marketing help for a womens only gym

warwick · 01-19-2012, 01:37 PM

Hi all
I'm after some help if possible... we have just taken over a womens only gym in the midlands (UK) a few months ago. The place has been ticking over but not many people are aware the place is even here, the last owner didn't invest in any advertising or promotions. We have around 170 members but need to hit 250/275 members to start making some money and start paying the investment back.
The gym is based on a 30 minute circuit workout but we have just invested in some Life Fitness treadmills, X trainer, rower etc. We also have a studio upstairs where we do classes such as zumba, yoga, boxercise, pilates etc. This is not a posers gym, its for all ages and there is a really good social vibe going on here, a lot of the members stay on after a workout for a coffee and a chat. We feel we offer a lot for only £30 per month.
I have done the new website myself (still needs a few bits doing to it but its 90% there), I have an A board outside on the road and a banner on the opposite side where the nice lady who lives there let me put it on the outside of her fencing! We also have quarter page ads running in the local weekly paper for January
What I'm looking for is some really good marketing ideas to get people though the door which don't cost a lot to do as we are on a really tight budget. All post will be massively appreciated!!!!

kind regards to you all
Warwick

edwardperry · 01-19-2012, 03:58 PM

Clearly you want to promote your Gym to the locals of the area and surroundings. You have taken the right steps in placing ads in the local newspapers as well as placing a big board outside the gym and so on.

Here are some ideas that could help you further: You could make small flyers and leave them on parked cars windshields and / or in other local businesses (small hotels, stores, etc) that allow you to do so (they may ask you the same in return). You may also want to find out websites and forums that are related to the area the gym is in and leave your signature in these if possible as well. Last but not least, use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, especially if you can connect with people from around that area. Hope it helps!

kensomerville · 01-19-2012, 06:54 PM

Warwick

Great job on what you are doing already. You are on the right track. I will ad that you can do a mail out in your local area, A post card or an over size post card. You can also over something no-one else does. IE, A free health smoothy, vitemen packs etc. It should all be a tax write of. But that is after you show a profit.

For your upstairs room how about dance classes, for all age's. It is a huge draw for people.

As for the website, you can look at the free training on marketing that you can get to in my sig. It will help with all your online and offline marketing.

I hope this helps.

Your friend in Marketing Ken Somerville

Derek_Miller · 01-23-2012, 09:40 AM

You can also go for pamphlets distribution. Have 2 or 3 people from your company distribute pamphlets near a woman's parlor or a spa. And also start posting videos of 2 or 3 work out sessions from your gym. People believe what they see

good luck..

TedPeterson · 01-26-2012, 02:49 AM

Here's something you might want to consider. You said that you have 170 members already. I would look for some ways that you can tap into them. For instance you could make Tuesdays bring a friend to the Gym day. This would be a free day for the friend so they can see and experience it. Then if the friend signs up for a membership they both get some kind of one time discount. Try thinking of different creative incentives that you can use to create a strong referral program. You are on the right track so keep at it! And keep us posted!

MailGuy · 02-21-2012, 05:39 AM

We have local women's gyms in Melbourne, called fernwood. They have some great slogans like "Find your inner fox'' and "Be a fox without botox'' and "join for fox's sake"