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The Rx Your Box Blog

    In the New Year, Be Careful Not To Make This Scheduling Mistake
    Posted by Stephanie
    Dec 14, 2019

    As an entrepreneur, you are undoubtedly an idea machine. Thoughts come to you constantly, day or night, about programs to add, certifications to host, outings to arrange, workouts to program, marketing strategies to employ, sales promotions to push.

    And, arguably, your brain is on overdrive right now: the new year is coming up.

    There’s nothing like a brand new year to launch a brand new program.

    But we, of course, know that not all ideas are good ones. And even some good ideas don’t work the way we think they will.

    To shield your members from announcements like “Sorry folks—we’re not offering yoga anymore because there just wasn’t enough participation,” test the waters: Before you add any new classes/programs to your schedule (Olympic Weightlifting, Yoga, Mobility, Boot Camp, Core, Powerlifting, etc.) gauge participation/engagement by making it a one-time course FIRST.

    So instead of offering yoga with the hopes that your athletes will hop on board, do a six-week yoga course. Require sign-ups. Charge for the course. And prior to the start date, make it known that the course will run as long as there are ten (for example) participants.

    At the end of the six weeks, get feedback from the participants. Ask them if they’d sign up again and if they think it would be a good addition to the current program. Basically, find out if the addition of this program will enhance the customer experience.

    You’ll likely know the answer after you receive feedback from the participants.

    But from our experience…

    Folks get really excited about the novelty of a new program, and then the program (regardless of how well-received it was) fizzles out.

    Consider, then, offering several six-week courses per year. Rotate between stuff like Yoga and Core and Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting. Not only will your athletes love the fun that comes with the newness, but it’s also a great way to add revenue streams to the business.

    And yes—you might run across a program that does so well as a course that it belongs on the schedule. It’ll be a great feeling to know that this program will probably be really successful and add value to your member’s experience.

    For great member experience, limit the number of times you “take something away” from your athletes. Test your programs first. It’s a win for the athletes and a win for the business.

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    Do This One Simple Task To Help Keep Your Gym Full Of Good Vibes

    Topics: Crossfit Member Experience

    Ray Oldenburg, urban sociologist and author, is famous for his work on what he calls “third places”—public places like cafes, coffee shops, book stores, bars (and arguably gyms) where people can gather and interact.

    Oldenburg says this on the subject:

    "The character of a third place is determined most of all by its regular clientele and is marked by a playful mood, which contrasts with people's more serious involvement in other spheres. Though a radically different kind of setting for a home, the third place is remarkably similar to a good home in the psychological comfort and support that it extends.”

    Your gym, therefore, is quite possibly the “third place” for many of your members. What an honor!

    But with honor comes great responsibility. You are now tasked with the objective of making your gym space warm (figuratively), happy, clean, organized, welcoming, empathic, fun, inclusive, and positive.

    There are, of course, several steps to take in order to successfully hit all of the above criteria; but here’s one that’s easy and costs nothing to do:

    Do a run-through at your box and see if there’s anything outdated, unused, forgotten.

    This often comes in the form of a month-old competition flyer that’s still hanging on the board. Or a “Goals Board” that hasn’t been updated in months (or longer). Or even gym leaderboards that are so outdated that they’ve just blended into the wall like a sort of cruddy wallpaper.

    These relics tell your members that you aren’t on top of things, that you aren’t organized. Rid your gym of these harmful (albeit innocent-looking) ghosts of gym past. They don’t belong in your members’ “third place.”

    This is something worth doing every couple of weeks—a sort of biweekly scan that keeps the gym in the present tense. Just pop it in your phone as a reminder. It’ll message to your community that you care to keep their space beautiful, that you want them to feel nothing but good vibes when they’re there.

    Your Gyms Social Events Mean More Than You Think

    Topics: Crossfit Member Experience

    To help your new members feel welcomed and included in your gym community, make it your mission to host several social gym events annually.

    Share The Stage

    Topics: Crossfit Member Experience

    As a coach, you have center stage. You’re the headliner, the person that everyone is looking at and listening to and laughing with.

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