PHOTO: GSQUARED

PHOTO: GSQUARED

The climbing wall and assault course have been installed to bring variety and natural movement to workouts

Who are your competitors? In Manchester, honestly? Nobody. The product and service are so far ahead nothing comes remotely near. We’re engaging higher earners who are looking for something more exclusive, luxurious and personalised. Once we grow beyond Manchester we’ll go head to head with Equinox and Third Space. I love competition – it’s what drives me. By stretching ourselves and each other, we raise the game. A rising tide raises all boats, as they say. With the resources behind me and a polished offering in GSquared, I’d say a few business owners out there need to start looking over their shoulders. This is how it should always have been and perhaps if this had been so, leaders in the industry could have learned from each other, raised the standard together and given members true benefits and tangible results and really influenced the health of the nation. What’s your take on the market? I believe the only people wanting low-cost gyms in years to come will be bodybuilders, powerlifters and those wanting a cost-effective space to lift weights. From being the nemesis of brands such as LA Fitness, Fitness First and other middle market operators, there are now people who want more. The achilles heel of budget facilities is their attrition rates and the stigma of being ‘low cost’ – as people become more discerning, they’re treating

their gym membership like anything else in their life that they want to stretch themselves with.

What have you learned about yourself? Firstly, there’s always something productive you can be doing; secondly, if you want something badly enough, you’ll make it work and thirdly, to step back and use time effectively. I’ve found that even if that means doing something else for a while, it will serve you well in the longer term. Did you make changes due to the pandemic? We’re sharing more about gut health to give the best information about natural defences against COVID-19. With the gut underpinning our immune strength and with so many people having compromised gut health, it’s a consideration when it comes to understanding why we’ve had such a horrific time of it. It’s not a case of ‘vaccinate or nothing’ – there are many factors that impact inflammation in the body and a range of naturopathic protocols that can be deployed to give the best chance of survival, it’s sad this knowledge hasn’t been more widely shared. Final thoughts? Most people train for one of two reasons – they love their body or they hate their body. That is the starting point for gyms. The more owners understand and respond to this, the more success they’ll have. l ©Cybertrek 2021 Issue 5 2021

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