how has the economy.....

[FlipAAA]

Affected your business, clients...etc?!?!?!?

[AskTheTrainer]

Originally Posted by FlipAAA

Affected your business, clients...etc?!?!?!?

Of course it has slowed down a bit. Clients who have been w/ me for a while are hanging on as usual but it seems it is tougher to keep the new clients.

[Jean-Paul]

I recently got out of the industry but not because of the economy... Mainly because after 21 years I was burned out. It doesn't help that I owned the gym, so I had the headache of steering a business along with trying to maintain a full schedule. A recent separation/pending divorce was the final nail in the coffin.

The one thing I will tell you is that there will always be people out there with money. If you are at the level of being at the top of the food chain, you will always do well regardless of the economy.

There are hundreds of thousands of trainers out there. Are you a member of the herd or are you an innovator? People who self-start and hustle make it under any circumstances.

[kuri]

The gym I work out of has been booming this past coupla months. Whether it's people paying more attention to preventative health care or not I'm not sure, but trainers are busy. This area (Santa Monica) is a bit different than most areas anyway.

[Tom@foresight]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

I recently got out of the industry but not because of the economy... Mainly because after 21 years I was burned out. It doesn't help that I owned the gym, so I had the headache of steering a business along with trying to maintain a full schedule. A recent separation/pending divorce was the final nail in the coffin.

The one thing I will tell you is that there will always be people out there with money. If you are at the level of being at the top of the food chain, you will always do well regardless of the economy.

There are hundreds of thousands of trainers out there. Are you a member of the herd or are you an innovator? People who self-start and hustle make it under any circumstances.

Well with you there JP, if you are aiming to be at the top of your game and are going the extra mile for your clients I think it will effect you less.

I think trainers really consider are they providing a value for money product? Are they making clients realise that thier services are a need rather than just a want?

TOM

[PhysicalFitnet]

Trainers need to adapt to the times by changing up their services and offerings. We recently launched a way for trainers to send workouts to clients. Of course you can't charge a client the same fee as in-person training, but its a revenue stream that takes less time and is less expensive for budget-conscious client.

Its a brand new service for trainers and there is a free trial and then $40/year after that. You can send videos workouts to clients choosing from 800 exercises. They can view on a Blackberry or iphone or other smartphones or get a printout to take to the gym.http://www.physicalfitnet.com/ traine...ilder-pro.aspx

You can make a few extra bucks training clients who normally could not afford a trainer.

[Sarah Rippel]

I haven't seen a decrease, but most of my clients are wealthy. I am doing a lot these days to create some passive income. I feel any trainer these days without a website is missing out. My blog is free and I maintain it myself, and i've gotten business from it. I'm an affiliate for Perform Better and AOS, and make some money this way. I am working on a few info products and have some other ideas in the works. Also, next month i'll be starting up a new bootcamp program. I have used an online training service but didn't pursue it after realizing it sucked, lol. I have a few programs I created at YouPump, but I would rather use my own exercise pictures. I have a good deal of vids on YouTube already, and am always filming new ones (have a ton I haven't uploaded), and will be using these to reach more clients.

In this economy, any trainer who is solely relying on one-on-one probably needs to "think outside the box" a bit!

[Ryan Price]

I was thinking about this jsut the other day,

One trainer said that we’re in a serious recession, and the government must step in soon before more businesses go down the drain - including his.

Look, if that’s your mentality too then you are in for a heap of trouble.
Frankly it doesn’t matter what the government does, you’re responsible for your personal wealth, accomplishments, success and failures.

If you’re going to rely on the economyto tell you that it’s ok to start making money again then you are in for a lifetime of instability.

I spent an hour of my weekend in an Electronics store looking at the Iphone. This was the second time I was in this particular store within 60 days.

Both times the place was PACKED. I mean people were bumping into each other packed. The place was buzzing with consumerism.
I thought we’re in an economic slump - a recession, what gives?
You sure can’t tell by being in that store!

People, old and young were buying up laptops, Iphones, Ipods and gadgets.

If there is a recession then companies like Apple have figured out how to become recession proof.

For that matter so have cafe’s!

People are still paying six bucks a day for a cup of cappu-what-ever with extra foam.

The bottom line is this: People will ALWAYS find a way to pay for what they really WANT, no matter what.

You have to think like a business entreprenur.
Will you have to try harder? Yep.
Will you have to get creative in your marketing efforts? Yep.
Will youhave to further hone your sales presentation. Yep.
Will you have to create more budget friendly training programs? Yep. (try offering 30 minute sessions or semi-private sessions - and how about bootcamps as well?)

My point is dont just sit around blaming circumstance or waiting for the economy to tell us it is safe and okay to start making money again.
We must create enticing weight loss programs that people want. We must use creative marketing tactics and offer guarantees on ALL our services and get people to WANT to buy into our programs and services.

Apple does the same.

They have products that people want. And people are willing to pay what Apple is charging to get it.

If you’re blaming the economy or circumstance for your failing business it’s only because you don’t want to put the responsibility where it should be - on yourself.

How can you make your personal training services more WANTED, like Apple or Coffee?

- Ryan

[Jean-Paul]

Thanks Ryan, and welcome to the JPF forums!

[Ryan Price]

Thanks Jean-Paul, This is a little off topic for this thread but I like your youtube videos especially Danza Mora. I can no longer finger pick due to an accident involving my M finger

This forum looks great, I guess I'll see you round more, from your post stats it looks like your very active.

Cheers.

[Jean-Paul]

Thanks for the props. I knew a fantastic guitarist in MASS who was missing his index finger altogether, so he played with his M, A, and pinky! It was pretty weird to watch.

I look forward to your input in here.

[kuri]

The bottom line is this: People will ALWAYS find a way to pay for what they really WANT, no matter what.

Yes and no. I've had a few consistent long-time clients have to stop/reduce sessions for valid financial reasons. But these people aren't out scooping up new gadgets either. Their businesses have simply hit hard times and you gotta do what you gotta do.

With a few I've started charging them for programs then doing a tune-up once a month so they'll keep making progress, and it's a price they can afford.

There has been a distinct trend that among newer clients people are not willing to put out for 3x week as was common even a year ago. More are only willing to do 1x week, some two. >3 is getting rarer.

[martann]

I know, this is an older thread, but I am experiencing a slowdown now myself.
Prepare, I have a lot of questions, and I ramble a bit......
I do have my long time clients who have stayed w/ me, but like another poster said, most have reduced their training time. 3xwkly is hard to come by these days. New clients don't stay as long. I now offer 30 minute sessions, but that has only helped a bit.

I am independent, and the gym I work in is small. For the most part we need to bring in our own clients. I only work day time hours, because I am a mom to a 5yr old and my DH works evenings. How do I reach the stay at home moms and retired or not working w/ $$?

Another question, when someone is training w/ you 1or 2 x wkly, do you give them specific workouts to do on the other days of the week? or are they just on there own. I've been giving them workouts to do, do you think that is best?

I would love if this thread was revived a bit w/ more ideas on acquiring new clients. what worked for you? Craig's list, flyer's, seminars, passes?
Most all my clients have been referrals, I never have had to do much marketing, so I need all the help I can get.

Just found the "fitness as a business" section....