Halloween is upon us, the doorway to the festive season, jam-packed with fitness crushing, gluttonous occasions at every turn. According to research, an average person put on almost 4 kgs during this time of year, thanks to the festivities and the comfort food cravings during winters. As a gym owner, we’d say this is the perfect season to pull in business and retain it with very little effort.
Here’s how:
1. Gym Decoration
…meaning, blend in with your market. If everyone is celebrating Halloween, decorate the gym for Halloween as well. Join in the festivities so your members feel at home. The core idea of Halloween (stuffing yourself with candy) might be in stark contrast of what you propagate, but that doesn’t mean you should alienate members and prospects by counting it as just another day at the gym. In fact use it to your advantage, set challenges for members to eat candy but then losing the calories within a set time. Offer prizes to those who burn off the candy calories the fastest.
2. Dressing Up
Welcome every fun occasion to build up goodwill among members and generate opportunities for “word-of-mouth” advertising and social media. Host costume classes for groups and encourage members to train in costume to win prizes. Encourage members to bring in partners in costume and then encourage those attendees to check-in on Facebook. Offer prizes for the best dressed workout.
3. Halloween Themed Workouts
Encourage members to indulge in creative workout styles for Halloween like: pumpkin smashing, deadlifts, skull crushers, spider squats–the list goes on. Incorporate these exercises into your featured Halloween group classes for the occasion. Offer prizes to anyone who takes up Halloween themed workout with the most fervor and sticks to it.
4. Trick or Treat
Make this a two way traffic lane. Set up a “Bring-a-friend” program and hand out things like protein shakes, protein bars, water bottles, t-shirts with your gyms logo instead of the traditional Halloween treats. Offer rewards or perks to those who bring in the most friends.
5. Play Halloween movies near Cardio Equipment
Play Halloween movies on the screen facing the cardio section. Make fitness fun this Halloween and entertain members while they train and keep them at it for longer. If your members are aware of all the fun Halloween-themed events your gym is offering, they will look forward to their next sweat session so much more, which boosts your long-term retention.
6. Play Halloween Themed Music
Of course if everything else is Halloween, so will be the music. Play Halloween themed gym music for the occasion to get everyone going and into the Halloween groove.
7. Open Halloween Deals
Since its open season for every kind of discount and sale, announce discounts on memberships and fitness equipment & apparel. Check out our retail website for great deals on RDX Sports' entire inventory you can promote in your gym or fitness club!
The efforts needed to make Halloween a part of your gym calendar aren’t much, but their payback is bound to be enormous.
