Interview


“The sector is worth £7.7billion, driven by year- on-year increases in market penetrations”


part of an exciting brand. At our global conference last year over 2,700 franchisees came from around the world to learn from one another and celebrate our success.


The commercial success is one thing but what we really do is change members’ lives. We strive to help people who have lost all hope or need to get fit to overcome poor health, or members who want to feel part of a club and community.


What support and training do you offer your Anytime Fitness franchisees? It’s fair to say that 95 per cent of the franchisees in the UK are not from a gym or fitness background; most are investors and most want to buy into a business management franchise, employing their own teams to deliver great results. So, support is key. With so many open clubs in the UK, and support from the US, we have a well-defined process and phase programme for franchisees covering every aspect of the process from day one to year five. Anytime Fitness provides classroom-based


114 | The Franchise Magazine 2017


training on all aspects of club opening for the franchisee, from finding properties, working with our property company and business planning to location demographics and club construction. Our in-house design team works with experienced architects and planners to ensure the club opens as quickly as possible and the member experience reflects the brand values. Our team of experienced franchise performance coaches, who are all industry experts, help coach franchisees through all aspects of the club’s life, with regular support calls and visits, backed up by brand audits and mystery shoppers, to help franchisees ensure their clubs are performing and members are satisfied. Everything a potential Anytime Fitness franchisee needs to open a club is in place and the best rates are negotiated. Franchisees can expect to work with experienced construction companies, the best equipment providers, lawyers, accountants and funders, with two of the high-street banks offering 70 per cent funding based on our success in the UK.


Is there a social aspect to Anytime Fitness and the franchisees? How many businesses can boast such a healthy working environment? Every club has community support members, who understand their needs and create that ‘club’ feeling. Many of our clubs arrange social nights mixing fitness with pleasure and charity. That culture spreads out across the wider network with the Anytime Fitness franchisees often getting together to talk strategy as well as enjoying some great nights out. Annually we hold our UK conference over two days with inspirational guest speakers, educational sessions and a celebration of our success, and a party for all to enjoy. Many of our Anytime Fitness franchisees join the corporate franchise team and head across the pond to the US to join the global Anytime Fitness conference, visiting places across the country including Washington, Nashville and, last year, Lake Placid. What’s more, in 2017 we are all off to Palm Springs for the conference – will you be joining us?


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248