Staying Ahead in a Competitive Market: Key Insights for Boutique Fitness Studios

The fitness industry shows no signs of slowing down. Millions of consumers around the world continue to invest in their health and fitness, even as the cost of living rises. As a result, the industry has adapted to economic challenges and is now thriving. The global wellness market is expected to reach $8.5 trillion by 2027  and continue growing steadily at an annual rate of 7.83%.

As the industry grows, it also becomes more competitive. So how can you ensure your boutique fitness studio stays ahead of the curve? The answer lies in innovative business management software.

At WellnessLiving, our all-in-one software helps you automate marketing and operations so you can dedicate more time to connecting with clients. From mobile apps to seamless payment processing to retention tools, our innovative features engage clients and help your business thrive. In fact, businesses that use WellnessLiving grew their active membership and bulk passes by 19% and increased revenue by more than 16% year over year.

To help you navigate this competitive landscape, we’ve created our Industry Benchmark Report. This report helps you understand the current boutique fitness landscape, gain insights from our platform, and discover actionable tips to streamline your studio processes and enhance customer experiences.

Here are three key tools highlighted in the report that studio owners are using to grow their businesses:

1. Seamless Booking and Payment Solutions

Attracting and retaining clients becomes an overwhelming challenge if your business lacks seamless booking and payment solutions. When your booking process is simple and convenient, clients are more likely to continue attending classes. Additionally, online booking options are vital to increasing revenue.

Did you know that 40% of appointment and class bookings happen after hours? Additionally, businesses that offer online bookings increase their revenue by an impressive 27% on average. With WellnessLiving, your clients have a range of convenient options for booking classes, including Reserve with Google, the Achieve Client App, and your custom website.

Our booking features also give you and your staff valuable client data. You’ll know how many people signed up for an individual class and which clients are returning or trying out your studio for the first time. Seamless payment processing goes hand in hand with convenient booking. By 2025, mobile payments will make up the majority of digital transactions. WellnessLiving provides reliable payment processing online and in person.

Peggy Cuthbert, owner of Momentum Pilates can attest to this. “From streamlined booking and payments to seamless client interactions and efficient task management, we owe it all to WellnessLiving!” she says. With our integrated point-of-sale system, you can also close more sales conveniently by accepting payments from mobile devices.

2. Cutting-Edge Mobile Apps

Convenience is key, and in today’s fitness industry, having a recognizable brand is also essential. However, developing a strong brand image can be overwhelming for smaller boutique fitness studios. A custom mobile app helps establish your brand with your own logo, colors, and images. Additionally, it makes booking classes, signing waivers, and managing client profiles simple.

Ultimately, a mobile app will boost your revenue, productivity, and client retention. These results rely on your ability to gather relevant client data and keep members interested in your brand.

WellnessLiving’s Achieve Client App is designed to do just that by promoting your business, engaging members, and increasing online bookings. You can also upgrade to the custom-branded White Label version of Achieve to give clients a consistently positive and cohesive experience with your brand.

In that same vein, the Elevate Staff App allows you to check class schedules and attendance lists and accept payments for products and services right from your mobile device.

3. Retention Tools: Advanced Reporting and Rewards Program

Client retention is another significant challenge for fitness studios of all sizes. Half of new clients lose motivation and cancel their gym membership within six months of joining, according to Gym Rescue Marketing. To improve retention rates, you need to proactively identify at-risk clients, keep them motivated, and re-engage them before they churn.

WellnessLiving provides tools to nurture and retain clients. Our Advanced Reporting allows you to view and filter key metrics, including sales reports and client visits. Customizable reports and easy-to-use search parameters help you save time by quickly finding the exact data you need. Plus, our predictive AI business tool, Isaac, enables you to spot clients who are likely to churn, so you can re-engage them with targeted marketing.

Rewards programs are another effective way to retain members. WellnessLiving’s rewards program allows you to incentivize loyalty by offering clients free services, discounts, and prizes. Build your own custom gamified rewards program with points to keep members engaged and motivated. These easy-to-use tools equal fun for your clients and better retention for your business.

The KOV Cryotherapy uses the rewards feature to power their points program, which makes clients feel valued as they earn discounts on beauty products, gift cards, and more. “The rewards program not only motivates our clients to spend more, but it also deepens their loyalty to our wellness brand. It’s rewarding to see such positive customer engagement and increased sales as a result of this initiative,” explains co-owner Karla Casallas.

Grow Your Boutique Fitness Studio with the Right Software Solution

Looking to grow your studio and stand out in a crowded market? See real data from our WellnessLiving platform, showcasing what other studio owners are doing to grow their business. Download your copy of our 2024 Industry Benchmark Report for key boutique fitness studio insights to drive your business growth today.

Don’t wait to transform your studio’s approach. Take advantage of our special offer: Book your free demo and get 50% OFF your first three months when you subscribe to our Business Plan.