As Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Begins Seeding Markets, Existing Franchisee Eric Greenhill Scoops Up 3 Locations

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs, the fast-growing, 13-location, group-workout gym concept, has seen major success in smaller markets that its competitors wouldn’t think to go after. The brand’s innovative new model is bringing group fitness and engaging classes to the suburbs and quickly sweeping the Illinois, Indiana region.

Franchisee Eric Greenhill runs the largest Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs franchise location in Minooka, Illinois. But like most fitness junkies seeing gains, Greenhill has no intention of stopping. So far in 2021, he’s opened three new locations in Coal City, Homer Glen and Cedar Lake, and his story illustrates just how easily Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs can make almost any retail space in any town a profit center and a hub for the local community. For Greenhill, the secret is to take a struggling gym business and convert it into a Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs franchise.

“Before we opened in Minooka, the gym was a stale business,” said Greenhill. “We’re in a small market where there is not a lot of competition. It’s turned into a growing town with a younger population. It was ripe for somebody to come in and do something.”

How Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs Dominate Markets Competitors Can’t Touch

Greenhill has leveraged Fitness Premier’s small real estate needs and exciting class offerings to turn a small location into a big earner. With Fitness Premier’s guidance, Greenhill has seen his gym catch on like wildfire through word of mouth, strategic marketing and good old-fashioned community building.

“Our Minooka location is about 14,000 square feet. Within the first year of being open, we had hundreds of members,” he said.

Greenhill credits his ability to dominate small town markets to Fitness Premier’s group fitness model that drives engagement. According to Jason Markowicz, CEO of Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs, this is the franchise’s sweet spot.

"We started seeing a valuable advantage as prime real estate in small towns became available, and we found a way to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs who shared my grit and hunger for success,” said Markowicz. “Eric took to the concept exceptionally well, and now he’s poised to acquire three new locations and turn them into profit centers.”

“The thing about small towns is everyone who wants to workout goes to the same place. Everybody is in classes together. It’s a community,” said Greenhill. “I moved out here from the Chicago area about eight years ago. There’s something that comes off different here. Not as much hustle and bustle. Although I’m operating multiple locations, I’m in my clubs at least twice a week establishing myself as an owner. I use that time to talk to my staff, clients, and customers. They get a kick out of it. People like to know that the owner is accessible. I can talk with them about what’s working and what’s not. Also, I find it makes customers more comfortable returning again and again, and then they go and tell their friends. Word of mouth marketing has been helping us crush it.”

According to Markowicz, small towns across the Midwest, particularly in Illinois and Indiana, are ideal for expansion because the franchises corporate headquarters are always within arm’s-length should they need support.

How Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs' Model Scales

For Greenhill, who has a business background, the Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs business model gives him a glide path to profitability, and he’s eager to expand his footprint.

“Fitness Premier franchises are all plug-and-play,” said Greenhill. “You have to operate it properly of course, but you essentially pay for the business model. I want to open two to three more clubs in Illinois. Right now, the locations are all within 30 minutes of each other, so it’s easy to grow.”

Overall, Greenhill said that Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs' business model and ongoing support completely justifies the investment, and he’s excited to grow the brand even further.

“I’m more of a business and numbers guy, always looking at the bottom line,” said Greenhill. “But the biggest thing is the corporate support. I get the locations going and then I find the right people to run the store using Fitness Premier’s model. I’m always building up management teams. I already have two managers ready to work at two new locations whenever I decide to open them.”

About Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs: 

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs is a fast-growing, 13-location, group-workout gym concept that creates a community with its staff and guests. Backed by franchise executive, Jason Markowicz and his franchisee-focused corporate team, Fitness Premier differentiates itself with great people, culture, and systems compounded by a growth focus in strategic yet smaller markets where some fitness brands would not think to grow. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit https://fitnesspremierclubs.com/own-a-fitness-premier/