When it comes to growing clubs, we don’t just like to make promises, we also like to put our systems and knowledge to the test.
In this talk from The Gym Owners Workshop in Dublin, Grant Harrison and Toby Wassell took to the stage to review their 2 year project to turn around The Fit Club Redditch. Once a failing gym on the brink of closure, the Ashbourne team took over the site to use as a test gym and put their words into action using their own software, service and knowledge gained from working with thousands of gyms from across the UK and Ireland.
As you’ll see in this talk, we not only managed to turn The Fit Club into a local success story, but also left with a point by point plan of how to save a failing gym, which we are happy to share with you right now!
Be sure to download the slides to keep all the notes from the talk!
The Talk In Short: How to Build a Sustainable Club
Let’s be real – running a club or business, especially while holding down an additional job to fund the project, can feel like juggling flaming torches. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right systems and approach, you can set up a club that practically runs itself, giving you some much-needed breathing room.
Start with a Strong Foundation
Taking over or rebranding a business is a massive opportunity to set things up your way. Start by putting systems in place that make life easier. Automation can handle repetitive tasks, delegation lets your team take on responsibilities, and strong management structures keep everything ticking along smoothly.
The less your business depends on you, the better.
Make Sustainability The Goal
The dream is to build a club that doesn’t rely on you showing up every single day. Here’s how you can work towards that:
Create processes that keep everything running consistently, even if you’re not there.
Trust your team to step up and handle the day-to-day.
Design your operations so they’re efficient and don’t require constant oversight.
Experiment, Learn, And Adjust
Think of your club as a laboratory for new ideas. Some things will work beautifully, others will flop—and that’s fine!
Every experiment teaches you something. Keep trying out new systems and approaches until you find what sticks. And when something clicks, take it to the next level.
Share What Works
Here’s the thing about lessons learned, they’re often universal.
Some quick insights that might help and be useful in most situations are:
Keep it Simple: Design systems that are easy to follow and tweak as needed.
Empower Your People: A capable, trusted team can keep things moving without constant check-ins.
Stay Flexible: If something’s not working, don’t be afraid to pivot. Quick adjustments save time and headaches.
It’s Not About Size
Whether your club is small and scrappy or a big operation, the same principles apply. Don’t worry about how you compare to others – focus on finding what works for you and your setup.
Take Action!
Look at what’s taking up most of your time and figure out where you can step back. Is there a task you can hand off or automate? Start with small changes, see how they go, and build from there. Progress doesn’t have to be all at once – steady wins the race.
Let Ashbourne Help You...
Running a sustainable club isn’t easy, but it’s totally doable. With the right systems and a willingness to adapt, you can create a business that thrives on its own.
The bonus? You get to focus on other parts of your life, knowing your club is in good hands.
And as you’ve seen from the talk, Ashbourne can’t only provide you the tools to achieve all these goals, but our dedicated team comes with decades worth of knowledge that we can help you put into practice to build a solid foundation to grow your business on!
Get your club in shape.
Want to discover how? Let us show you.
Simply select your preferred timeslot and we’ll be in touch to have a chat about your health club,
the goals you want to achieve, and how our system can help you.
the goals you want to achieve, and how our system can help you.
Get your club in shape.
Want to discover how? Let us show you.
Simply select your preferred timeslot and we’ll be in touch to have a chat about your health club, the goals you want to achieve, and how our system can help you.
Get your club in shape.
Want to discover how? Let us show you.
Simply select your preferred timeslot and we’ll be in touch to have a chat about your health club, the goals you want to achieve, and how our system can help you.
