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Six tips for new renovators


1. While no time is a good time, always renovate in the summer (or your quietest time of year).


2. Don’t upset members by temporarily shutting down your club. Offer alternatives and options instead of giving members the opportunity to settle into another club or an independent exercise routine.


3. Arrange for construction workers to take lunch breaks during your club’s busy lunch rush.


4. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Advertise that work will begin on a specific date and will be completed at a less-specific time, such as “in the fall” or “in the winter.”


5. Communicate with members regularly and in an upbeat manner. Use newsletters, email, signs and promotions to keep members onside and eagerly anticipating the upgrades.


6. Teach staff members how to respond to the inevitable grumbling member or two. Keep the tips simple, such as listen attentively, apologize, don’t justify, and offer alternatives.


Before Aſter 24 Fitness Business Canada September/October 2016 Aſter


create the illusion of space. All of the resistance and cardio machines were replaced with the latest models, and they all have the same silver finish. Storage shelves were installed in


each space, so now all the kettlebells, BOSUs, wobble boards, medicine balls, etc., all have a place. It doesn’t look like we’re holding a yard sale anymore! Five custom built-in cleaning sta-


tions, with a clock, wet wipes, a gar- bage receptacle and storage were in- stalled replacing garbage cans, water bottles and paper towel.


FBC: How did you continue to oper- ate during the reno? SS: We moved the most popular pieces of equipment into a squash court, the squash lounge and the squash lobby. We numbered and colour-coded every piece of equipment and created a map so that the staff and a moving compa- ny we hired would move it all into the


Before


correct place. Some equipment went into temporary storage. Later on, most of the old equipment was sold to mem- bers and friends.


FBC: How stressful was the renovation? SS: I’m always up for a challenge, so I quite enjoyed it! It was a huge endeav- our, but I was actually very happy dur- ing the process because I knew the changes would serve our members so much better. Because the club commit- tees, the management team, the staff and I had worked on the plan with the designers, we knew that the outcome would be a significant improvement.


FBC: What’s the final verdict? SS: When a member asked me, “Did you expand and add an extra room?” I knew it was worth all the effort. It’s amazing what proper lighting, new floors, some optical illusions and the right design decisions can do.


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