need to hire just to watch the gym? At least four by my count. Could I afford to hire top-notch coaches to watch the gym and assist members for that time? Haha, yeah right. I'd have to hire teenagers that couldn't get a job at McDonalds like everyone else. Ever wonder why the counter girl at your gym is completely clueless?

So I'd have to hire teenagers to watch the club and I'd have to have a TON of customers just to pay their salaries plus rent. Volume alone drives many of the mainstream gyms. Customers become nameless, faceless individuals. Right now, I know by first name every single one of my clients. I know their strengths and weaknesses, and their goals. Not so in a 24/7 commercial gym. 

Because volume drives the model, the salesmen are the first or second highest paid employees, NOT the trainers. The trainers are snot-nosed kids most of the time. The gym can't afford better. Have to drive that volume. So the gym makes money off selling memberships -- not from giving good workouts and services. Once you sign up, the gym hopes you WILL NOT come in since you'll use the equipment, contributing to wear and tear that means equipment will have to be replaced. I'd have to use the same model to stay open 24/7.

This would affect my equipment selection. Kettlebells, power clubs, barbells, etc. are skilled fitness tools. You need skills to use them. That means instruction and a system to provide it. The quality of training MUST be higher. You can't just set lose a typical client in a gym full of kettlebells and barbells. They won't have a clue what to do.

So I'd have to start getting machines because they allow the unitiated to, ahem, "workout." They are far less likely to hurt themselves on machines that hold the weight for them and guide the motions.

So hey, how about that great neck machine over there in the corner? Isn't it great? And only costs about US$2000 to buy and it works ONE body part. Wow, what a bargain. And permanently takes up about 9 square feet, too. Awesome since rent is free, right? Hey, I'll take a dozen or so. Got the pocket money right here.

Since I've been open I've made myself a student of the gym business. IMO the above scenario is an absolutely insane way to run a gym. Most of these big box gyms that use this model are barely breaking even. They cut each others throats in price wars by charging US$8 or less a month and compete to see who can offer the least service. Yeah, no thanks.

By focusing on small classes and personal training clients, I keep the costs waaaaay down and offer a level of service the big boxes can never give. Okay, maybe we don't have spas and all that but I'm not focusing on everyone as a client anyway. The fact is I need a fraction of the customers a big box needs to stay profitable and I get to have a relationship with everyone that comes in. I wouldn't ever trade that for 24/7 opening hours and faceless clients.

So now you know why we operate the way we do. I hope this peak behind the curtain has been informative.