is ben dunne right???

duncanb

Is ben dunne right to close off all "wet areas" (swimming pools saunas jacuzzis) in his gyms in the coming months, and focus only on the fitness gym model?

Yes he will save considerably money in running costs of these areas.....
but will the decision effect peoples liking of his gyms and turn against him

Will it come back to bit him in the bum?

after all he is compromising his good relations with members in favour of potential profit and growth?

abakan

That is bad news - for me anyway - i only go to his gym for the swimming pool etc and only in the morning as its to busy in the evenings.
I dont see what he is going to gain from not having the wet areas but I can see what he will lose.
Maybe Ben is more clever than us all!!

antoinolachtnai

He is effectively writing off his investment in a specialized building if he does this.

My understanding from someone in the industry in the US is that it's a lot easier to get a 'dry' gym to make money than a wet one.

blue4ever

He actually admitted that - the cost vs usage of the pool was staggering. He did mention that (i think) he was bringing in a new Franchise from the US - into his gym - to sit into the pool area space (when its filled in!)

But - it's Ben's hard earned cash at the end of the day - he hasn't gone too wrong in the past.

antoinolachtnai

Except maybe that time when he ...

Well, the main thing is that he doesn't give up, he deals with the problem, does what has to be done, and gets up and tries again.

-Chris-

He said on the radio that 80% of his "business" was dry based, and only 20% was wet.
Based on those numbers, I'd be closing the pools too!

That being said, AFAIK most people who join gyms are dreamers - they join with great intentions and visions of super-fitness, but give up after a month or two.
Removing the pools may make his existing customers more profitable, but I'd be worried that potential new members would be swayed by a gym with full facilities, as their "dreams" include getting into swimming etc.

antoinolachtnai

It may not be that it makes them 'more profitable'. It may just make them 'profitable'.

Up until last year, selling gym memberships was about selling a dream, like you say. But now, it's about selling actual fitness. If this is true, you have to help the customer actually progress, otherwise they'll just cancel on you.

mrfuncle

Seems to be applying the pareto principle here.

I support his decision to close the wet area. As a member over the years you can see the demand from active users of his gym(s) shifting this way. He is simply moving what ever way the water is flowing!

murphaph

Not one single gym here seems to have a wet area. You have to go to one of the municipal swimming pools if you want to swim. Seems to be a trend.

Sonnenblumen

duncanb wrote: »

Is ben dunne right to close off all "wet areas" (swimming pools saunas jacuzzis) in his gyms in the coming months, and focus only on the fitness gym model?

Yes he will save considerably money in running costs of these areas.....
but will the decision effect peoples liking of his gyms and turn against him

Will it come back to bit him in the bum?

after all he is compromising his good relations with members in favour of potential profit and growth?

Ben Dunne can do whatever he likes with his own money, and the matter of 'is he right?' does not arise. AFAIK he(his co) has no remit for provisioning any social/community services?

eamonnf

You know what they call people who join gyms at the start of the year, paying a full year membership and only go two or three times during the year?

PROFIT

If Mr. Dunne didn't make it, he would close more than the wet areas.