People are turning to online fitness platforms in greater numbers, thanks to the convenience and relatively low cost. Gold’s Gym has seen its own members making a shift to online workouts in place of going to the gym, which prompted the franchise to create its own online platform for members and non-members alike.
This week the company introduced Gold’s AMP, a fitness app which offers training sessions from 6 to 60 minutes in length, depending on how much time you have. Anyone can get the app regardless of whether or not you’re a Gold’s Gym member, and the service only costs $9.99 per month.
According to Club Industry Magazine, the new app will offer cardio, toning and stretch sessions that are coach-led (music included) for both indoor and outdoor workouts, catering to users at all fitness levels. The workouts include treadmill and outdoor walking, jogging and running, as well as elliptical, bike, stair climber, rowing and more, with new workouts added every week.
All online workouts will be led by Gold’s Gym coaches from around the country. Coaches select the music for their workouts, but the Gold’s AMP offers users unlimited access to more than 40 music genres and thousands of DJ mixes if customers would like to listen to music before or after the workouts (and to keep them engaged with the app). New choices will be offered every day.
Gold’s Gym CIO Adam Zeitsiff told Club Industry: “We feel that with our global brand recognition, our 50-plus years of fitness experience, and our base of the most talented and dedicated fitness professionals in the world that we have a strong future ahead of ourselves in this market segment, and have a unique opportunity to take a market-leading position."
Many people like the idea of having a personal trainer, but the expense and time commitment can be a hindrance to continuing with a fitness program long-term. Online platforms have been successful in recent years because of the convenience, quality and variety of offerings. People are able to train around their work and childcare schedules, and also maintain their fitness regime while traveling. Plus, more and more celebrity trainers are offering their own online sessions, so online fitness consumers have access to top-quality coaching no matter where they are.
It’s a good move by Gold’s Gym to make the app inclusive for members and non-members alike, especially since gym memberships are declining. But it’s also smart to offer both the gym experience as well as the online platform, because many members will take advantage of both, depending on their schedules.
Right now, the app is being offered in the U.S. and Canada, available in both the App Store and Google Play (for both iPhone and Android users). Franchisees can sell the app directly to their members or can bundle it as part of their offerings.
