Planet Fitness Tamworth celebrates two years of community connection

Two years ago, Planet Fitness Tamworth swung open their gym doors, as well as their arms, to the community of Tamworth. As the only family-owned Planet Fitness franchise in the country, this local space might have a big brand name above the door, but it’s bursting with local loving goodness within. In the lead up to their second birthday celebration on Monday 26 May (where there will be free gym access, purple cupcakes and good times on offer!), REGGIE caught up with Creative Director Gjenae Rosekelly. Here she shares her thoughts on the importance of community connection, celebrating member wins and a growing focus on mental health and wellbeing in the years ahead.

 

We can’t believe it’s been two years since we opened Planet Fitness Tamworth – the time has absolutely flown. The local community has welcomed us with open arms and I like to think it’s because they feel heard, seen and supported. Being a family-owned business offers us a level of flexibility that’s crucial to supporting our members – from changing up our schedules to adding in our newest, yoga-based class called ‘Flow’.

That addition was prompted by a lot of conversations we’ve had about building on our designated recovery and mental wellbeing spaces. This will be a big focus for us in the years to come, but I’m proud to say we’ve been ahead of the game with our Black Card Spa Membership, which offers members access to our state-of-the-art massage equipment, red light therapy booths, spray tanning and total body enhancement services, as well as the option to bring a friend for free. We’ve found this really helps boost motivation and confidence when walking into a gym. It means there’s built-in accountability with someone you already know and trust. I think that’s a big part of why the Black Card membership option is one of our most popular, with 82 per cent of our members on this model for $9.95 a week.

That’s a price we’re proud of too, because fitness should be affordable. If someone makes the decision to lead a healthier lifestyle, there should be no barrier to following that through. Whether you’re 40, 50, 60 or beyond – joining a gym can start at any age and should be at a price point that’s sustainable, because that’s when you get long-term results.

You just have to look at some of our recent member wins to see the impact – Esther has lost 37kg, Vicki lost 40kg and Lachlan has shed 50kg. These guys have used a combination of tactics, from working with a trainer in small group sessions, to following their own workouts on the floor with the help of our app which delivers a step-by-step guide on how to use every piece of equipment in the gym. You can also use it to create your own workouts. It’s a great way to build knowledge and confidence while going at your own pace.

Member stories like this show us we’re making a real impact – and that’s what we want to keep doing, supporting our local community to make change. We’re so proud of them all and since reaching our goal of 5000 members in two years, we can see real growth in the people of Tamworth. And while 5000 is a big number, it’s important to point out that because we’re such a large, 24-hour gym, you can always get a treadmill, join a class, and access the equipment you need. There’s also a crowd metre on our app, so you can check how busy the space is before coming in. We find this really helps with people who might feel a bit anxious about walking into a busy gym too – they can find the quieter times and come in when it’s more comfortable for them.

That’s what it’s all about for us, meeting you where you’re at and ensuring you’re well supported every step of the way. We’re here to listen to our community, embrace everything they have to say and act on it so they feel more confident to take action on their health.