SPOTLIGHTINTERVIEW
From Olympic runner to successful businessman, Tim Benjamin founded Fitness Space after noticing a gap in the market. Here, Tim talks to Flora Neighbour about how the company works as a franchise and how its huge rebrand will help the business grow
Can you give me a brief background on Fitness Space and how the business started?
I founded the business back in 2010 after an unfortunate injury. As an Olympic runner, I was at a crossroads on which way to take my career, as all I knew was how to run in circles! I wanted to use my qualifications from my time as an athlete to help others. I spent a year researching the marketplace and it became apparent to me that there was a polarisation in the health and fitness industry. I could see that the middle market was getting squeezed at the time, and people were being put off going to the gym and often felt intimidated. So I decided to go after that market share and set up my own gym, with a boutique offering in an unintimidating environment that was smaller than most clubs.
Why did you decide to franchise Fitness Space?
I developed my concept and ran it for three- and-a-half years, and it became extremely profitable in that period. I wanted to expand progressively and decided that it would be a great idea to do this via franchising. I knew it would allow me to get my concept across the UK.
Why do you think Fitness Space works as a franchise?
It works for many different reasons – one being the size of the site. Because our gyms are smaller, we’re able to get closer to the high street and we don’t rely on finding big empty buildings, which keeps the costs of investing in the franchise down. In terms of the model itself, it has a unique place in the market and people can identify with the club.
Did you have any challenges during the process of becoming a franchise? Possibly the biggest challenge we’re facing at the moment, despite the business being very profitable for our franchisees, is brand
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