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One of America’s most well-known boutique fitness brands went from $10 million in annual revenue to closing every location less than two years after being acquired. FitLab raised $65 million, partnered with Nike and acquired some of America's best-known boutique brands such as Y7 Studio and Mile High Run Club. The Nike partnership fell apart. Then other studios started closing. We break down what happened, Y7 founder Sarah Larson Levey's public account of the final 18 months, and the bigger lessons around acquisitions, founder control and boutique fitness. Is the boutique model the problem… or is this more about operations and execution behind FitLab? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

Five-Star Gym Reception Services Course Eric Falardeau from McKinsey & Company joins the show to share his perspective on the biggest trends and opportunities shaping health, fitness and wellness. Drawing on McKinsey’s work with some of the world’s leading companies and investors, we explore where the industry is heading. We discuss industry consolidation, what investors are looking for, and the growth of multi-amenity gyms, mass participation events and social wellness. Eric also shares why fitness is far from becoming a commodity, what the industry can learn from sectors like hospitality and retail, and the capabilities operators need to build now as the market matures. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Eric Falardeau on LinkedIn McKinsey & Company

Warmth and competence are both essential to delivering a five-star fitness experience, but which matters most? In this episode, Matt and Jack explore the idea of the “Hospitality Quotient” and why qualities like kindness, empathy, curiosity and self-awareness can be just as important as technical ability. We discuss what fitness can learn from Danny Meyer’s approach to hospitality, why the most knowledgeable coach isn’t always the best coach, and how to identify people with a high HQ during recruitment. From behavioural auditions to better interview questions, this episode looks at how to build teams that are technically strong and genuinely great with people. Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software
 Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution
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Five-Star Gym Reception Services Course Industry legend Dr. Paul Bedford — also known as the ‘Retention Guru’ — joins the show to share the lessons he’s learned from more than two decades studying member retention in the fitness industry. We discuss why people stay, why they leave, and the biggest mistakes gyms make when trying to improve retention. Keeping a member is easier than getting a knew one, so if you want your clients to stay as long as possible do not miss this episode. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Dr Paul Bedford on LinkedIn Retention Guru

Five-Star Gym Reception Services Course Mark Fisher built one of the fitness industry’s most distinctive brands, growing Mark Fisher Fitness into a business that generated more than $34 million in sales before its exit. Today, through Business for Unicorns, he helps gym owners around the world build stronger businesses, teams and member experiences. In this episode, we discuss how to create unforgettable first impressions, recruit warm and competent staff, use personalization to build stronger relationships, and why small, thoughtful moments often have the biggest impact on retention. Mark also shares lessons from Broadway, hospitality and public speaking, along with practical ideas every gym owner can apply to create a more memorable member experience. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Mark Fisher on LinkedIn Business For Unicorns

Five-Star Reception Services Welcome back to our monthly fitness industry roundup, where we go beyond the headlines and break down what the biggest stories actually mean for operators, brands and the future of the industry. This month, co-founder and host Jack Thomas covers: ⭐ Beyond Activ launches its new community app 🥊 Barry’s non-compete sparks industry debate 🧘 Club Pilates surpasses 1,500 studios globally 📈 STRONG Pilates accelerates US expansion 🏨 CorePower Yoga appoints a CEO from hospitality 🏋️ Life Time posts record revenue and member spending 📊 New ABC Fitness report reveals rising engagement 🇪🇺 Basic-Fit surpasses 2,100 clubs across Europe 🌏 REVL Training reaches 50 studios and enters Taiwan 🔥 HYROX participation and spending continue to surge 💪 Growth updates from BODYROK and Pvolve ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

Five-Star Gym Reception Services Course Ryan Hogan, CEO of Les Mills Asia Pacific, joins us to discuss the trends shaping the future of fitness. Drawing on insights from the latest Les Mills Global Report, we explore why more people are exercising than ever before, the growth of strength training, and why creating the right atmosphere and human connection is more important than ever. We discuss the new Les Mills and HYROX partnership, the role AI is likely to play in fitness over the next decade, and the biggest opportunities across Asia-Pacific. This episode is packed with practical insights for fitness operators. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Ryan Hogan on LinkedIn Les Mills

Matt and Jack have spoken to gym owners and managers across the industry, and there’s one mindset that predicts a weak sales experience more than any other. In this episode, we discuss why sales should be viewed as service, the questions every team should be asking before making a recommendation, and how to guide people without overwhelming them. If you want to improve sales in your gym while making members feel comfortable and looked after, this is the episode for you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

Five-Star Gym Reception Services Course Jarron Aizen, CEO of Hapana, joins the show to discuss how the brands that succeed will use AI to strengthen, rather than replace, human connection. We explore Hapana’s journey from a personal training platform to one of the industry’s leading software providers, why they rebuilt their entire platform from the ground up, and what operators should be thinking about as AI reshapes the way gyms are run. If you want to understand where fitness technology is heading over the next decade, this episode is a great place to start. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Jarron Aizen on LinkedIn Hapana

Liv Billingham of Ezypay joins host Jack Thomas to break down five of the region’s most important fitness markets: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. We explore the growth, trends and consumer behaviours shaping each country, from Singapore’s highly competitive boutique scene and Malaysia’s rapid development to Indonesia’s complex local landscape, the community-led Philippines market and Thailand’s strong resurgence. This is an essential overview for operators, investors and suppliers looking to better understand the opportunities across Southeast Asia. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Olivia Billingham on LinkedIn

Welcome back to our monthly fitness industry roundup, where we go beyond the headlines and break down what the biggest stories actually mean for operators, brands and the future of the industry. This month, Jack Thomas covers: ⭐ The Fit Guide launches Five-Star Fitness Reception Course 🇹🇭 GymNation expands into Thailand 🏆 HYROX World Championships head to Hong Kong 💰 HYROX reportedly secures a major new investor 🚴 SoulCycle continues to close studios 🎤 Our biggest takeaways from Beyond Activ 📈 JETSET Pilates reaches 400 locations sold 🌍 Expansion updates from Orangetheory, Fitstop and Club Pilates 💬 Analysis, opinions and what it all means for the fitness industry ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

Most gyms get their late coming policy and implementation all wrong. In this episode, Matt and Jack discuss what fitness businesses can learn from hospitality about punctuality, communication and removing friction from the member journey. From starting and finishing classes on time to handling unavoidable delays professionally, we break down the standards that separate well-run clubs from the rest. If you want a more consistent experience, happier members and a stronger brand, this episode shows why every minute matters. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

Yves Preissler joins the show to discuss what the fitness industry can learn from the world’s leading hospitality brands. Drawing on decades of experience in luxury hotels, Yves explains why personalization, genuine human connection and consistently great service are what keep customers coming back. We discuss why front desk interactions often let gyms down, how small personalized touches can transform the member experience, and why the best sales strategy isn’t about pushing harder, but about building trust. If you want to create a more memorable experience, improve retention and sell with integrity, this episode is full of practical ideas you can apply immediately. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Yves Preissler on LinkedIn

In this episode, Matt and Jack explore what fitness businesses can learn from luxury hospitality when it comes to pre-arrival communication. From booking journeys and confirmation emails to digital onboarding and social media, we discuss how the best brands build anticipation, reduce uncertainty and make clients feel welcomed before they even arrive. If you want to improve first impressions, this is where to start. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website