Fitness Industry Innovation Podcast

The Fitness Industry Innovation Podcast For Health Club, Gym, and Fitness Studio Operators, Owners and Professionals. Host Kelly Card brings you interviews with leading global influencers who are at the intersection of fitness, innovation, technology, and operating best practices in the ever-changing, growing, and evolving fitness industry. You’ll gain understanding, insights, ideas, and the tools you need to stay connected to what matters most for your business, career, and future in the fitness industry.

Defining Member Experience Part 3: Chelsea Perkins of Club Fitness 03/11/2020

Defining Member Experience Part 2: Mark de Gorter of Workout Anytime 02/12/2020

Defining Member Experience Part 1: Adam Zeitsiff of Gold’s Gym 01/15/2020

Josh Unfried - End to End Frictionless Buying 12/18/2019

Dan Collins - Getting Back to Basics 11/14/2019

Eddie Tock — A Focus on Learning 10/03/2019

Joel Tallman and Jeff Carlson — The 4Rs of Success 08/20/2019

Sunil Saha — Gamification and Rewards in the Health and Wellness Space 08/07/2019

Chuck Runyon — Empathy and Purpose in the Fastest Growing Gym Brand 07/23/2019

Adam Stokar — Automation and AI in the Fitness Industry 07/09/2019

Adam Stokar — Automation and AI in the Fitness Industry Adam Stokar is the Founder and President of Club OS. Growing up, Adam enjoyed video games and sports, and as he got older, he realized that his interests had a common theme — the more practice you put in, the better you got. He pursued software engineering in college, but one day saw a lack in the fitness industry for fitness software and CRM, leading to the creation of Club OS. Since its launch, Adam has expanded his reach, and now serves over 3,000 facilities across North America in areas such as fitness tracking, marketing automation, CRM, and training management to help fitness businesses get time back and make their lives easier. How can automation and AI help businesses in the fitness industry? Adam shares more about the integration of automation with human interaction to create better customer experiences, and how health clubs and fitness business can better leverage technology. He also dives into some key applications of AI that we can expect to see moving forward, and the impact this will have on the fitness industry at large. Tune in to find out more! Key Takeaways: [:52] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode — Adam Stokar. [1:47] What has Adam's journey in the fitness industry been like? [5:53] What has been the history of lead management in the fitness industry? [9:00] How can automation help fitness businesses? [11:50] What is the importance of human interaction, and how does it integrate with the automation component in a fitness business? [15:00] What are the elements that are missing from a technology perspective in terms of sales and marketing in the fitness industry? [19:18] Moving forward, what are some key applications of artificial intelligence to the fitness industry? [23:34] Kelly and Adam discuss the utility of AI in home fitness. [25:53] What are some future developments that we can expect to see at Club OS? [30:57] Connect with Adam via LinkedIn to keep up with his work. Mentioned in This Episode: /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/10444640

Colin Milner — Supporting the Active Aging Community 06/26/2019

Chris Rondeau — Bringing Fitness to Millions 06/12/2019

Chris Rondeau — Bringing Fitness to Millions Chris Rondeau is the CEO of Planet Fitness. As one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs and one of the most successful operators in the history of the fitness industry, he shares more about how he helped to pioneer the low-cost gym model by offering memberships at $10 a month and catering to the first-time health club goer. Today, Planet Fitness is one of the most well-known brands, with 13.6 million members and over 1,800 outlets. How does a gym brand transition to become an industry sensation? Chris shares more about how he was inspired to revolutionize the fitness industry by lowering membership fees and creating gyms that were catered to the everyday individual who wanted to get fit, instead of top fitness enthusiasts. He reveals the streamlining of the Planet Fitness model to focus on very specific member experiences, as well as why it’s so important to always keep the customer front and center. Tune in to find out more about this incredible fitness brand and the man behind it. Key Takeaways: [:47] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode - Chris Rondeau. [1:57] What is Chris' background and how has that contributed to the rise of Planet Fitness? [4:12] How did Planet Fitness transition from a gym brand to an industry sensation? [9:16] Planet Fitness became so successful with its low prices that they needed to expand. Chris explained how the services offered changed. [11:32] Chris and Kelly discuss how the Planet Fitness model is very streamlined to focus on a specific member experience. [12:29] What is important to get right when it comes to serving the first-time health club goer? [14:07] Chris is breaking the rules in a way that enhances customer engagement and member experience. [14:48] How does technology play a role in the ultimate customer experience? [17:13] What are Chris' thoughts on experience changing as there is increased segmentation in the market among the different generations and changing perceptions of health and fitness? [19:38] What are the symbiotic advantages between the partnership between Kohl's and Planet Fitness? [20:26] What does the future look like for Planet Fitness? [22:29] What is Chris' strategy when it comes to reaching out to teens and what does he hope to inspire? [24:16] Where does Chris get his inspiration? Mentioned in This Episode: /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/10132115

