Plus Fitness 24/7 opens 20th outlet

All-hours access gym chain, Plus Fitness 24/7 is opening its 20th club this week - with 18 more outlets scheduled for opening across Australia.

Franchisors John Fuller and Nigel Miller first developed their 24 hour gym chain in 2009 based on the recognition of a need for a lower investment, lower cost and faster return gym franchise model.

Since launching Plus Fitness 24/7 at the Sydney Franchising Expo in 2011, Fuller and Miller have seen their brand grow by over 400% in 12 months.

Miller explains "taking advantage of our trading history in the fitness industry and our strong supplier relationships we have been able to maintain a low entry cost including all gym equipment. With no ongoing equipment leasing costs our franchisees are able to achieve much faster break-evens which makes us very unique proposition."

The newest Plus Fitness 24/7 gym is in The Oaks in New South Wales while three further gyms will open in March in Tahmoor, St Marys and Hornsby. By the end of May there will be three more Perth gyms opening, and four further outlets in Melbourne.

Miller explains that the model is popular to consumers due to its affordability, stating "the low cost memberships offered by 24/7 gym operators are achieved due to us not providing the services that only a minority of gym goers actually use, such as group exercise classes, child minding and swimming.

"Our low cost membership model sees memberships come in at only $13 per week with no contracts - that's almost half the price of a traditional gym and without the ties of long term contracts.

"24 hour gyms are becoming an industry of their own within the fitness industry with a few major players now in the field and gyms continuing to open at an incredible rate in suburbs around Australia."

Miller highlights that, in addition to operating Plus Fitness 24/7 gyms, the group has "already sold the following territories which are in varying stages of fit out, DA Approval, lease negotiations or property selection":

NSW: St Marys, Tahmoor, Hornsby, Epping, Bankstown, Parramatta, Gladesville, Vineyard, South Windsor, Menai, Penrith, Burwood, Terrigal, Newtown, Gregory Hills, Oran Park
South Australia: Mawson Lakes
Victoria: Oakleigh; Flinders Street, Melbourne
Western Australia: South Lakes, Morley, Cottesloe.

Miller concludes "on top of this we have a large number of other potential franchisees that we are in the early stages of discussions with."

Plus Fitness 24/7's growth is part of a feature on fitness industry developments in the March/April 2012 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

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