1851

In the spring, COVID-19 forced the mass shutdown of gyms and exercise facilities across the country, sparking a severe plunge in fitness industry profits in the first half of 2020. Now, as the coronavirus continues to threaten the future of brick-and-mortar establishments in all segments, fitness businesses are turning to outdoor classes to revive revenue streams.On Saturday, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/25/coronavirus-fitness-studios-gyms-move-classes-outdoors.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fitness-studios-turn-to-outdoor-classes-to-stay-afloat-2713583" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CNBC offered a look</a> at how fitness brands are taking advantage of warm weather to maintain their customer bases while indoor classes remain prohibited in many states.&nbsp;Drawing on data from International Health, Racquet &amp; Sportsclub Association and Ibis World, CNBC notes that there were approximately 62.4 million members of Health Clubs in the U.S. in 2019, with the industry recently valued at $34 billion. Classpass reported that 95% of its revenue receded in April and that they were forced to lay off or furlough 53% of its staff as a result. Fitness studios Flywheel and Solidcore also laid off nearly 100% of their staff, and Gold’s Gyms and 24 Hour Fitness were two major franchises that filed for bankruptcy.Jacob Gise, who in November opened a location of Australian-based franchise Body Fit Training in California, told CNBC, “I climbed this huge mountain, traveling to different countries and doing all this stuff to get it here,” Gise said. “Right as it started to be profitable and a lot of franchisees were interested, everything is shut down.”While many struggling gyms originally pivoted to less-profitable online classes, others are now taking advantage of the summer weather and providing outdoor classes. Many exercise-enthusiasts have responded positively to the pivot, and new business partnerships have formed specifically to provide such a service.For example, one Zumba instructor, Lauren Owen in the Metro-Detroit area, partnered with a local nutrition store, Shores Nutrition, to bring protein shake deals to customers who joined her outdoor class. Owen hosts her classes in the Shores Nutrition parking lot and has seen the benefit the partnership has brought to her students.“There’s not as much camaraderie over Zoom as there is in person,” Owen told CNBC. “When I saw ... I could teach a class outside, I jumped on it, because I was so excited to teach in person again, because I know it’s just so much better.”Dana Auriemma, owner of Firehouse Fitness Studio in Philadelphia, told CNBC that her customers have responded well to hosting classes on their rooftop: “For clients in a studio, missing that studio get-together is a huge loss of a social aspect of their life and all of the emotional and mental benefits for exercise. The fact that outdoor gives us an outlet to bring that back to people is fantastic for their health.”Gise was one of many fitness center owners who also pivoted to bring his classes outside, and said the ability to serve his clients and provide an atmosphere for them to still reach their personal goals has been a game changer — not just financially but also from a morale perspective.&nbsp;“I’ve barely slept over the past four months, to be honest, just because I’m worried about paying my staff, I’m worried about trying to get this rent money and also just trying to take care of everybody,” Gise told CNBC. “There’s a lot of challenges, but at the end of the day, it’s totally worth it because we’re helping people, and their energy is the only thing getting me through.”<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/25/coronavirus-fitness-studios-gyms-move-classes-outdoors.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=fitness-studios-turn-to-outdoor-classes-to-stay-afloat-2713583" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read the full story at CNBC.com</a>.

Fitness Studios Turn to Outdoor Classes to Stay Afloat

1851 Franchise

CNBC reports that while brick-and-mortar gyms are hit hard by the pandemic, many studios are offering classes outdoors to make up for revenue lost.

fitness-studios-turn-to-outdoor-classes-to-stay-afloat

ServiceMaster Restore

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Strong Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

servicemaster-restore-powers-into-the-second-half-of-2025-with-strong-growth-and-purpose-driven-impact

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

Fitness Studios Turn to Outdoor Classes to Stay Afloat

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS