Franchise Growth & Innovation: LIVE From Beyond Activ With Bryan O'Rourke
Release Date: 09/23/2024
The Sales Funnel & Consumer Behaviors: Challenges & Opportunities With Sarah Harris & Hilary McGuckin
Fitness + Technology
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his webinar with Hilary McGuckin and Sarah Harris from Keepme.ai as they explore how the modern fitness sales funnel is evolving—and what that means for fitness operators, marketers, and tech providers alike. In their conversations, they unpack: The biggest challenges fitness businesses face today with consumer acquisition and retention. Surprising insights from Keepme’s latest research on changing consumer behaviors. How AI, personalization, and automation can reshape the funnel. Real-world success stories and...
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Successfully Augmenting Fitness Facility Products & Services With Garrett Marshall
Fitness + Technology
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes back Garrett Marshall, a distinguished leader with over 22 years of experience driving growth in the wellness industry. Garrett’s expertise spans strategy and innovation, executive leadership, business development, strategic partnerships, and technological product development. He has notably served as CEO of Fitness On Demand and President of Xponential Fitness. Today, he is the Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Wellbuilt Ventures, helping clients scale revenue through data-driven strategies, and serves as...
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Next Gen-Fitness: Innovation, Insights, & Industry Disruption With Bryan O'Rourke
Fitness + Technology
In this episode of the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke joins an exclusive panel live from FIBO to explore the future of the fitness industry through the lens of technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Featuring global industry leaders: Bryan K. O'Rourke – President, Fitness Industry Technology Council | Chairman, Vedere Ventures | CEO, Core Health & Fitness Hugo Braam – CEO & Co-Founder, Virtuagym Magdalena Szwed – Product Director, Benefit Systems Oddział Fitness Henrik Gockel – Founder, Prime Time Fitness GmbH Moderated by Hans Muench, FITC...
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ROOK: Data Integration & Its Utility In Our Industry With Marco Benitez
Fitness + Technology
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Marco Benitez to the show. Marco is the CEO & Founder of ROOK, a wearable API that transforms health data and empowers apps and software with actionable insights. ROOK easily processes and embeds data from hundreds of wearables with single integration and shares access to deeper understanding and more actionable insights that allows users to make more informed decisions, find better solutions, and drive innovation. Today, Marco joins Bryan to talk about his business, data usage, and the implications on our...
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Elevating Lead Gen. Marketing, Tech, & Data With Mike Arce
Fitness + Technology
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Mike Arce to the show. Mike is the CEO & Founder of Loud Rumor, which helps fitness studios dramatically increase membership by improving their marketing strategies through consulting. Today, Mike joins Bryan to talk about his business, lead generation marketing, implemented technology, and other implications around fitness operations. One Powerful Quote: 34:57: “If you gamble, you’re just playing off feeling, but if you play the game, you do the right moves, and you live with the results.” 4-10...
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Upcoming Industry Events & Other Insights With Hans Muench
Fitness + Technology
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes back Hans Muench to the show. As the Director of International Development at FIT-C, he leads the council's efforts to grow the fitness industry, improve fitness user experience, and mature the collection of real-time wellness data through the creation of interoperability standards for technology-based fitness devices. With over 35 years of experience in the health and fitness sector, Hans has a deep understanding of the global trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic and evolving industry. Today, Hans...
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Keepme: Misconceptions About AI Tech Adoption With Ian Mullane
Fitness + Technology
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Ian Mullane to the show. Ian is the Founder & CEO of Keepme, an AI-powered sales and marketing CRM platform for the fitness industry. Launched in April 2019, Keepme has customers globally and assists hundreds of clubs with member acquisition and retention. Today, Ian joins Bryan to discuss AI tech adoption, his business, and operational insights across the industry. One Powerful Quote: 26:43: “Every unique idea only becomes executed because of the team that surrounds you.” 4-10 Bullet Points (w/...
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Virtual Road Show: Perspectives On The European Fitness Market With Doug Miller
Fitness + Technology
This week on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Doug Miller to the show. With extensive experience as an industry advisor, including his role with IHRSA’s European Council, Doug brings valuable insights into the evolving fitness landscape. As the owner of Virtual Road Show, an innovative app providing transformational education to fitness professionals worldwide, he shares his perspective on industry trends and the future of fitness. Today, Doug joins Bryan to discuss his business, industry developments, and the impact of technology on fitness education. One...
