Sunday, January 6, 2013

Renewed

Hampshire Athletic Club, new main entrance 

Just in time for the surge in participation HAC's new main entrance is now in use. The final piece of a three part project that started last spring with a much needed renovation of the men's and women's locker rooms.

January is of course the health club industry's peak month because of New Year's resolutions. And in New England inclement weather also helps to keep people indoors.

Unfortunately, for the majority of those new customers, come February they are already back to their old habits, which do not include working out.  That formulae is built in to standard industry pricing, so those who do show up regularly year round are somewhat subsidized by the newbies in January who pay to play and then don't play for long.

Planet Fitness, on the other hand, takes the opposite approach by purposely pricing their product four to five times lower than industry standard, and then hope the majority of customers come infrequently or never, but keep paying their monthly dues since it is such a token amount. 

Seems to be working ... so far.


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's really the fairest. Charge next to nothing and let people sort out for themselves whether they want to keep paying. It's really proof of the efficiency of the marketplace.

Anonymous said...

HAC needs to keep their pool and pool room warmer- The cold air blowing across the ceiling to prevent condensation keeps it cold and drafty all year long- there's got to be a better way!

They need to stress (to the lifeguards) the importance of keeping all the windows closed (even if it does get warm sitting at the lifeguard chair)

We are the ones in wet swimsuits in a cold pool with cold air blowing on our heads and shoulders!

Anonymous said...

"... so far."

Beyond any relevant commentary on the 'state of things,' you truly are a curmudgeon, LK.

Anonymous said...

You use the word "curmudgeon" as if that were a bad thing.