Fitness Premier to Launch New Technology Kiosk Initiative

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs, the 18-unit and growing exercise franchise, is looking to launch a new technology initiative. Fitness Premier, which operates under the Fit For You franchising brand, is planning to introduce a line of interactive customer-facing kiosks in the coming months to ease customer pain points and streamline their operations.

Rick King, Vice President of Fitness Premier, has overseen the need for, and introduction of, the new kiosks; He has ensured the brand’s ability to leverage technology to make business operations more effective and efficient, and ultimately more profitable.  

Fitness Premier has been aggressively working with a software company to add the kiosks to their businesses. The user-friendly devices, King says, will help create “a better profit margin for our locations and easier operation.” The kiosks can be used for purchasing, service requests and more, meaning that they should be beneficial to both customers and franchisees, alike.

When a non-member approaches one of the 42-inch screens, they will be asked what sort of exercises they are interested in, and then be shown the different amenities Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs offers. They can then click and watch a short video, and based on what they selected, the kiosk will suggest the best membership for them out of the three tiers offered.

King says the whole process of becoming a member can take as little as five minutes, and you would, “never have to hear a sales pitch.” Fitness Premier decided to go in this direction, King says, after they found more people want to “choose their own adventure and their own path.” They understand that some people would rather interact with a kiosk than talk to an employee, and this is exactly who the devices are for.

“I think it gives us a real opportunity to take away the pressure from the sales situation but still get people to the program that's going to be right for them,” King said.

But the new kiosks aren’t just for non-members. They also allow current members to update, freeze, cancel or find information about their account, right from the kiosk. King says they know it can be an uncomfortable process to cancel your gym membership in person, and they don’t want their customers to have to experience that.

The initiative also benefits Fitness Premier’s franchisee owners, as well, as the kiosks are designed to streamline the sales and staffing process. While the gyms are open 24/7, they’re not always staffed, so the kiosks will allow them to continue selling memberships even when there’s no one staffed to process the transaction. Not to mention, King believes the kiosks will save franchisees money in the long-term because they can essentially perform some of the responsibilities of a staff member.

“We’re excited about that from the franchisee and from the business standpoint, and it’s going to give us an opportunity to lower our payroll a little bit,” King said.

The brand is planning to roll out the kiosks to all of its locations and begin testing within the first week of March 2023. If they are successful, King says the kiosks could also lead them to test an express model for their gyms, which would run on minimal staff. If the express model works, he believes this could create an opportunity for the expanding business to enter smaller markets.

But, King says, the new kiosks aren’t the only initiative that Fitness Premier has in the works. They’re also exploring the idea of developing their own billing software. They’re still in the early stages, but if they can create their own streamlined software, it would allow them to lower costs and help create better budgets for franchisees.

The total initial investment necessary to begin the operation of a Fitness Premier Club Model is $279,849 to $575,499 per unit. This includes a $39,999 franchise fee.

About Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs:

Fitness Premier 24/7 Clubs is a fast-growing fitness concept that creates a community with its staff and guests. At Fitness Premier 24/7 clubs, some of the amenities include 24/7 access, hydromassage, group exercise classes, supervised kids club, and training & nutrition programs. 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 markets. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit https://1851franchise.com/fitforyoufranchising.