7 strategies for your boutique gym to compete against large brands

Pexels Anthony Shkraba 4348404- Fit Degree
Pexels Andrew Neel 2312369- Fit Degree
Blog Details Img- Fit Degree
Thinking- Fit Degree
Pexels Cottonbro 5076531- Fit Degree

7 strategies for your boutique gym to compete against large brands

Read Time :

Competing against large brands with big budgets and extensive resources can feel impossible as a small fitness studio. However, with some strategic planning and creative out-of-the-box thinking, it is possible to level the playing field and even outperform your larger competitors. I opened my studio in 2016 as the only studio in town. Ten giant brands opened within two miles of my flagship within four years, and even their unending marketing budgets couldn't touch my membership. Here are some tips on what your boutique studio can do to compete against big brands:

Focus on your unique value proposition. 

One of the advantages of being a small studio is that you can be more agile and flexible than more prominent brands. Take advantage of this by honing in on your unique offering. What truly sets your studio apart from the competition and makes you untouchable? This could be anything from super personalized attention, a specialized niche, or a unique training philosophy, but it needs to be authentically and undisputably your "secret sauce" that your clients experience. By communicating and emphasizing your unique value proposition, you can attract and retain customers looking for something distinct from what the big brands offer.

Build a strong community. 

Large brands may have more resources to invest in marketing, but they can't replicate the sense of community and personal connection that small studios offer. Build a strong community in your studio by organizing member events- both inside and outside of the studio- forging friendships between your clients and creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. By design, large brands struggle in the small "heart-based" studio vibe because it's hard to focus on market share and membership engagement. Present your studio as a true community to create a loyal customer base that will keep coming back.

Leverage technology. 

Technology has made it easier than ever for small studios to compete with more prominent brands, but it's also now a necessary expense rather than a nice-to-have. Clients expect the same level of ease and convenience that the chains offer, so consider investing in tools like online booking like fitDEGREE and automation software. These technologies can help you streamline your operations, reach more customers, and create a better customer experience - all of which can help you compete with the chains.

Collaborate with other small businesses 

Collaborating with other businesses can be a powerful way to grow your customer base and differentiate your studio. Partner with complementary businesses in your community, such as nutritionists, retailers, and juice bars, to offer joint promotions and events. To be effective, both partners should serve a similar ideal client without directly competing. By working together, you can tap into each other's customer bases and create a stronger presence in your community without a big marketing budget.

fitDEGREE can support your Studio Fitness

Consult with us now!

Focus on customer experience 

One of the most significant advantages of small studios over more prominent brands is the ability to offer a more personalized and attentive customer experience. Take advantage of this by making customer experience a top priority. Focus on building relationships with your members and get to know them on a deeper level than just first name and preferred class time. Clients want to feel important to the business and are less likely to look at the shiny new competition if they feel special and integral to your business. Member appreciation week, surprises, milestone programs, and attention to your clients' birthdays all go a long way toward keeping your clients forever. 

Go Guerilla

You don't need a big budget to make a significant impact with your marketing. Try on guerilla marketing! With this strategy, you want to think low-cost, creative, out-of-the-box marketing that catches the attention of your ideal client as they go about their typical day. Innovative signage that makes potential clients look twice, clever use of branded apparel, even chalk art in the shape of yoga poses outside your space to get walk-by traffic to look up, you can't compete on budget, but you can out-innovate your large competition who often don't have boots on the ground in your town like you do. 

Use Your Signage

Your studio windows are a billboard- use them to your advantage! Out-of-Home (OOH) marketing is some of the most effective advertising you can do, and the expense is already built into your rent. Get creative with your call to action, change your banners frequently, add window paint, and stock brochure boxes with QR code flyers for walk-by traffic to grab as they commute. 

While competing against larger brands can be daunting, small fitness studios can use their unique strengths to differentiate themselves and outperform their larger competitors. By focusing on your distinctive value proposition, building a solid community, striving for creativity in your advertising, and delivering an exceptional customer experience, you can create a thriving fitness studio that stands out from the competition for years to come.

