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UK FITNESS SCENE In two decades of operation, monthly memberships at Body Check have only increased by a fiver. To find out more, Mary Ferguson paid a visit as the club celebrates its 20th birthday.
How Glenn keeps his members and staff THIRTY of the 500 members at Body Check have been there since day one and the staffing team hasn’t changed since 1990. The most popular membership today is £35 for a two-year contract and 20 years ago, it was just £5 cheaper. And according to owner Glenn Campbell, the personal touch is why they are still going strong. He said: “Technology may have changed but one thing that hasn’t is what members want from a gym – and it comes down to service. They have seen the same four staff faces for 20 years and I’ve tried employing some personal trainers but to be honest they just haven’t cared enough, so I do it all myself. “We look after the members – we know them all by name and they always tell us if something is wrong.” Glenn said that despite many new gyms springing up around him, he has maintained his place in the market. But he has noticed gym usage changing as traffic problems worsen in the town. “People who work in Manchester are having to leave early and get home later to miss the jams, so some are choosing to use clubs in the city instead. But we are still very busy in the mornings and later on at night, as people decide to work out later on.” Glenn offers personal training free as part of people’s memberships but he said although no-one abuses it, he does have to limit it. And another way of keeping members motivated is to organise regular fitness challenges on the
Glenn Campbell outside his gym Body Check in Glossop gym floor. But he said that organising them only works if all the staff get behind them. “It’s no good sitting behind a desk and waiting for members to get involved, you have to get on the gym floor and promote it. I don’t ask people if they want to take part – I know them well enough to be able to tell them they are.” Regular social events are held, including sponsored pub walks and organised trips to take part in
10k runs. The gym also organises an annual kids fun run for children from three months to 15 years. The babies that take part wear their own little numbers and are pushed along by parents. Glenn added: “It’s really good for brand awareness as it’s open to members and non-members and we promote it through local newspapers and radio. I’d say it’s directly helped us get more business.”