Friends Health and Fitness takes a considered approach to cardio equipment
February 1, 2013
For Friends Health and Fitness Gym Manager, Deb Hill, choosing a new suite of cardio machines was an important investment, not just in the equipment, but in the actual process itself.
When Hill began the process of updating the cardio equipment at the Hobart gym, she decided it was important to hand the decision over in part to those who would be using the machines every day her personal trainers.
She explains "our personal trainers are the experts when it comes to equipment, so I thought they should have a big say in what we purchased.
"The next challenge was how they could physically touch and feel all the latest options, as being in Hobart, we're slightly isolated and found that it wasn't going to be as simple as visiting a few other gyms."
As a result, Hill sent two of her trainers over to the 'mainland', for a tour of Sydney and Melbourne to try out a range of different cardio options.
Hill adds "to some people travelling to two different cities just to choose a few pieces of equipment might seem a bit crazy, but for us it was an investment in getting the right machines. Most of the equipment we saw was quite similar, but it wasn't until our trainers got to see the machines up close and try them out that they realised that Precor has a better look and feel."
Another step that the gym took in making the important decision of what to purchase was trialling equipment with the most important audience of all their customers.
Here, Hill recalls "Precor provided us with a Total Body Crosstrainer EFX 835 to trial for a period of time. We gathered feedback from all of our members who used it, and it was 99% positive. This gave us real, tangible information on what our members want, without having to spend anything on the equipment beforehand."
Friends Health and Fitness has now installed new bikes and treadmills, with a view to updating more of their cardio equipment (including installing the EFX 835 crosstrainer they trialled) next year.
They are also among the first gyms in Australia to install Precor's innovative Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) machine, which features breakthrough technology and can duplicate the workouts of treadmills, ellipticals and bikes.
A contented Hill now explains "we have a strong relationship with our sales reps, in particular our Precor rep, Paul Kelly, and this enables us to discuss our needs with him and in turn, for him to really understand our business. The service he provided to us was second to none and continues to be, which is really important.
"Our end aim is to have a suite of machines that are all sourced from the same supplier, to simplify our maintenance and servicing and provide our members with the best exercise experience possible."
Based upon her experience, Deb Hill offers the following tips to help gym owners invest in the right equipment:
1. Build a relationship with your sales representative, and don't be afraid to ask for what you want;
2. Invest in your own research use the internet, but go and physically see and try lots of different equipment;
3. Let your own in-house experts (your instructors and trainers) have a big say in what you purchase they are one of your end users;
4. Trial equipment if you can and gather member feedback this helps you choose the right equipment but also demonstrates to your members that you care about what they think;
5. Don't let price be the main driver after-sales service and the look and feel of equipment is really important.
Friends Health and Fitness has been operating in Hobart since 1998. The club provides a comfortable, friendly and caring atmosphere with facilities and services including a 25 metre indoor pool, fully equipped free weight and circuit area, cardio gym and theatre, spin cycle studio, group fitness classes, spa and steam room, tennis courts, child minding, retail shop and juice bar.
Precor is a leading supplier of fitness solutions, with
http://www.precor.com
When Hill began the process of updating the cardio equipment at the Hobart gym, she decided it was important to hand the decision over in part to those who would be using the machines every day her personal trainers.
She explains "our personal trainers are the experts when it comes to equipment, so I thought they should have a big say in what we purchased.
"The next challenge was how they could physically touch and feel all the latest options, as being in Hobart, we're slightly isolated and found that it wasn't going to be as simple as visiting a few other gyms."
As a result, Hill sent two of her trainers over to the 'mainland', for a tour of Sydney and Melbourne to try out a range of different cardio options.
Hill adds "to some people travelling to two different cities just to choose a few pieces of equipment might seem a bit crazy, but for us it was an investment in getting the right machines. Most of the equipment we saw was quite similar, but it wasn't until our trainers got to see the machines up close and try them out that they realised that Precor has a better look and feel."
Another step that the gym took in making the important decision of what to purchase was trialling equipment with the most important audience of all their customers.
Here, Hill recalls "Precor provided us with a Total Body Crosstrainer EFX 835 to trial for a period of time. We gathered feedback from all of our members who used it, and it was 99% positive. This gave us real, tangible information on what our members want, without having to spend anything on the equipment beforehand."
Friends Health and Fitness has now installed new bikes and treadmills, with a view to updating more of their cardio equipment (including installing the EFX 835 crosstrainer they trialled) next year.
They are also among the first gyms in Australia to install Precor's innovative Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) machine, which features breakthrough technology and can duplicate the workouts of treadmills, ellipticals and bikes.
A contented Hill now explains "we have a strong relationship with our sales reps, in particular our Precor rep, Paul Kelly, and this enables us to discuss our needs with him and in turn, for him to really understand our business. The service he provided to us was second to none and continues to be, which is really important.
"Our end aim is to have a suite of machines that are all sourced from the same supplier, to simplify our maintenance and servicing and provide our members with the best exercise experience possible."
Based upon her experience, Deb Hill offers the following tips to help gym owners invest in the right equipment:
1. Build a relationship with your sales representative, and don't be afraid to ask for what you want;
2. Invest in your own research use the internet, but go and physically see and try lots of different equipment;
3. Let your own in-house experts (your instructors and trainers) have a big say in what you purchase they are one of your end users;
4. Trial equipment if you can and gather member feedback this helps you choose the right equipment but also demonstrates to your members that you care about what they think;
5. Don't let price be the main driver after-sales service and the look and feel of equipment is really important.
Friends Health and Fitness has been operating in Hobart since 1998. The club provides a comfortable, friendly and caring atmosphere with facilities and services including a 25 metre indoor pool, fully equipped free weight and circuit area, cardio gym and theatre, spin cycle studio, group fitness classes, spa and steam room, tennis courts, child minding, retail shop and juice bar.
Precor is a leading supplier of fitness solutions, with
http://www.precor.com