Looks like you are finding this valuable, would you also like our latest copy of Navigating the New Normal?
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Seven Ways to Provide Exceptional Service in Your Studio to Stand Out and Keep Members

Membership Models Demystified: Finding the Right Fit for Your Fitness Studio

Building a Strong Community: How to Foster Authentic Connections in Your Boutique Fitness Studio

Customer Spotlights: Showcasing Success Stories to Boost Gym Engagement

2024 Fitness Trends: Embracing The New Boutique Fitness Trends to Stay Ahead

Elevate Your Studio: The Power of Customer Spotlights to Boost Gym Engagement

Elevate Your Boutique Fitness Studio: Year-End Reflections for Ongoing Success

Unwrap Your Gym's Irresistible Holiday Campaign in 4 Steps.

Unleashing the Power of Newsletters: A Guide for Fitness Studio Owners to Boost Holiday Engagement

How to Boost Your Boutique Fitness Studio's Social Media Presence

Social Media Marketing For Fitness Studios: Building Genuine Connections Over Vanity Metrics

Mastering Employee Management: Best Practices for Boutique Fitness Studio Owners

Crafting a Comprehensive Handbook for Your Boutique Fitness Studio

Crafting a Successful First Year: Must-Have Events for Your Boutique Fitness Studio

Are Your Boutique Fitness Studio's Monthly Costs Weighing You Down? Here's How to Find Out

Revamp Your Fitness Studio: A Guide for Successfully Deciding When to Pivot

How to Create Effective Business Goals for Your New Boutique Fitness Studio: A Comprehensive Guide

Ready, Set, Launch: Your Fitness Studio's Complete Opening Day Checklist

How to Find, Interview, and Hire Staff for Your Fitness Studio

Boosting Your Fitness Studio's SEO Effortlessly: Simple Tips for Studio Owners

The Power of Video Marketing: How Fitness Studio Owners Can Attract More Clients

Six Strategies To Create And Market Your Boutique Studio’s Value Proposition

7 strategies for your boutique gym to compete against large brands

What Type of Financing is Right For My New Fitness Business? A Complete Guide

Six Steps to Create Your Fitness Studio’s Successful Business Plan

Your Complete Checklist to Market Your Fitness Business

How to Create a Captivating Founder’s Story For Your Fitness Studio

How to Identify Your Boutique Gym’s Ideal Client

Four Steps to Create the Perfect Mission Statement for Your Fitness Studio

3 Steps to Build a Strong Brand Strategy for Your Fitness Business

How to choose the perfect space for your fitness studio

Finding a niche for your new business

How to Leverage Business Partnerships to Improve Your Fitness Business

Improve Your Gym's Sales Success With Three Simple Questions

Black Friday Marketing: Your Complete Checklist for Fitness Studios

Three Steps to Improve Your Gym's Sub Policies

Do your staff feel appreciated? How to Improve retention with Employee Appreciation Week.

Seven Questions to Keep Your Gym Staff Happy and Engaged

The free marketing tool you need in your fitness business

Your Gym Needs a Budget: How to Increase Your Fitness Business’s Profitability in Six Steps.

Stop Doing it All: 4 Partners to Help Your Fitness Business Grow

How to Overcome Common Sales Objections to Sell More Gym Memberships

Six Ways to Improve Staff Effectiveness and Retention in your Gym

Eight Steps to Sell More Fitness Memberships

The Three Essential Objectives to Improve Gym Sales and Profitability

How to increase attendance and retention in your gym this summer

How to Increase Your Boutique Studio Sales by Optimizing Your Intro Process

Are your clients staying? Improve your gym's retention rate with these strategies

8 reasons why your intro offer isn’t converting into long-term memberships

Are large class packages harming your gym's business? How to price for competitive growth.

7 Ways to Boost Your Event Marketing and Capture Your Perfect Customer

Are You Using Pop Up Classes to Capture Your Perfect Customer? Here's How.

