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Business

Top 10 Successful Gyms In America

Bookee
Customer Success Team
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In terms of gym chains, Americans have never had more options. You name it, the best gyms in the industry have everything. 24-hour access, hula-dancing workshops, mountain bike field trips, and so on. You just name it, the best gyms in the business have it.

Are you curious about the top fitness centers? A list was made by us based on a number of factors. Some were chosen for their size and convenience, some for their ambiance, and yet others for their innovative offerings. We attempted to present a thorough picture of the entire workout experience in this list. Let’s dive in.

01. Equinox

In 1991, Equinox Fitness established its first gym in America’s Manhattan. It has now bought other high-end fitness brands including SoulCycle, PURE Yoga, and Blink Fitness. There are over 135 equinox gyms in America. According to Club Industry, their expected revenue for 2017 was $1.3 billion (up 19% from 2016!). It should be noted, however, that the income includes revenue from its subsidiaries, making it impossible to determine how much Equinox Fitness earned on its own.

Why are they successful?

Consumers nowadays place a higher value on experiences than on retail products. Equinox recognizes this, which is why they have made such a significant investment in the fitness experience concept. The popular gyms of equinox provide a more comprehensive experience than just a location to work out. This may be observed in the company's other brands and investments as well.

Equinox has the highest client-to-trainer ratio and prides itself on being the greatest luxury American gym. Equinox's relationship with its customers is one of the most crucial areas where it has increased its company value. Members are willing to pay more monthly fees in exchange for a more memorable and premium experience.

02. Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness LLC is one of the top gyms in America that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has over 4000 franchised locations. It was established in 2002 and in 2014, it was named the fastest-growing fitness club franchise. Anytime Fitness had $116.4 million in sales in 2017, according to Club Industry.

Why are they successful?

With over 4000 facilities, Anytime Fitness is one of the best gym chains, allowing individuals from all over the world to better their lives through fitness. Members can use a key fob to get entrance to their gym at any time. Despite a large number of franchises, Anytime Fitness welcomes franchisees to share their ideas and thoughts when it comes to branding and marketing which makes it one of the good gyms in America.

03. LA Fitness

LA Fitness was founded in 1983 and has successfully purchased well-known fitness clubs such as Bally Total Fitness and Lifestyle Family Fitness over the last thirty years. LA Fitness subsidiaries are in over 700 locations across the United States. Since 2013, Club Industry has recognized LA Fitness as the #1 club on their "Top 100 Clubs" list. The company's sales in 2017 were $2.1 billion, up 5.7 percent over the previous year.

Why are they successful?

Because of their ability to retain consistent management across all of the LA fitness subsidiaries Fitness has remained successful. The fitness facilities are kept clean, and equipment is repaired on a recurrent basis. They provide group exercise classes as part of most basic memberships, as well as other benefits. With over 700 clubs across the United States, they have established a reputation for being able to cater to both newcomers and regular gym-goers.

04. 24 Hour Fitness

24 Hour fitness made a whopping $1.44 billion in revenue in 2017, up from $1.42 billion in 2016. The American gym completed 2017 with 433 clubs, according to Club Industry. 24 Hour Fitness started a behavior modification program and a research project in 2018 to better understand motivation psychology. The Behavior Change for Good Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania collaborated on this 28-day StepUp program (BCGI).

Why are they successful?

Through their participation in the 28-day StepUp program, 24 Hour Fitness has demonstrated that they are committed to member retention and success, demonstrating that they are more than just another gym chain. Furthermore, many gym-goers with slightly irregular schedules would appreciate their 24-hour access. They've also developed a perk rewards system for those who are regular with their exercises, as well as a fitness app for those who need help or demo exercise regimens. These extra elements are beneficial to their brand positioning in the market today.

05. Crunch Fitness

Are you interested in trying anti-gravity yoga? Crunch is the place to go. Consider these options: surf and ski vacations, pole dancing, park yoga, and cookery workshops give enough variety for even the most discerning fitness fanatics.

The 31 cutting-edge and popular gyms are always looking for new ways to combine entertainment and training. While franchises aren't found in every state, they do add a spark of creativity to the locations where they do exist. Their newest addition is a noon reenergizing program that includes a snooze.

Why are they successful?

Crunch has developed a niche for itself that is both surprising and repeatable by being a little unexpected and unique.

Crunch Fitness created programs like Hip-Hop Aerobics and Co-Ed Wrestling, which combine fitness and enjoyment in novel ways. Some of the class names are a little strange. That is how they function. They're inventive, self-explanatory, and cause you to do a double-take when you hear them. You receive the whole choice of equipment you'd find at a big-box gym, plus more. This is one of the most reputed gym chains in the US.

Prices are kept competitive and there are usually a wide variety of classes to pick from. They're still growing, with both company-owned and franchised gyms. The culture and ideas foster a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment for the members.

06. Orangetheory Fitness

Orangetheory Fitness founder Ellen Latham founded the first franchise in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 2010. It provides group exercises that focus on HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) (HIIT). There are roughly 700 locations of this American gym around the United States. According to Club Industry, they had one of the most significant revenue growth in 2017, increasing 45 percent to $136.44 million. They use a heart rate monitor to boost energy while also providing support and accountability to the group. They use treadmills, water rowers, TRX suspension training, and some weight training in their fitness courses and are here on the list of largest gym chains in the US.

