2 min readEnhancewell
The fitness world has no summer break, but you can count on a summer lull. As kids count down to summer vacation, gym owners count down to a change in routine prompted by higher temperatures, holidays, and childcare. While it's possible to create a plan to capture gym-goers year-round (ask us how!), we also wholeheartedly believe in bettering ourselves during downtime.
Check out the competition
Hear us: we're not telling you to copy your competition. We're firm believers that there's room for everyone at the table. We also believe there's a lot we can learn from our competitors.
Do a deep dive into local gyms or national ones you admire by visiting their website and social media, and checking out their online reviews.
Make notes on:
- What classes they offer
- What skills their trainers hold
- How they price their services
- How they promote their gym
- Special promotions
Once you compare a few of your competitors, you can make a plan for your gym. Do you need to up your marketing game? Should you vary your class offerings? Gain a competitive advantage over other gyms when you make yourself aware of your potential customers' options and ensure yours are the best.
Upskill
Slow season is an excellent time for your trainers to advance to the next level in their certification to challenge your regular members. Alternatively, you can add credentials to teach pre-and post-natal classes or get a certificate for teaching kids, opening up opportunities to work with doulas and mom groups or offer summer camps.
Don't adopt a "jack of all trades, master of none" philosophy, though. Clients will reward expertise with repeat sessions and recommendations. Kick off the educational season by gifting employees money for classes or offering other benefits like extra PTO or flexibility in class scheduling when instructors complete additional training.
Take a MOOC
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are great options for people with a lot of extra time without extra cash. Some of the most prestigious universities in the world, such as Harvard, Duke, or Oxford, offer top-tier education for absolutely free.
Take a course in:
- Accounting
- Business management
- Entrepreneurship
- Health and wellness
- Marketing
- and more
In some cases, you can pay a small fee to receive a certificate of completion from the university. In all cases, what you put into the course is what you'll get. Spend time to absorb the information, and your business will reap the benefits.
It can feel scary to invest in your business when times are slow. But the busy season isn't the time to implement something new. Take a leap of faith, and invest time and money now to see results. The team at Enhancewell Consulting can help you apply a growth mindset to your business, so you can react confidently to obstacles and thrive— even when everyone else is on summer break. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation, and prioritize your education.