Destination Athlete: World’s Driving Sports Franchise

2021 | Volume-02 | Issue-02

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WORLD’S BEST

SPORTS FRANCHISES

TO WATCH IN 2021

EDITOR’S DESK

T

here was a time when going to the gym was considered as a luxury not many could afford or were interested, and sports was considered as the realm of a few. But today with growing awareness sports and fitness have become an integral part of people’s lifestyle.

2021 | Volume-02 | Issue-02

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WORLD’S BEST

SPORTS FRANCHISES

TO WATCH IN 2021

Indeed, there has never been such a surge in the field of sports and fitness as it is now. The past couple of decades have seen gyms and sports clubs revise their membership costs to attract more of these fitness and sports enthusiasts. With a myriad of opportunities and facilities available for sports and fitness activities, the breed of such enthusiasts is only rising by the day.

Public awareness for fitness and overall wellness, the media boom and its portrayal of sports and fitness have also played a major role in this seismic transformation. Media, indeed, plays an important role in promoting sports and fitness culture. It is not that people did not indulge into sports and fitness activities earlier. It is simply that they have adapted to and have begun liking the new ways of indulging in these activities.

Just play on!

But irrespective of the sport you play, there will always be a need for various sports-related equipment/items, sportswear/apparels and gear, gadgets and accessories nutrition and supplements.

Whether you are a professional, an amateur, a novice or just a fitness freak, there will always be a need for such sports-related equipment. There is no dearth of

the items one can think of with respect to sports and fitness.

compromise on the quality.

The demand for such items gave rise to more people making their debut into this market and the existing ones refurbishing their services. Here is where franchise came into picture.

We, at Insights Success, delved deep into the world of sports franchises and selected some of the exceptional ones that proved for the umpteenth time that the world is indeed flat! So, sportspersons residing on one part of the hemisphere can procure any brand of sports goods from another part of the hemisphere without being there and in no time. Flip through the pages of this interesting edition – World’s Best Sports Franchises to Watch in 2021, to learn more.

Love for sports and fitness has seen many people venture into sports-related businesses and give franchises to interested parties to broaden their spectrum, provide customers the best of gears, equipment, and nutrition. These business houses licenses trademarks and way of conducting the business to operators (franchisees) within the city/state/country or even across countries.

Many sports and fitness lovers/professionals have given or taken franchise. The franchise/franchisor becomes a brand name and earns royalty, the franchisee earns out of the business he/she makes as per the deal, and the customer gets value for the money paid for sports essentials. Thus, this strategic partnership ensures a win-win situation for all - the franchisor, franchisee, and the customer.

So, what used to be available in the limited sports stores of a city, are now easily available at various stores and even online. You name it and you can have it.

This urge to expand businesses and satiate the needs and demands of sportspersons and fitness enthusiasts has seen an upward trend in sports franchise across the world.

Sports-related items are selling like hot-cakes today. And when it comes to health and fitness people do not want to

So, as long as sports franchises and franchisees are there to provide you with your sports and fitness needs you need not worry about performance. Just play on!

Sumita Sarkar

Cover Story

10

Destination Athlete® World’s Driving Sport Franchise

C O N T E N T S Articles

18

26

DIY

Profits&Gains

How to Build a Robust Sports Franchise

Why choose a franchising business model?

30 Going Digital Tips to boost the presence of your small business online

22 Gravity Levelling Up the Leisure Experience and Entertainment

PickUp USA Fitness Aiming the Farthest Hoop

28

34 TrionTotte Delivering Quality Sports and Nutrition Essentials

Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar Senior Editor Anish Miller Managing Editor Abhishaj Sajeev Assisting Editors Vrushali, Ashish Visualiser David King Art & Design Head Asha Bange Art & Design Assistant Priyanka Rajage Co-designer Paul Belin Art & Picture Editor Deepanjali Jena Business Development Manager Sherin Rodricks Marketing Manager Joseph D'souza Business Development Executives Jenny, Michael Sales Executives Kelly, Mark, Alice Technical Head Jacob Smile Assistant Technical Head Amar Sawant Technical Consultants Pratiksha, Aditya, David Digital Marketing Manager Alina Sege Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Amol Wadekar SME-SMO Executives Gemson, Renuka Research Analyst Eric Smith Circulation Manager Tanaji sales@insightssuccess.com

February, 2021 Corporate Ofce Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-859-2600 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com

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WORLD’S BEST

SPORTS TO WATCH IN 2021

Company Name

Management

Brief

30 Minute Hit 30minutehit.com

Shannon Hann Owner

The 30 Minute Hit is 30 minute women’s only express fitness program combining Boxing, Kickboxing, Self Defense and Core conditioning to create one of the most rewarding workouts anywhere.

American Poolplayers Association poolplayers.com

Greg Fletcher President

The American Poolplayers Association (APA) was founded by professional poolplayers Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart in 1979 as the National Pool League, which became the American Poolplayers Association in 1981.

D1 Sports Training d1training.com

Will Bartholomew, CEO

D1 Training is a leading fitness concept that utilizes the five basic tenets of athletic-based training to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.

Destination Athlete destinationathlete.com

Doug Dickison Founder and Chairman

Destination Athlete® was created to help youth and high school athletes reach their personal destination.

Gravity Trampoline Parks Harvey Jenkinson and Michael Harrison, gravity-uk.com Founders

Gravity was established with the aim to push the boundaries of excellence in the active entertainment industry.

Kaia FIT kaiafit.com

Amanda Long Director of Marketing

Kaia FIT is a women’s fitness program that specializes in delivering personalized training in a group atmosphere to produce amazing results

PickUp USA Fitness pickupusafitness.com

Jordan Meinster Founder and President

PickUp USA Fitness is the first and only basketball-focused fitness club concept operating in the United States and was founded to create a better way for people to play basketball.

SPENGA spenga.com

Heather Ruff, Cofounder

Unlike any studio of its kind, SPENGA combines three essential elements of fitness to create what’s simply known as the Best. Workout. Ever.

Sport4Kids sport4kids.biz

Steve Jones CEO

Sport4Kids provides “beyond world class” sports coaching for children from the ages of 18 months through to the teen years.

TrionTotte triontotte.com

Azhar Maqsood CEO

TrionTrotte works directly with sports clubs, professional players, coaches, sports scientists, nutritionists and Physiotherapists to develop products that are formulated for the exact needs of sportspersons.

World’s Driving Sport Franchise

“

We have made fundraising easy and effective by developing an individual rewards program that is built for success

“

WORLD’S BEST

SPORTS TO WATCH IN 2021 f you’re enthusiastic about sports, this is an extraordinary time to get into the sports business.

Researchers have recently observed one of the greatest development time frames throughout the entire existence of the industry, with development averaging at 4.3% since 2014. Today, the sports industry is an estimated 480.5 billion USD industry, with a projected future worth of over 550 billion USD.

I

advantageous, streamlined way of getting things done.

The journey started when Destination Athlete® Founder and Chairman, Doug Dickison understood that sports parents, like himself, were becoming increasingly involved with the coaching of youth sports in his town.

He perceived a need for considerably more than the market was giving to the athletes, coaches and their families.

It is 2020…fans are stuck at home, seasons are in danger, and income is plummeting. While things may appear bleak for pro athletics, some of the world's top sports franchises are flourishing even more this year than last year. One of them is the Destination Athlete®.

After predicting all of this, Doug spent the following two years making a business strategy, investigating the current merchants in the industry and emulating organizations that put their clients first. Additionally, he recognized the four key zones to be the organization's primary focal point of services: Apparel, Equipment, Fundraising, and Performance.

Everything Team, Everything Better™ has been the mission of Destination Athlete® since 2008. It is all about building better communities through athletes™.

Destination Athlete® exclusively supports the youth and high school groups to get them to their own destination by furnishing a one-stop resource with everything a team needs to grow and succeed.

Inception Tale Destination Athlete® was born out of a need for a more

Stand Out from the Crowd Since inception, Doug perceived that the industry was also lacking a focus on holistic development. The need for a more comprehensive way to deal with and address this concern brought about the formation of 360 DEVELOPMENT™, a customizable platform driven by a top tier group of specialists versed in different aspects of personal development so often overlooked in

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Everything Team, Everything

“

Better

Doug Dickison, Founder and Chairman

youth sports. So, he brought in winning lacrosse coach, Jim Stagnitta to serve as President and spearhead the program. “The concept of 360 DEVELOPMENT™, was born from my experiences over 30 years of coaching college lacrosse”, states Jim. He adds “As a young head coach I brought in leadership specialists, sports psychologists, team and culture experts as well as educational professionals. In every case I was left unfulfilled coming away with their insights and thoughts on our areas of need, but never with an answer on how to address the issues. The result was never sustainable nor was there a means of making recommendations operational. I set out to fill this void and provide a holistic approach to development that provided sustainable, operational and transformational results.”

The objective of 360 DEVELOPMENT™ is to create effective groups, teams and organizations by helping to create winning cultures, respected leaders and connected people. Their client list currently includes an impressive array of high school, college and professional teams along with coaching staffs, athletic departments, student bodies and faculty.

Destination Athlete® additionally helps groups with fundraising solutions by creating awareness, raising

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We have a team that is dedicated to the training, development and success of every franchisee

“

money and reinforcing team spirit. The organization has made fundraising simple and viable by developing an individual rewards program that is built for success. The platform is completely online with no forthright expenses, no door-to-door selling, no delivery required and no money to collect.

Influencing Innovation to keep a tab on Development Destination Athlete® uses the most recent technology tools, both proprietary and third party software to create scoreboards. In addition, the organization utilizes tracking to capture analytics on growth and growth opportunities.

Key Achievements In past 12 years, Destination Athlete® has grown to 142 franchises in 20 states and continues to expand. For the fifth consecutive year, Destination Athlete® has been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and continues to move up in the ranks each year. This positive exposure has enabled imminent business visionaries to see the benefits in owning their own Destination Athlete® franchise. It permits them the chance to consolidate their passion for sports with a rewarding career in the ever-growing youth and high school sports industry.

“We view ourselves as the most thoughtful company in

Fundamentals of picking a new Franchisee “We search for individuals who want to be both financially and emotionally rewarded and who want to help out in their community. Since we are in the business of building better communities through athletes, understanding sports is key in helping shape athletes.

Consequently, athletics helps shape the community at large”, says Doug.

Making the New Franchisee Ready Destination Athlete® highly esteems a solid culture of development. It has a group that is committed to the preparation, development and achievement of each franchisee. Training has three stages: home study, active 1:1 training (over the course of several months with heavy mentoring and coaching) and lastly, ongoing training and support.

New franchisees are introduced and familiarized with the entirety of the assets and services in its tool kit. The headquarters team sets them up with the vital authoritative functions, the Marketing team provides both print and electronic materials and overall brand guidance and the Customer Care team helps them to build and set up their online team stores.

The organization also assists them with promoting their stores through social media channels so as to drive sales and increase fundraising opportunities along with the processing and delivering of orders for easy distribution.

Finally, it imparts turnkey solutions and continued national brand support for the entire Destination Athlete® family.

Since every one of its franchisees has an exclusive domain in their territory (one franchise = one county) and are all associated with their local sports teams, they can promote the Destination Athlete® brand through local fundraising and other efforts. Alongside premier Destination Athlete® equipment and apparel, they also have exceptional services that nobody else can offer.

Managing the Franchisee Desires and Contradictions The organization has created a thorough company operations manual written in layman’s terms. During the onboarding process, it invests a ton of time and energy going over expectations and guaranteeing there is agreement at present and moving forward. Franchisees know the organization only makes money if they make money. So, everyone is on the same page.

Long Haul Plans for Future Development In the past, the organization’s growth has been steady in both number of franchises and in locations throughout the country. But over the years it has grown drastically.

This year, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Destination Athlete® as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States.

“With sports being so popular in America and barely any sports franchising opportunities, we are able to distinguish ourselves in the industry. We are very blessed to have so many talented people that want to join our successful team,” says Doug Dickison.

“By limiting the number of franchises we train in a given year, we can carefully plan our growth”, he adds. For example, in 2019, Destination Athlete® had in excess of 3,000 leads but awarded just ten franchisees the chance to join this organization. Every year it adds a couple of more seats to the training classes. It is important to the company to continually manage its smart growth.

Moreover, future growth opportunities stem from an ongoing increase in the number of products, services and resources Destination Athlete® offers to the marketplace.

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We are building better communities through athletes

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the athletic community, taking care of youth sports teams with our comprehensive holistic solutions and worldclass service. We strive to be the single recognizable choice of teams who have a quest for development and/or winning,” says Doug Dickison.

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2021 | Volume-02 | Issue-02

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WORLD’S BEST

SPORTS FRANCHISES

TO WATCH IN 2021

“

Choose E xc e l l e n t, Choose Insights

DIY

How to Build a Robust

18 | February 2021

www.insightssuccess.com

ust

Franchise D

o you feel more comfortable on a putting green, tennis court, baseball field or soccer field? Is it painful to drag yourself to work on Monday through Friday when you're dreaming about your weekends already? On the off chance that you have an enterprising quality, notwithstanding your sports one, a sports franchising may very well be the response to making your love for sports an all-day work.

Furthermore, this sports franchising business is booming. The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association detailed that discount deals of outdoor supplies gear, clothing and footwear acquired $55.7 billion out of 2005, a 6.8-per cent bounce over the earlier year. A comparative increase is required to be made for the current year.

There are a wide variety of sports franchises - from golf to baseball to even billiards- - that can satisfy any sports enthusiast.

www.insightssuccess.com

2021 February | 19

Below are the 7 most significant tips which are significant to effectively build a sports franchise:

effect of the match. Selecting a strong analytical team is likewise significant.

The Stylebook of the Franchise Stylebook is the foundation of a franchise which incorporates the vision, crucial, of direct, philosophy and morals of a franchise. Behind the origin of each franchisee is a dream which resembles the 'North Star' that provides guidance. All the endeavours taken by the team and the management ought to be paired with the vision and philosophy of the franchise.

Having Sponsors ready Having presumed supporters ready is important for running a franchise. Sponsors help monetarily as well as become goodwill ambassadors for your franchise wherein they help in contacting fresher crowd. Having sponsorships by many national and international brands will help in building the sports franchise reputation and trustworthiness.

Organize the Needs of a Team The health, happiness and comfort of the team ought to be of most extreme need for any franchise. The accomplishment of a franchise relies upon the players and their exhibition. The notoriety and acknowledgement a franchise wins are simply because of its players. It is critical to take care of the necessities of the players who abandon their families for a considerably long period and commit all their time and vitality towards the game. When the players feel comfortable, rest assured they will put their heart and soul to win the title.

Invest in Infrastructure The training facility for the team/group ought to be top class with every sporting amenity. Putting resources into great training infrastructure is of extreme significance for a group to outperform. Also, there ought to be an arrangement for recreational sports and activity for players to bond during relaxation time.

Have a Strong Back-end Support The back-end group assumes a gigantic role in the achievement of a franchise. Having a solid care staff like wellness mentors, trainers, doctors and some specialists as their guide to the players during match decides the after-

20 | February 2021

Positioning Franchise Smartly Positioning a franchise in the correct manner can have various advantages. There will be sponsors who may be distrustful to connect with a franchise; however, showcasing it accurately and setting the expectations in advance can go far. For the players, their fans mean everything to them. But unless and until the team’s efforts and success stories don’t reach the audience, a team won’t have a strong fan base. This prominence among the fans likewise helps in merchandise deals and ticket deals.

Putting the team through appropriate social media channels and on the digital platforms builds the visibility of the group and assists with expanding informal promoting for a group.

Build Good Relations Building great relations inside and outside the group is a pivotal task. A cheerful and fulfilled group gives their100% on the field and wins laurels for the franchise. Having great relations with players and support staff will likewise help in holding them and benefiting their services for the next season. Sponsors also have a necessary role in running the franchise, so have to be good enough in maintaining the relationship. Media is probably one of the best supporters for a franchise and building great relations with the media likewise helps in featuring the endeavours and achievement of a team.

www.insightssuccess.com

Levelling Up the Leisure Experience and Entertainment

I

ndoor activities and theme parks industry has been mushrooming rapidly over the past decade – playing games and bouncing around the trampoline is not only a fun experience for kids and adults but it also plays a significant role in boosting health and Fitness.

The growing awareness of physical health and relieving stress has led to the opening of various indoor trampoline areas in multiple gyms today. As per study, few minutes of jumping on trampoline will be more effective compared to a half-hour of running.

Simon Whicker, Harvey Jenkinson, and Michael Harrison founded Gravity with an aim to deliver the exhilarating experiences of fun activities for kids and a stress busting environment for adults.

In the following interview with Insights Success, the founders share their story of continuous success and

22 | February 2021

their views about the future of the market they are associated to.

Kindly brief us about Gravity and its initial journey.

The journey of Gravity started in 2014, and not long after our first site opened its doors – Gravity Xscape Castleford. There are 17 active sites across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East with a further four planned in 2021 with plans to reach fifty by 2023.

The Gravity model has adapted in line with market requirements and consumer needs. From being a single product operator (trampolines), Gravity now provides over 30 different products from split-level e-karting to immersive bowling, smart darts, and many more tech-driven leisure experiences.

The latest addition to the portfolio is Gravity Wandsworth in the heart of London. The former Debenhams store spreads over three floors. The

80,000sqft unit will host a fully themed leisure and food experience, offering consumers a variety of new gaming experiences as well as food and beverage offerings.

Highlights include a Japanese Ekarting area with a dedicated street bar and noodle kitchen, a New Yorkthemed area with 16 full-length bowling lanes that offer the latest immersive technology, and an American eatery, live music, and high-end cocktail bar. Further to this, there will be flight club-style Darts, pool tables and ping pong.

This signals a new phase of growth for Gravity, which started as a trampoline park company in 2015 and has since built on its success to provide innovative entertainment concepts as well as a new lease on life for high streets and shopping centres. The venue is expected to open in summer 2021.

www.insightssuccess.com

World's Best Sports Franchises to Watch in 2021

What are the key points that you consider while choosing or getting in talks with a new Franchisee?

As with most franchisors, we all share some fundamental criteria we look for in potential candidates. One of the critical attributes for us is, someone who is enthusiastic and passionate about the brand and understands our ethos and what we are aiming to do.

The investment level for these projects can be significant and we are clear from the outset what they are, but because of the support and level of contributions we can leverage its not always a determining factor.

As a business, we sell fantastic, memorable experiences for individuals, families, and friends. It is an amazing and rewarding business to be in and we want amazing people to be on that journey with us.

How do you train and support the new franchisee on-board and track their development?

The support begins even before the training starts. Because of our relationships, with Landlords, we are able to support franchisees with the financial backing from the start. In some cases, this can be up to 50% of the overall build costs.

We are also on the lease of any agreement we enter into with a new retail space, which provides franchisees with the comfort that we are in it together. We would never agree to a site/project unless we believed it is a viable proposition.

Once they are up and running, we then have a training and development team which support them through induction but also as they develop, and the business grows.

They benefit from support in the following areas.

• Significant contributions and investment into your business • Premium site locations sourced and negotiated on your behalf.

www.insightssuccess.com

Harvey Jenkinson, and Michael Harrison – Founders

Despite the challenges of 2020, Gravity continues to drive the agenda on what the leisure sector and Highstreet should look like.

• Operational site and scheme plan • Ongoing support from dedicated specialists: • Operations • Customer service • IT • Digital • Fit for purpose recognised staff qualifications and training programmes • Two-week intensive induction programme • Comprehensive operating manuals - Dedicated online business management system - Ongoing performance reviews and support - Access to an extensive and growing product portfolio of over 30 experiences - Marketing and sales:

2021 February | 23

which are likely to work best. We are looking to continue being an important part of the community for years to come, and also make a fundamental change, boosting high-street trade and fuel the health of a generation, shaping the ways families spend time with each other.

About the Founders Founded in 2014 by Simon Whicker, Harvey Jenkinson and Michael Harrison, there was a shared vision of bringing safe, exciting, family fun activities to the masses.

• Dedicated customer portal for bookings and sales • Individual web presence within the Gravity brand • Marketing support • Initial sales and marketing material • Social media support and guidance What factors differentiate you from competitors and how do you ensure that these factors remain consistent throughout the chain?

We pride ourselves on several differentiating factors including: • Prime site locations • Exclusive agreements • Significant contributions • Premium products and equipment • Exceptional customer experiences Through our systems and processes these remain consistent across the group.

How do you leverage technology to keep a tab on growth and expansion?

Technology plays a major role in our business, both in delivering our products and our back-end systems.

In the beginning, our systems were relatively rudimentary, as we have evolved systems and technology have begun to drive each area of the business. And we are continually

24 | February 2021

looking at how tech can enhance the customer experiences as well as driving business objectives.

How do you deal with the franchisee expectations and disagreements, if any?

We have always viewed the relationship with franchisees as one of collaboration and partnership.

Therefore, we have always been open throughout the process, which creates a good working relationship where any challenges are dealt with and worked through together.

What has your past business growth looked like and what are the longterm plans for future growth?

Gravity has the ambition of hitting 50 sites within next three years, while also expanding our range of activities into the likes of: e-karting, e-sports, urban golf, and immersive bowling. As our co-Founder and company chief executive, Harvey says “Leisure is a fast-moving industry and it's important we're always at the forefront of the latest technologies and concepts, we will be launching activities that certainly can't be found online.”

The Gravity brand has subsequently grown to engage with millions of children, individuals, and families both in the UK and abroad.

In 2020 and in the face of disruptions, site closure and product restrictions, the business still engaged with over 65,000 customers per month, with many sites outperforming pre-COVID19 results.

Despite the challenges of 2020, Gravity continues to drive the agenda on what the leisure sector and Highstreet should look like capitalising on opportunities for bigger spaces, increased contributions, and better commercial agreements.

Among the founders, Michael has over 30 years of experience in leisure and Harvey is the current UK Chair of the IATP and has helped shape and develop the European standard as to what excellence looks like in this leisure space.

As an organisation, we aim to provide a much-needed breath of fresh air to highstreets and communities, working alongside centres to tailor offerings

www.insightssuccess.com

“One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you.” – Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon

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our passion, be it in a creative field or the technology, to venture into a corporate job or dive deep into the entrepreneurial sea, once it chooses you, all you have to do is venture in with all you might.

But this is easier said than done. Like Warren Buffett, an American investor and philanthropist, says, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

And aspiring entrepreneurs today have an opportunity to do things differently right from the beginning. It’s either to start a company from scratch or run your show by joining hands with established brands. And how would you get your hands on the latter? By choosing a franchising business model.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, here are the key reasons why you should consider buying a franchise.

Run your own show from the start.

One of the perks of being an entrepreneur is having complete control in your hands. And with the franchising model, you get this advantage right from the start.

However, a boon of choosing a franchise over a start-up is you get a sense of freedom without having to worry about the financial and technical aspects of a business.

That is something a franchisor would have to take care of by providing you the initial setup and training to get the franchise started. As most of the franchisors already have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set to set up daily schedules and plans, you don’t have to worry about that either.

Easy infrastructure and setup help.

This is another perk of choosing the franchising model, the infrastructure, and the initial setup you receive from the franchisor. And your decision to go with an established brand or franchise will further make it easier and hasslefree.

As they are aware of the market competition and customer needs, these franchisors put all their technical knowledge and business know-how in the initial infrastructure and training you receive.

26 | February 2021

So, you step into the business with adept knowledge and less need for hit-and-try methods to streamline your business.

Business with a brand Here’s one more advantage of taking up a franchise of an established brand. With the reputation and loyal customer base that comes with an established brand, you have it easy stepping into the market.

Moreover, streamlining finances and paperwork becomes easier and quicker than if you were to set up your own company from scratch.

Start-up Vs Franchise: Why entrepreneurs are more in love with the latter?

The answer could be the ease of setting an infrastructure and streamlining finances that comes with buying a franchise. Although it will be an added advantage, you don’t need to have the technical knowledge to run a franchise. That is something the franchisor will aid you with the initial setup.

Another major concern startups face is building a customer base. However, by choosing a franchise of an established brand you eliminate this concern as well by already having customers ready to buy from their favorite brand’s franchise close to their homes.

With proper infrastructure, quick paperwork, easy financial help, and brand reputation to attract customers right from day one, there’s no wonder why entrepreneurs are driving more towards taking up a franchise.

And not only for the franchisee but this business model also has perks for franchisors as well. Franchisors get to expand their business without putting extra effort into setup franchises as they would have to do with branch offices of the organizations.

There are many aspiring entrepreneurs today who wish to own a business without investing huge finances or time to learn every technical and business know-how. They don’t want to put extra effort into building a strong team and be extra patient to create enough customer base. Yes, with the franchising business model, it is still possible for you to become an entrepreneur.

Because the times have changed and so are the ways that lead towards success. Today, business success comes smartly, you only have to work smarter.

www.insightssuccess.com

Profits&Gains

Why choose a

franchising BUSINESS model? www.insightssuccess.com

2021 February | 27

®

Aiming the Farthest Hoop

I

n the United States, pick-up games are a regular event to attend for sports lovers. Pick-up games happen for all kinds of sports like, soccer, football, basketball, baseball, etc. The most loved sport being basketball, quite a few pick-up basketball games can be seen in America. It is known that these games are disorganized and less structured than the regular ones.

difficult to find a complete fitness club that focuses on one single sport. Such clubs not only motivate players but also create winners. The thought and energy behind opening this club is exceptionally unique.

To bring a structure to these games, Jordan Meinster launched PickUp USA Fitness in 2011. PickUp USA Fitness has been serving basketball players all over the country an exclusive service. It is the first and only fitness club to focus on Basketball.

Kindly brief us about the company and its initial journey.

Physical fitness is highly important for any and every sport, be it basketball, soccer, hockey, or the likes. It is quite

“

PickUp USA Fitness is nationally recognized for our industry leading training programs and our world-class support

“

28 | February 2021

Let us now learn the detailed journey about the company from Jordan.

PickUp USA Fitness is the first and only basketball-focused fitness club concept operating in the United States and was founded to create a better way for people to play basketball.

Our clubs are full-service basketball-focused gyms offering group & private basketball training, pickup basketball games with referees, and full weight and cardio rooms.

What are the key points that you consider while choosing or getting in talks with a new Franchise?

PickUp USA Fitness seeks individuals who really believe in our concept. What we do is unique, and there is a huge market for our services. We spent years refining our brand before offering franchise opportunities, and we are looking for franchise owners that will be as passionate about our product as we are.

How do you train and support the new franchisees and track their progress?

PickUp USA Fitness is nationally recognized for our industry leading training programs and our world-class

www.insightssuccess.com

World's Best Sports Franchises to Watch in 2021

support. From the day you sign a franchise agreement you will have a dedicated team at our corporate office supporting you during every step of your journey.

Additionally, our comprehensive training programs ensure that you and your team have all of the tools to maximize your club’s financial and operational performance.

What factors differentiate you from competitors and how do you ensure that these factors remain consistent throughout the chain?

PickUp USA Fitness delivers an unparalleled gym experience to our customers. With a relentless focus on customer service, our gyms offer a true plug-and-play, simple operating model, and our services cater to a massive potential market of basketball and fitness enthusiasts.

The definitive advantage of our franchise system lies in our brand identity. That means consistency is paramount.

Consistency allows our consumers to trust in the quality of the experience they will have at any of our PickUp USA Fitness clubs. Providing a consistent experience is the key to our growth.

How do you deal with the franchisee expectations and disagreements, if any?

PickUp USA Fitness has a clearly defined playbook for franchisees to follow. The game plan has been developed and franchisees which put in the work, implement the plan, and stay focused on growing their club, have a high likelihood of success within our system.

Jordan Meinster President and Founder

ABOUT THE LEADER Jordan Meinster played pickup basketball his entire life, and always envisioned a gym that would improve the basketball experience for the millions of players across the country.

After close to a decade in financial services,

What has your past business growth looked like and what are the long-term plans for future growth?

he launched PickUp USA Fitness in 2011 and

PickUp USA Fitness is actively seeking franchisees to develop clubs in select territories. We are less than five years old as a franchisor and can now boast sites in 7 states with additional sites pending in 4 other states. The sky is the limit because basketball is a truly global sport. We envision ourselves to be a nationwide brand that will be operating in all 50 states and possibly beyond. The focus of the company is on delivering strong unit-level economics at each franchise location and continuing to refine the model to ensure PickUp USA Fitness delivers world-class service to the customers and strong economic returns for the club owners.

Currently, there are PickUp USA Fitness

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began franchising the concept in 2016. centers operating across the country, including multiple locations owned by NBA athletes. Jordan aims to deliver “A Better Way to Play” to communities across the country, and to drive strong financial returns for PickUp USA Fitness franchise owners.

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Tips To B The Presence

Small Busine

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Going Digital

To Boost sence Of Your

siness Online T

he digital revolution has changed the way we gain knowledge and connect with people. Now it is changing the way we do business. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit us, people were using the internet to search information, find nearby locations, and order online.

However, the latter got a boost during the pandemic. As more consumers had to shift to online shopping for everything from grocery and medicines to electronics and furniture, businesses that weren’t selling online shifted to building their online presence.

While most businesses are going digital there’s no doubt that the competition in the online market is surging for every niche. So how you can stand apart from the competition?

Here are the ways that will help you boost the online presence of your small business.

Optimize your website.

COVID-19 pandemic has firmly pushed us into the digital era. And with 97% of the consumers preferring to shop online there’s no reason why small businesses shouldn’t have a website.

However, if you are considering building a new website or updating an existing one, make sure that your website is optimized for search engines as well as the audience. Keep

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it simple to read and navigate. Also make sure your website is mobile-friendly, easy on the eyes, loads quickly, and has updated information.

Furthermore, depending on the business goals you want to achieve you can take a step further and add a live chat feature or consider creating a mobile app.

Blogging beyond the online presence Most businesses consider blogging as a means of creating links and building an online presence. But maintaining a blog creates more than a strong brand voice, it creates trust among the readers.

The industry knowledge and experience you share through your blog posts show your expertise in the niche over time building a strong loyal reader base which further with the help of call-to-action can convert into consumers.

But should you only consider blogging SEO-friendly posts?

No, blogging has gone beyond lengthy posts. Now it is all about multi-platform content, which you can share on your blog as well as other digital channels.

• Need some ideas? Here are some of the types of blog posts you can create: • Video posts you can upload on YouTube or other channels.

• Infographics and podcasts.

• Conduct and release a case study.

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• Publish a white paper or an e-book.

• Host an online workshop or e-course.

at an established website in your niche, you can achieve targeted brand exposure and earn credibility.

Choose social media wisely.

As for email marketing, with almost 91% of American consumers using emails daily, this tried-and-tested marketing technique remains more effective than social media channels. Furthermore, segmenting the audience and creating targeted email campaigns can boost consumer engagement and increase revenue through cross-sells and personalized offers.

Millennials and Gen-Z today form a big part of brand consumers on social media, businesses need to be more active on social media. While maintaining consistency and quality posts is a good start, take a step further to interact with customers and influencers. Doing this will further help you strengthen your brand presence.

Content is a kingmaker.

However, in the quest of reaching a wider audience in a shorter period, don’t divide your time and efforts on too many social media channels. Instead, consider one or two platforms that resonate with your brand goals and audience and which you can easily manage.

Email marketing and guest blogging With the digital marketing world crowded with new tools and technologies, business leaders often ignore two effective methods – guest blogging and email marketing.

Though most online businesses are getting their hands on guest logging its true power lies beyond the sole purpose of creating backlinks. If you get a chance to be a guest writer

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Website, social media, email campaigns, and guest blogging, all are the platforms to build your brand persona.

So, while choosing the right platforms is necessary, content is what makes these platforms work as a king.

So, before you move further here are quick tips to help you create strong and unique brand content.

• Keep the brand voice consistent throughout the brand channels.

• Create insightful content your consumers can relate to.

• Be consistent with your presence on online brand channels.

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TrionTotte

Delivering Quality Sports and Nutrition Essentials

T

he need for essential and quality products in the sports industry is rising. The team of TrionTotte has many different sections of products which include Sports Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Training and Accessories. Nutrition is one of the key components for sportspersons and TrionTotte has almost everything a sportsperson need.

From Energy, Protein, Hydration and Vitamins & Minerals, the TrionTotte team has got us covered. The TrionTotte team has many types of helpful equipment under the Physiotherapy section such as Tapes, Massagers, Acupuncture, Sleeves and Straps and Bandages and Dressing.

Such equipment is very helpful for sports persons. Under their training section TrionTotte has Resistance Training and Technical Equipment.

The team at TrionTotte thinks from the standpoint of the user and

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customer satisfaction is its main focus. Its products and services have won TrionTotte many partners who are delighted to be working with them.

Nutrition products are custom tested for banned substances and are safe for the use of sports persons.

Mentioned below are highlights of the interview:

TrionTotte works directly with sports clubs, professional players, coaches, sports scientists, nutritionists and Physiotherapists to develop products that are formulated for the exact needs of sportspersons. So that it can help players fix on-pitch issues like fatigue, energy, rehydration, strength and conditioning.

Kindly brief us about the company and its initial journey.

TrionTotte supplies fitness, nutrition and physiotherapy products under the name of TrionTotte Brand.

TrionTotte is also the sole distributor of Beam Trainer Timing Gates in India.

SAFE FOR SPORTS [In-house Programme] Testing support provided by LGC Group UK. All the

TrionTotte was registered in 2016 but due to the political factors it was incredibly hard to operate from Jammu and Kashmir due to the unstable condition. But our CEO likes challenges and that is how he made sure that TrionTotte successfully grows overtime.

What are the key points that you consider while choosing or getting in talks with a new Franchisee?

Mostly importantly, we should share a common focus and enthusiasm.

How do you train and support the

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World's Best Sports Franchises to Watch in 2021

new franchisee on-board and track their development?

Haven’t added any Franchisee Yet, but distributors are made aware of the products and why these are better than the competition.

What factors differentiate you from competitors and how do you ensure that these factors remain consistent throughout the chain?

Our primary focus is customer satisfaction and the best quality.

How do you leverage technology to keep a tab on growth and expansion?

In reference to scientific research: We continuously strive to create advanced products.

How do you deal with the franchisee expectations and disagreements, if any?

Everything is discussed and there is a proper plan to be followed in order to keep a transparent working environment.

What has your past business growth looked like and what are the long-term plans for future growth?

We have been consistently growing and will continue to do the same along with adding more products to our offerings.

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Azhar Maqsood – Founder & CEO

Our primary focus is customer satisfaction and the best quality

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