Why are they successful?

Heart rate monitors are used during the exercise at Orangetheory Fitness, which serves to promote companionship as well as accountability and inspiration. Everything orange is branded by them, which is something hard to ignore. Every franchise is managed in the same way, and the workouts are the same every day at all locations. Friends who live across town and go to different places may still compete with one other to see how well they are kept in the fat-burning zone (also known as the "orange zone"). This interactive and fun session makes it on the list of most successful gyms in America.

07. Curves

Popular women-only fitness clubs are benefiting from the rising number of baby boomers who recognize the importance of fitness in leading a healthy lifestyle. Curves has grown in popularity by appealing to newcomers to exercise and by creating a welcoming environment for women who might not otherwise join a gym.

This no-frills American gym chain is built around a 30-minute strength and cardio training, as well as a multitude of instructional and motivational materials to help women start on the right track.

Why are they successful?

Curves exploded in popularity and opened nationwide gyms at an incredible rate, often more than doubling their number of locations from year to year. Until Curves started its award-winning national advertising campaign in 2003, everything was done by word of mouth. Curves opened 7,000 stores in less than a decade, a number that largest food chains like McDonald's and Subway took 25 years and 26 years respectively.

Curves fitness and weight-loss centers are particularly developed for and aimed at women. The program is centered on circuit training, which makes use of hydraulic resistance equipment to attain desired outcomes. Each session is taught by a 'Curves Coach,' who combines strength training with aerobic conditioning for a full-body workout.

08. Pure Barre

Carrie Rezabek Dorr, a dancer, choreographer, and fitness coach established Pure Barre in 2001. Pure Barre established a franchise in July 2009, and it has since grown in popularity. With over 460 gyms in America, it is currently one of the country's largest and most established barre gyms. This specialized studio uses a ballet barre to do short, isometric motions that burn fat, shape muscles, and help people achieve a long, lean physique.

Why are they successful?

Pure Barre entered the fitness industry about the same time as CrossFit was gaining popularity. This was beneficial to them because it provided an outlet for folks (mostly women) who found CrossFit to be too intense but yet want a sense of companionship. Initially, Pure Barre targeted stay-at-home parents, but its audience has grown significantly. Pure Barre is one of the best gyms to join for people who do not want to use weights or participate in aerobic training because the courses are minimal impact. They do engage the muscles by executing tiny, isometric motions.

09. Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness which is today a top fitness club was founded in 1992 to solve the issue, "Why do 80-85 percent of the people not belong to a gym?" There were two parts to the answer: As newcomers, potential gym-goers felt uneasy, and they didn't want to spend a lot of money to do exercise.

They used those two ideas to design their gym's atmosphere, both in terms of attitude and format. Planet Fitness recorded sales of $429.9 million in 2017, according to Club Industry (this amount is from its corporate-owned locations and franchisee fees but not the revenue earned by each franchisee). Planet Fitness now has over 1,200 gyms in America.

Why are they successful?

They rapidly attract members because of the inexpensive membership rate and provision of excellent service making it one of the best gyms. There are no added frills, yet they work effectively in advertising and branding, particularly with the planet fitness motto "Judgment Free Zone." Because of the gym's platonic environment, many newbies feel at ease attending and signing up for a membership.

10. Gold’s Gym

Last but not least on our list is Gold’s gym. The first Gold's gym had handmade equipment and  was known as "the Mecca of Bodybuilding." Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper attended it, and it was included in the docudrama Pumping Iron (1977), which increased attention to not just the gym but also to bodybuilding and physique in general.

Gold's gym has a personal training culture that helps members achieve their health objectives, whether it's preparing for a marathon, getting back in shape after a pregnancy, or learning how to manage diabetes. Most recently, Gold's has teamed up with the AARP to provide senior-focused initiatives.

Gold's Gym is the world's biggest co-ed gym, with 600 nationwide gyms.

Why are they successful?

The original Gold's Gym had three basic ingredients of success: top-of-the-line equipment, a passion for training, and an unwavering commitment to results. It was an instant smash, and the American gym has been growing ever since. No other gym concept compares to Gold's Gym's global brand strength.

It follows a worldwide established fitness training module with cutting-edge infrastructure and delivery techniques, as well as ongoing training program improvement. Gold's Gym takes a holistic approach to its members' health and well-being, including professional trainers and nutritional counseling making it to the list of best gyms in America.

Do you own a gym/fitness center?

Owning a gym comes with its own hurdles and responsibilities, We have a comprehensive guide to address each of your problems. Jump on to the article page of the Bookee app and get the most feasible and easy solutions to your problems,

Managing class booking and memberships is one of the major problems that most gym owners face. Along with that, every gym owner wishes to keep up with the trends of the fitness industry. Bookee app is a modern fitness business management software that helps you to build a spectacular virtual presence of your gym along with easy management of the admin tasks. Wish to get started, book a demo with us.

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