7 Steps to Create a 12-Month Marketing Calendar to Boost Engagement All Year

How to Maximize Guerilla Marketing to Drive New Clients to Your Gym

Is your gym set up for success? How to create and set achievable new goals in 2022

Is your staff growing your business? How to give constructive feedback to improve buy-in

How to increase your gym's profits without actually making any more money

Client Communication Excellence: Stand Out With These 4 Tools

Member Retention For Long Term Growth

Why Getting More Reviews For Your Gym Should Be A Top Priority

Referrals Should Be A Top Priority For Your Business

Navigating The New Normal

Testing And Tracking Intro Offers

How To Build Your Intro Offer: The 3 Variables to Consider

Membership Contracts and Why You Need Them

Creating A Successful Sales Process

Importance of an Initial Consultation

10 Rules For A Standard Group Class Model Pricing Structure

5 Key Factors For Creating A Revenue-Generating Pricing Structure

7 Things Your Website Needs To Turn Clicks Into Clients

5 Tips to a Successful Studio Management Software Transfer

The 5 Social Media Tools You Need Right Now

Why your Fitness Business Can't Survive Without Community and How to Build a Powerful One

7 Things Your Website Needs To Turn Clicks Into Clients

Why your Fitness Business Can't Survive Without Community (and How to Build a Powerful One)

Membership Contracts and Why You Need Them

Switching Studio Management Software: Reality vs. Expectation

How To Build Your Intro Offer: The 3 Variables to Consider

10 Rules For A Standard Group Class Model Pricing Structure

5 Tips to a Successful Studio Management Software Transfer

The 5 Social Media Tools You Need Right Now in Your Fitness Studio

5 Key Factors For Creating A Revenue-Generating Pricing Structure

How To Build Your Intro Offer: The 3 Variables to Consider

What Does It Cost to Run a Barre Studio?

How the Best Fitness Studios Niche Down to Build Their Business

How to Practice Self-Care When Your Job is to Care for Others

12 Facebook Live Tips for Fitness Studio Owners

Friends Don’t Let Friends Yoga Alone: 11 Tips for Successful Referral Marketing

How Your Yoga Practice Can Spark Gratitude

The 3 Main Ways Your Studio Website Is Failing You and How You Can Fix Them

Should You Crowdfund Your New Yoga Studio Business?

4 Reasons Your Members are Bouncing After Their Class Pass is Finished

Why Yoga Studios Are a Booming Business Right Now

Using Your Yoga Studio Business Software for Marketing 

The Importance of Having Yoga Studio Scheduling Software

Are Your Instructors Making or Breaking Your Studio Brand?

Comparing the Features of Different Types of Yoga Studio Business Software 

Best Software for Keeping Studio Management Simple

Pricing Breakdowns of the 5 Best Yoga Studio Management Software Options

3 Essential Tips for Keeping Yoga Students Happy

Posts You Might Like

Building a Strong Community: How to Foster Authentic Connections in Your Boutique Fitness Studio

As a boutique fitness studio owner, you know it's not your business is more than engaging workouts. To truly thrive and retain clients in the long run, you need to build a strong sense of community within your studio.

How to Boost Your Boutique Fitness Studio's Social Media Presence

In boutique fitness, where a studio owner's passion meets their purpose (and profits), establishing a compelling digital presence is critical to stand out in a crowded market

Crafting a Comprehensive Handbook for Your Boutique Fitness Studio

Running a boutique fitness studio requires owners to manage countless moving pieces. If you have staff, it's even more complicated.

Software Updates

Software Update Img- Fit Degree
Want to know about the latest improvements to fitDEGREE?
SEE LATEST SOFTWARE UPDATES
Black Friday
Calender Icon Img- Fit Degree
sale
Ready to switch to a more affordable, customer-friendly management tool? We've got you covered.
SCHEDULE A FREE FITDEGREE DEMO

Get all the resources
in your inbox

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

About the author:

Niki Riga
Industry Expert
Limitless Studio

Niki has been a client, a studio owner, and a coach in boutique fitness for over a decade, and she can’t think of an industry she'd rather be in. Her favorite part about coaching and studio ownership are the same: she loves supporting clients as they push past their limits and achieve their goals. Niki became a coach because she was regularly asked, “how did you do that!?” by other studio owners who were drowning in the day-to-day responsibilities of business ownership but didn’t have the support to grow their studio to its potential. She created Limitless Studio to partner with owners who have a vision for their business and are ready to implement systems to build the studio of their dreams.