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NovoFit: Recognizing Global Trends & Stoic Leadership With Barry McDonald
Fitness + Technology
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, host Bryan O’Rourke welcomes Barry McDonald to the show. Barry is the CEO of NovoFit, an Australian owned and operated fitness equipment distribution company representing some of the top brands in the industry. With 20 years in the health and fitness industry, Barry has extensive experience and insight into the evolving potential of health, fitness, and wellness experiences from leading large-scale health club operations nationally to designing and developing premium fitness facilities across Australia and New Zealand. Today, he joins Bryan in...
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Future of Fitness: Navigating Global Trends & Emerging Opportunities With Bryan O’Rourke
Fitness + Technology
This week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his recording of his recent SIBEC webinar on 12 key trends for 2025 in the global fitness industry. This presentation covers trends for suppliers, gym and health club operators, and others in the global fitness industry. From M&A and finance, to digital fitness, GLP1's, Micro and Macro trends, Bryan covers a wide range of subjects about the future of fitness across every spectrum in the industry. One Powerful Quote: “Ideas are great, but execution and prioritization is the secret stuff that actually results in...
info_outlineThis week, on the Fitness + Technology podcast, Bryan O’Rourke shares his presentation live from Beyond Activ in New York. Beyond Activ is a leadership, investment, and business development event for owners, managers, and investors of health, wellness, fitness, and hospitality brands. Bryan was invited to present and host a panel on franchise innovation and growth with Emily Seaman, Head of Marketing from Momence, Bradford Smith, Chief Development Officer from PureGym, Eric Keller, VP of Support at Self Esteem Brands, and Justin Vartanian, Senior VP of International Division at Planet Fitness.
You can access Bryan's presentation deck here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vSI72UFIcTKyT8G7yZ8jskOJaEknXvc6/view
Recap of presentation is as follows: Key Drivers of Future Growth and Innovation (GII): Globalism, Demographics, Values, Technologies, and Economics are identified as the five mega-trend drivers of GII.
Customer Spending and Attitudes: Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) are spending more on health and wellness than older generations. U.S. consumers consider going to the gym a core part of their fitness routine.
Five Trends Impacting Businesses:
Declining customer satisfaction due to cuts in customer service.
Generative AI is shifting the internet experience from transactional to personal.
Lack of differentiation and creativity in app and brand design.
People feel overwhelmed by technology and desire more control and human connection.
Traditional life paths and values are shifting, leading to uncertainty and a search for trust.
2024 Edelman Trust Barometer: Innovation and technology offer promise but also risk exacerbating trust issues and societal instability. CEOs are expected to address societal changes and lead on issues like job skills, technology ethics, and automation.
Franchising and Competition: The International Franchise Association (IFA) tracks 9,000 brands in the U.S. alone, indicating high competition. There's also increasing cross-border competition for brands globally.
Key Opportunities for Businesses:
Prioritize the customer experience and personalization at scale.
Differentiate through authentic branding and humanized technology.
Embrace long-term thinking, adaptability, and a focus on human values and trust.
CEOs should address societal impacts of innovation and lead on key issues.
Overall, the presentation emphasizes the need for businesses to adapt to evolving consumer trends, technological advancements, and societal changes to drive future growth and innovation. please send podcast link asap ty
One Powerful Quote:
9:45: “What this leads to inevitably for all firms and franchising is the balancing of humanizing their brands while futurizing their organizations.”
4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:
2:42: Bryan kicks off his presentation with the five leading trends influencing the industry.
12:04: Bryan asks the panel regarding growth strategy for franchising.
16:14: Bryan asks the panel about growth focus by geography, demographics, franchisees, or mergers/acquisitions.
19:35: Bryan asks the panel about leveraging technology to enhance franchise operations.
27:00: Bryan asks the panel about the challenge in executing innovation.
28:33: Bryan asks the panel about brand consistency and localization challenges for international brands.
32:59: Bryan asks the panel about low performing franchisees.
38:15: Bryan asks the panel about franchise saturation in the marketplace.
42:36: Bryan asks the panel about their personal slogans to business and life.
44:31: Bryan and the panel answer questions from the audience.
Bullet List of Resources:
https://www.planetfitness.com/
Guest Contact Information:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-seaman/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfordsmithfranchise/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-keller-cfe-6638a28/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinvartanian/
https://www.bryankorourke.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/