John Ford — A Digital Strength Training Routine for Beginners 05/28/2019

Dave Dos Santos — Creating the Best Fitness Experience 05/14/2019

Dave Dos Santos — Creating the Best Fitness Experience Dave Dos Santos is the CEO of Best Fitness and BFitt60, and is commonly known as the specialist in the fitness experience. He started off as a personal trainer at Gold's Gym back in 2001, before starting his own big box fitness center focused on customer experience. In recent years, he has branched out into the boutique fitness industry, launching BFitt60 to cater to a different demographic. Dave is a true member experience practitioner and always considers the nuances of human behavior and human nature to craft incredible experiences in his brands. He and Kelly dive into the theme of community and authenticity in the fitness industry — now more than ever, club owners need to find new and innovative ways to stay connected to their clients and provide them with unique member experiences. Dave also shares more about how he has applied technology in context to create authentic member experiences, as well as his predictions for the future of the fitness industry. Tune in to find out more! Key Takeaways: [:54] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode — Dave Dos Santos. [2:51] What is Dave's history in the fitness industry, and how has he become known as the specialist in the fitness experience? [5:50] What led Dave away from the big box commercial facilities and toward the training gym model with BFitt60? [7:50] Themes of community and authenticity seem to be more important than ever in the broader fitness industry. What do community and authenticity mean for Dave's different brands? [10:35] How does Dave stay connected to his clients inside and outside of his fitness spaces? [11:39] Kelly and Dave discuss how he has implemented the concept of late fees. [13:04] How does a member of best fitness feel different from members of other club brands? [14:48] How does Dave use data to build experiences, drive revenue and motivate his team? [19:22] What kind of activity does it prompt in Dave's clubs when he sees that members aren't utilizing certain classes? [21:53] What is the correlation to attrition in clubs where Dave has high class attendance? [22:58] What are Dave's predictions for the future of the fitness industry? [25:40] Dave shares his outlook for himself in the fitness industry. [27:39] What are some actionable steps listeners can take to authentically connect with their members? Mentioned in This Episode: /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/9775985

Frank Nash – Advice from the Social Media Guru of Fitness 05/01/2019

Thomas Plummer – The Business of Fitness Guru 04/17/2019

Rick Mayo – A Focus on Personal Training 04/03/2019

JJ Creegan – A Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness 04/03/2019

Tom Wingert – Disrupting Marketing in the Fitness Industry 03/20/2019

Tom Wingert – Disrupting Marketing in the Fitness Industry Tom Wingert is the Vice President of Marketing at City Fitness in Philadelphia. He is a relative newcomer by fitness industry standards, but has created a tremendous amount of disruption in the past 4 years. He has helped grow City Fitness from 60 employees to 300+ employees, and from 6,500 members to 15,000 members in his short time there, by building and branding beautiful fitness facilities, and is disrupting what digital marketing means in the fitness industry to deliver ultra community-based, hyper-personalized experiences in all of his facilities. Tom and Kelly discuss some of the innovative marketing strategies that he has implemented for City Fitness, from approaching digital marketing from a different angle to the way he took on his new health club pre-sales. Tom explains more about his inspiration behind being an industry innovator and marketing disruptor, as well as how he has helped transform City Fitness into a community brand that contributes to the lives of the people it serves. Tune in to find out more as Tom shares his insights about upcoming marketing trends in the fitness industry, and the role of technology in creating consumer experiences. Key Takeaways: [:49] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode — Tom Wingert. [3:05] What is the City Fitness story, and how has Tom honed in on what it means to offer personalized experiences in the marketplace? [11:15] What is Tom's approach to the club design process? [15:22] How has Tom helped entrench City Fitness in the community as the community brand? [18:50] Kelly and Tom discuss how City Fitness has focused on driving experience that is contributing to the lives of people in the community, outside the walls of the facilities. [20:30] Tom took a really disruptive approach to his new health club pre-sales. He shares more about what inspired that, and what he did. [24:55] Where does Tom get his innovative marketing inspiration? [29:58] What role does technology play in helping Tom deliver that experience and grow City Fitness at the rate it's growing? [35:22] What does Tom observe to be trending in terms of marketing within the fitness space? Where does he see marketing going in the future of the fitness industry? [38:28] What is Tom's one piece of marketing advice for club operators? [40:49] Get in touch with Tom on Instagram to connect with him. Mentioned in This Episode: /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/9064097

