Corporate Fitness

[simple]

I've been kicking an idea around and could use some feedback. At one time I said the days of the small local gyms were over and settled into what I admit is a decent although mega corporate gym. We all know them where there is someone new at the counter every week, most the trainers had worked out at Balleys once or twice before they became trainers, and the atmosphere is not really about people accomplishing thier fitness goals. You all get it.
Anyway, I am considering opening a new gym. But in your guys opinion are the small gyms still viable? Input or suggestions would be great.

[Jack Tragic]

I've been kicking an idea around and could use some feedback. At one time I said the days of the small local gyms were over and settled into what I admit is a decent although mega corporate gym. We all know them where there is someone new at the counter every week, most the trainers had worked out at Balleys once or twice before they became trainers, and the atmosphere is not really about people accomplishing thier fitness goals. You all get it.
Anyway, I am considering opening a new gym. But in your guys opinion are the small gyms still viable? Input or suggestions would be great.

By "small gym". imo anything and everything is possible. What i like in any gym that i train in  that keeps me comming back to is this...a) cast olimpic style weights (and lots of them), b) at least 2 power racks and at least 2 heavy-style Smith machines,along w/ a few incline benches and a couple of flats, c) decent cambered curl bars (not bent from a-wipes dropping them on benches! (get really pissed when i see this), d) an owner that appreciates having quality members in his establishment and weeds out the loosers as this will increase bisness in the longrun anyway! e) FEMALES!...and males of course for the ladies (again, no A-wipes plz...) very important from the male perspective here! BUT i could go on and on. The point here is start somewhere! And then take it from there! Lets face it. We are NOT rich (you wouldn't be here...) ALL BB's for a fact are humble, hard-working and have to account for every $$ that goes through our bank account and the bottom line is if you own a gym, get to know your patrons on a personal level as this will increase the word of mouth business draws for you and your gym . Also if you can, sell several good supplements at a very fair price. You know...protiens, carb powders, multies, fatty acids, etc. Incorporate a few clothing items ie: Y-backs, straps, wraps, baggie shorts (don't forget your female peeps here). Once you get started...the world is yours bro!  J

[muscle_n_blood]

Depends on what you mean by small. There is "small" vs. "large", or "hardcore" vs "foo foo". I think you mean a smallish, hardcore gym where people who are serious about getting big, strong, and/or fit come to train. Whether that is viable or not depends on that old real estate motto: location, location, location.
You need to research the demographics and see what the active people locally might need.
For example, I live in a very athletic community here on Lake Tahoe. Naturally, we have a lot of skiers but also cyclists (some of them are phenomenal, pedaling with ease from lake level of about 6,300 to the top of Mt Rose pass, well over 8,000 in just a few miles) and half the gym I train at is dedicated to a huge, advanced rock climbing wall. We only have few serious strength/physique trainees here, so we are missing a couple of things that I like, such as a hack squat and we have neither a standing nor lying hamstring curl machine, only seated (my least favorite)
Ordinarily, hardcore gym rats are pretty easy to please. Lot of free weights and heavy dumbells, power/squat racks, benches, etc like Jack said. If you need to attract a milder crowd to make it go, you'll need more cardio stuff and resistance machines.
As much as we'd love to have a gym just like we want, we have to cater to the available clientele to make it go. The Gold's in Carson City actually has a hardcore corner where the big boys (and girls) play. It's cool.

[p.s.]

JT and MnB pretty much hit the nail on the head here. I think that if you want to make a serious go with your gym then see what is and is not available at the other fitness centre's and go from there. Maybe chat with some members to see what they would like in a gym. I also think that having a mix of free weights and hardcore machines (hammer, nebula etc) would also be a great idea with weight stacks that go up to at least 300 lbs on the selectorized units.

I would also incorporate a heavy lifting area IE deadlift platforms, heavy duty racks, heavy duty leg press etc, and maybe set up a minimum bench press (315 for the guys/150 for the gals) as a way of keeping the pee on's out of that area. It also sets up goals for the little people to work towards if they want to train back there. I've seen this done at other gyms with great success.

Also a good pro shop/juice bar will make ya huge coin once you have a decent membership base.