What are the kind of weight plates available to purchase, how are they different from one another and what are the fundamental benefits of calibrated plates over others and are they a worthwhile investment for your gym?

For those of you looking to open a commercial gym or facility, the wide variety of gym equipment on offer can be quite confusing. 

Trends within the fitness industry come and go and some remain popular such as HIIT. 

First off, what's the difference between them?

Simple enough, isolation targets just one muscle group whereas compound target multiple muscle groups.  

From the mid 1800's strength sports weren't so much of a sport as an act of showmanship. Strongmen would show off their prowess in front of large crowds performing lifts such as the bent press.

There's been a whopping spike in the number of low-cost chain gyms opening up across the UK. 

41% from 2015 to 2016!  That's huge, and with membership costs as low as £16.99 per month it's becoming increasingly difficult for independent gyms to compete.  At least from a cost perspective.

As the fitness industry grows, so do does the kind of facility on offer and many gyms have to consider, as a local business, who they are targeting.

Strength training may seem like a modern concept but in fact dates back centuries.  Back in the early days it was necessary for man to be strong and fast for the purpose of hunting. 

 

Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of low-cost gyms offering 24 hour access to their facilities. It may be surprising to know that gym members would want to work out in the dead of night.

How Can You Retain Your Members?

Typically, keeping customers you already have is easier than obtaining new ones.  However, it must be frustrating if a customer cancels their membership and you are unsure why.  Whilst, you can ask the question, the truth is it can be difficult to find out. 

There are many manufacturers of weight plates out there but very few offer calibrated plates.  So what exactly is the difference between plates that are calibrated and those that are not?

Commercial gyms and the fitness industry as a whole is huge and continues to grow at an exponential rate.