Paul Schaller – Insights from the CEO of ABC Financial Services 03/13/2019

Paul Schaller – Insights from the CEO of ABC Financial Services Paul Schaller is the CEO of ABC Financial Services, which he has been a part of for the past 27 years. He is one of the greatest visionaries and connectors in the industry who helped pioneer health club payment processing and club management software for decades. His success comes from continually staying on the frontlines, and genuinely connecting to the pulse of the industry, while building impeccable, long-lasting meaningful relationships with partners and customers. Paul draws on his years of experience to share his perspective on how the industry has changed over time, and why he continues to remain passionate about serving people in this space. He also provides some insights into the importance of creating great “member experiences” and the key factors that come into play on that front, particularly the connectivity and community aspect. Paul speaks about the trends that are playing out in the fitness industry, what it takes for ABC employees to be able to cultivate raving fans, and his hopes for the future of the industry. Tune in to find out more! Key Takeaways: [:48] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode - Paul Schaller. [2:14] Where did Paul's passion for the industry begin 27 years ago? How has his commitment and hunger remained so unyielding today? [6:13] In his time in the industry, how has Paul seen the industry evolve around the people and the expectations that members have today? [9:26] Kelly and Paul discuss the need for the fitness industry to embrace the connectivity. community and social aspect that consumers are demanding. [10:32] What does "member experience" mean and what steps do club operators need to consider when they think about providing a more meaningful experience for their members? [14:31] Where does Paul see operators missing the basics? [18:04] What are some other trends that are driving the fitness industry today? [19:27] What are the "blocking and tackling" elements of creating raving fans that are important for every ABC employee to know? [22:23] What gives Paul such contagious hope for what the industry is going to be in the coming years? Mentioned in This Episode: /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/8957357

Mike Alpert – Purpose-Driven Enterprise at The Claremont Club 03/06/2019

Mike Alpert – Purpose-Driven Enterprise at The Claremont Club Mike Alpert has been the President and CEO of The Claremont Club since 1997. In his time at the club, he has built an amazing culture and community of caring for and nurturing others, and he is and a man who truly champions the the notion of purpose-driven enterprise better than anyone in the fitness industry. He joins Kelly Card to share his insights about what this means for other players in the fitness industry. Everybody knows about the benefits of exercise, and Mike has long been passionate about connecting the fitness industry with the chronically injured and chronically ill, particularly the global health initiative Exercise is Medicine®. He shares more about the programs offered by The Claremont Club under this initiative, and how has he engaged fitness and medical professionals at the local and global level to work towards bringing healthcare and fitness together. The Claremont Club is truly a purpose-driven enterprise, working to bridge the gap between the medical and fitness industries and help its clients achieve their health and wellness goals. Tune in to find out more! Key Takeaways: [:47] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode – Mike Alpert. [2:25] What is Exercise is Medicine®? What are some of the innovative fitness / wellness / medical programs that Mike offers at The Claremont Club? [4:09] What does Mike see as the missing links / elements that have prevented the fitness industry from connecting to the healthcare space over the years? How is Mike bridging the gap? [6:40] Mike shares his insights on the trend that modern health clubs must be a place that offer services for people not only to lose weight but also to live a healthy, better life. [9:30] What is the position of The Claremont Club in Mike's community? [12:12] Kelly and Mike discuss the sense of purpose that is evident in every facet of The Claremont Club, in every program and in every employee. [14:14] The Claremont Club offers a variety of programs catered to different people with different needs. How can listeners take the step toward offering similar programs in their own clubs? [17:08] The big thing that has been missing all these years has been the medical, scientific data and research that can support what health clubs see every day, and they finally have it. Mike explains more. [20:57] Anyone who doesn't think that the medical component won't have a significant part of the fitness industry in the future is going to lose out. [21:38] Kaiser and other healthcare providers are really changing how they think about prescriptive exercise. Mike and Kelly discuss what this radical shift means for the industry. [23:47] Mike shares his suggestion for an accreditation program to get the backing from physicians for exercise programs at health clubs. [25:00] What are some of the tools that club operators can use to prepare themselves for conversations with doctors? [28:40] Get in touch with Mike and follow his work via phone, email or contact The Claremont Club Wellness Director, Denise Johnson for more information about their programs. [30:35] Kelly and Mike share some final thoughts on integrating the medical and fitness industries. Mentioned in This Episode: Call Mike Alpert at (909) 625 9504 For information about The Claremont Club Programs: Call Denise Johnson, Wellness Director at (909) 625 6791 ext 236 /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/8892494

