The Business of Boutique Fitness

Not all teacher trainings are created equal, y'all. Teacher trainings can be a powerful revenue generator, help you give back to your community, and source great instructors for your studio.  But here's the kicker, if you've got dreams of growing your program to 7-8 figures: there are certain things you're going to have to consider: Like centering your business model around a product stack The dif...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode:   Lise explains the importance of an onboarding journey for both clients and team members and discusses the key elements of a successful onboarding process. Lise introduces the concept of a bridge training program to quickly onboard experienced fitness instructors into a studio's methodology. Lise also discusses the importance of a comprehensive tea...

Y'all, a teacher training program can be a game-changer for your studio. It can increase your cash flow, enhance your reputation, and you a wonderful group of trained instructors who can join your studio family. But let's be real – running a teacher training program is hard work. It means extra hours, long weekends and a significant investment in energy and resources. So if you put in all that ext...

Here's the thing – commitment isn't a one-size-fits-all deal.  To you, commitment might mean working 12-hour days and overseeing every micro aspect of your business yourself. To someone else, it might mean building and training a team that runs the day-to-day so they can focus on the bigger picture – like sales, strategy and expansion.  Whatever it is, the bottom line is simple: staying committed...

Most studio owners have a complicated relationship with sales.  Some people are intimidated by it, others think it's just plain tacky to focus on making more money in a business that's supposed to be all about passion and service. But let's be real – if you don't make enough money to keep the lights on in your studio, you're not gonna be able to pay your bills, share your passion or serve your com...

Believe it or not, there are leaders, politicians and policymakers out there who still think of fitness as recreation.  And worse, they tax it the same way too.  In reality, gyms and fitness studios play a critical role in empowering people to maintain their basic health, prevent chronic and acute illness and live happy, fulfilled lives.  That's why we need people like Brett Ewer to advocate for o...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Lise chats with Rob Beale about the Third Space fitness concept, which aims to be the "third space" for its members and inspire them to be their personal best. Third Space's unique set of amenities and its focus on experience: Rob Beale explains how Third Space is more than just a typical health club, with a focus on building beautiful facilities, p...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: - The guest, Brian O'Rourke, is the CEO of Vedere Ventures, president of the Fitness Industry Technology Council, and co-founder of Moon Mission Media. - Brian discusses how growing up in a military family taught him perseverance and adaptability and how hospitality has influenced his experience-driven fitness businesses. - The importance of underst...

554: How to make your team an asset, not a burden - Coaches Peter and HP Here's what we're talking about in this episode: HP shares her extensive experience in people development and how it relates to effectively managing teams. Peter and HP talk more on the importance of assessing candidates' human skills and values during the interview process. We also discuss the importance of transparently dis...

Y'all, studio owners are often super reluctant to embrace new technology.  I get it – the idea of adding another tool to your already overflowing plate can seem like a lot. Not to mention the fear that technology and automation will diminish the human element in your business.  But I wanna let you in on a little secret today.  The truth is, if you use it right, automation platforms can actually he...

Boutique Fitness 552: Surviving Strong: The building of my brand with Susan Holden   There's more to living than not dying.  That's what Susan Holden told herself after being diagnosed with invasive cancer in 2004.  The cancer had spread, the prognosis wasn't good, and overnight, Susan's life became an endless series of doctor's appointments, chemotherapy and hospital visits, with just one key goa...

551: Your CEO Day Makeover with Michelle and Beth Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Introduction to the CEO day concept and the importance of having a CEO mindset. Discussion about the CEO mindset and how to adopt it. The importance of self-care and protecting your time and energy. Implementation of the CEO day and how to make the most of it. Discussion about the importance of havin...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Overview of KPIs that are important indicators of the studio's financial performance. Overview of KPIs that indicate the quality of the customer experience in a fitness studio. Explanation of four KPIs to evaluate the quality of the customer experience:  Conversion Rate Attrition Rate Net Member Change Average Membership Link. Emphasis on the import...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Introduction to KPIs: KPIs (key performance indicators) are quantifiable measures used to evaluate the performance and success of a business. Importance of tracking KPIs: Without tracking KPIs, businesses operate blindly and make decisions based on feelings or hunches instead of actual data. Vanity KPIs: Not all data is valuable and some KPIs, like...

Here's what we cover in Episode 548: The future of capital investment in the fitness industry  A deep dive into which KPIs are most important from an investment standpoint  Pete's insights on leasing out space, bringing in other partners and focusing on optimizing your studio space  What you need to do as a studio to attract investors – and seal the deal with them! If you're planning to take some...

Here's what we're talking about in Episode 547: How Anne Marie started her career in the fitness industry with programming Her suggestions for building programs that ensure cohesive client experience How Anne-Marie approached the project of building a boutique fitness concept in a 22,000 square feet space How Anne Marie and her team rolled out their idea of "boutique meets big box" in their market...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: Debra's first steps into boutique fitness and how her passion for the industry started  What happened when her passion evolved into her profession  The lesson Debra learned on false starts for clients and the way that led to her launching Row House How to approach digging deep into your client avatar and setting the stage for a strong brand  Some of...

These are some of the key trends and findings that I'll highlight in this episode: Which sectors have seen exceptional growth in 2022 (and which ones haven't)  Why human resources will be the most important conversation we have next year The industry-wide problem with retention rates and what's on the horizon The sales process that's our only way forward in 2023 The radical shift in digital market...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: How the iOS 14 update impacted advertising and marketing  The rise of in-platform marketing and how it can benefit business owners The best digital marketing funnel strategies to adopt right now (+ examples of what worked and what didn't for Studio Grow clients) Why your follow-up system is more important than ever before right now & how SMS messagi...

Here's what we're covering in Episode 543: Why it's important to divide your New Year's goals into 3 key categories Why your professional goals need to be separate from your business goals The best approach for setting business goals (& understanding what you need to improve to move the needle in your business) How to break your goals into S.M.A.R.T ones (& how further education can help bring the...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: A closer look at some amazing Black Friday results for our Studio Grow clients  What "sales stacking" is and how you can get the most out of this strategy  Why a membership-oriented promotion is your best strategy for Black Friday  A few examples of what to offer on each of the 5 days of the "Black Friday loop"  Some strategies that we started testi...

Here's what we'll cover in Episode 541: The 5-day Black Friday loop and what you need to know about it as a studio owner  My personal history with this holiday and what I've learned over the years Black Friday marketing strategies I've adopted with my studios Ideas and case studies you can get inspired by What you can do this week to start prepping for Black Friday If you're ready to bring in doze...

Here's what we're talking about in this episode: The real purpose that developing a budget has in your business  The 5 benefits of budgeting for the health of your business How budgeting will empower you as the CEO of your studio  3 steps to take to start developing your own budget right now  Which categories you should be including in your budget

Here's what we'll cover in Episode 539: The most common business objections around money and how it could be holding you back The stories we tell ourselves about raising our prices and what you can do to change that narrative Tips for starting a business with debt (and how you can utilize it in your favor) How to incorporate cash infusions into your business right now If you feel like you're ready...

Here's what we'll cover in Episode 538: The key aspects of building an exceptional workplace for your team What to include in a job description (and why clarity is everything here) Do's and don'ts to keep in mind when posting your job description How to create and use a hiring matrix that helps you zero in on your strongest candidate A list of interview questions that can help you hire better If y...