Across the burgeoning $27 billion fitness industry, it’s common for fads and concepts to become obsolete overnight; however the survivors who will withstand the test of time are those that couple affordability with a first-class experience. Retro Fitness has set itself apart from competition by using this as the foundation of the company. By remaining sensibly priced in conjunction with launching various new initiatives in 2014, the fast-growing franchise is ready to continue industry dominance across the nation in the New Year.
With 120 gyms open in 15 states and an additional 100 gyms in the development pipeline, Retro Fitness plans to have over 300 locations in its franchise system within the next two years. In 2014 alone, the company opened 20 clubs, boosting the membership base to 500,000.
This exponential growth has not gone unnoticed. Forbes magazine ranked Retro Fitness as the second best franchise investment in the nation among chains with entry costs of $500,001 and up. Additionally, Entrepreneur magazine placed Retro Fitness within the top 300 of its Franchise 500 list for the fifth consecutive year.
“We are constructing a very tall building and are only in the basement level,” stated Eric Casaburi, CEO and founder of Retro Fitness. “While new clubs that began operation in 2014 have elevated us to the ground floor, we don’t plan on stopping until we reach the roof. We’ve got a pipeline chock-full of franchisees looking to open more units and our development team is constantly meeting with and evaluating prospective owners in our targeted growth markets.”
The predominantly East Coast franchise is currently undergoing a national growth initiative to become a household name throughout the country. Last year, the company began developing throughout the Midwest and Western regions while simultaneously expanding heavily in existing markets such as New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The New Year holds further aggressive expansion with plans to bulk up its presence in Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Utah, Massachusetts, Texas and California.
Beyond franchise expansion, the company has increased its value for members with added offerings including a new mobile app revolutionizing the digital health space. Available in Apple and Android app stores, members can now track workouts, set goals, earn points, join challenges and share updates while also connecting with third-party apps. In 2015, the app will continue to evolve by utilizing innovative technology to provide an unprecedented entertainment experience while exercising on cardio equipment.
Retro Fitness has proven to be an innovative leader in the fitness industry, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to open in flexible 10,000 to 16,000 square-foot spaces during a time when prime real estate is more affordable. Plus, each facility is designed to offer high-quality equipment and amenities while scaling back on square footage to lower costs for both owners and members, without cutting back on services and staff.