Jeff Skeen – Integrating the Medical and Fitness Industries 02/27/2019

Jeff Skeen – Integrating the Medical and Fitness Industries Jeff Skeen is the CEO Reshape MD, Reshape Labs and Results Redefined. He is a longtime fitness industry innovator and visionary. Jeff has many years of experience running health and fitness chains, including Gold’s Gym International and Fitness Connection, but has recently started a move into the medical space. He joins Kelly Card to share his perspective on changes in these industries. The fitness industry and the medical industry have long existed in a state of friction, while ultimately serving consumers on the same front — health and wellness. Jeff and Kelly dive into the intricacies of how the medical and fitness industries can complement each other with increased medical connectivity. Jeff also explains his business model with Results Redefined, ReShape MD and ReShape Labs and how this integration of fitness and medicine is redefining “health care” for the modern fitness consumer. Tune in to find out more. Key Takeaways: [:49] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode — Jeff Skeen. [1:10] How did Jeff enter the fitness space? What has prompted his move toward driving medical connectivity in the fitness space? [8:35] Jeff explains more about how his business model operates. [9:52] What disruption is happening in the medical space that is making it possible to reduce the amount of friction that has historically existed between the fitness and medical industries? [12:14] There is a hand being extended from the medical world into the fitness space, possibly for the first time. [13:23] Taking into consideration the needs of the modern fitness consumer, it appears that the fitness and medical industries are finally perfectly timed to partner with each other in a meaningful way. [15:45] What are medical accountable care organizations? How is that going to make a mark in the fitness space? [17:29] How is Jeff and Results Redefined trying to bridge the gap between the fitness industry and the medical industry? [19:45] Kelly and Jeff discuss the different aspects of the concept of "health care". [22:04] What are some of the tactical steps that club operators can begin to explore to connect their facilities closer to the medical space? [25:17] What are some of the technologies that club operators can use to help bridge that communication gap? [27:11] What will Jeff be sharing at the Club Industry Healthcare and Wellness Summit? [28:26] Find out more about Jeff and his work via his websites or LinkedIn. Mentioned in This Episode: Club Industry Healthcare and Wellness Summit /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/8799722

Bryan O’Rourke – Understanding the Fitness Consumer of Tomorrow 02/15/2019

Bryan O’Rourke – Understanding the Fitness Consumer of Tomorrow Bryan O'Rourke is the President of the Fitness Industry Technology Council, fitness industry thought leader, keynote presenter, investor, and club owner. He has a talent for anticipating trends in the industry technology space, and joins Kelly Card on this episode to share his insights. The fitness industry is changing - there’s no doubt about that. Kelly and Bryan discuss how the modern fitness consumer has changed in terms of their demands and expectations, and the role of technology in catering to and driving these experiences. They also dive into how business models within the industry are changing, and what the future will look like as the consumer, technology and even the industry itself changes. Tune in to find out more. Key Takeaways: [:43] Kelly introduces her guest for this episode - Bryan O'Rourke. [2:04] What are Bryan's thoughts on the modern fitness consumer and the role of technology in driving the experiences they expect? [5:35] Kelly and Bryan discuss the convergence and divergence in business models that has come about as a result of consumer expectations and demands. [7:30] What is "betterment" today, and what does that mean for the customer of tomorrow? [10:22] Why is AI such an evangelist of the fitness industry and how is it relevant in creating consumer experiences? [14:18] In this age of technology, where do people fit in? [16:50] How does Bryan counter people who are coming from a tech vs human perspective? [19:33] What is OmniChannel and what does it mean for health club and gym providers? [23:52] OmniChannel frees people up to be more present in the spaces where face-to-face customer interaction is actually necessary. [25:01] Where is the fitness industry going to be in the next ten years? [31:05] What are some actionable steps that listeners can take now to be mindful of the fitness consumer of today and the future? [34:00] Find out more about Bryan by following him on all major social media platforms. Mentioned in This Episode: Bryan O’Rourke on , , , , /episode/index/show/fitnessindustryinnovation/id/8662490

Fitness Industry Innovation Podcast

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