GYMPODS LAUNCHES UK FRANCHISE EXPANSION FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF LONDON SITES

GYMPODS, the private gym concept that gives members and PTs their own fully equipped workout space, is launching a nationwide franchise expansion and looking for partners to bring the brand to towns and cities across the UK.

Founded by fitness industry veterans Mike and Simon, who have more than 50 years of combined industry experience, GYMPODS opened its first London location in late 2022 following two years of development and testing.

The business now operates two corporate-owned locations in Dalston and Putney and has built a following among gym users and personal trainers looking for an alternative to the traditional shared gym floor.

Instead of exercising alongside dozens of other members, customers book their own private POD containing the equipment they need for their session. With a range of POD types, this can range from strength and conditioning equipment to cardio machines and Pilates reformers.

The concept has been designed to tackle some of the biggest frustrations associated with conventional gyms – including overcrowding, waiting for equipment, unwanted attention and ‘gymtimidation’ – while also giving experienced gym users and personal trainers a private, premium environment in which to train.

Across its two London locations, GYMPODS has attracted more than 100 registered personal trainers and generated more than 5,000 five-star reviews across platforms including Google, ClassPass and Wellhub.

Having established and refined the model through its corporate locations, GYMPODS is now opening the business to franchise partners for the first time, with single and multi-unit opportunities available across the UK.

Two franchise formats

Franchisees can choose between two formats depending on their location, investment level and ambitions.

• The GYMPODS Classic model comprises four to eight PODs and is designed for sites of around 1,200-1,800 sq ft, including high street locations, leisure centres, hotels, offices and residential developments. The franchise fee starts from £18,500, with an indicative total investment of £225,000-£275,000.
• The larger GYMPODS Ultimate format features 10 to 16 PODs within approximately 2,500-4,000 sq ft and is designed as a flagship proposition for locations including major retail, mixed-use and regeneration developments and transport hubs. Franchise fees start from £27,500, with an indicative total investment of £450,000-£555,000.

Both models have been designed to offer franchisees operational flexibility. Locations can operate fully staffed, on a hybrid basis or, where appropriate, as a 24/7 unmanned business using GYMPODS’ booking, payment and smart-access technology.

Franchisees generate revenue through a combination of pay-as-you-go sessions, monthly memberships, buddy sessions, personal trainers and corporate wellness packages.

Mike Crockett, co-founder of GYMPODS, said:

“GYMPODS came from recognising that the traditional gym environment simply doesn’t work for everyone. For some people it’s intimidating; for others it’s crowded, noisy or frustrating when the equipment they want isn’t available.

“We’ve created something fundamentally different. When you book a GYMPODS session, that space and equipment are yours. You can train on your own, with a friend or as a personal trainer with clients, without having to navigate a busy gym floor.

“The response to our London locations has shown us there is real appetite for this kind of fitness experience. We deliberately wanted to operate and refine the concept ourselves before franchising it, and with two established corporate sites we now feel the model is ready for its next stage of growth.

“Our ambition is to make GYMPODS available to people across the UK, and franchising gives us the opportunity to do that with ambitious local partners who understand their markets and want to build a business around a genuinely differentiated fitness concept.”

Franchise partners do not need previous fitness industry experience. GYMPODS is targeting both first-time business owners and experienced entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators.

The franchisor provides support covering site selection and lease negotiations, design and fit-out, technology and systems, operational training and proprietary apps, pre-opening activity and ongoing national and local SEO/ad marketing.

New locations can also integrate with ClassPass and Wellhub, helping franchisees make their studios discoverable to existing fitness consumers from launch.

Mike added:

“We’re looking for people with the drive to build GYMPODS in their territory rather than necessarily people who have spent their careers in fitness. We’ve already done much of the learning through our corporate sites, from the design of the PODs and technology through to operations, marketing and the customer experience.

“For the right franchisees, this is an opportunity to take that proven platform into markets where consumers increasingly want greater privacy, flexibility and choice from their fitness experience.”

GYMPODS is currently inviting enquiries from prospective single and multi-unit franchise partners across the UK and EU.

Interested and want to know more about GYMPODS ?

The GYMPODS profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.

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