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Post by New Here on Feb 3, 2017 22:43:22 GMT
Has everyone had to update their club with that very expensive decal collage corporate has? Also, has everyone had to add that wood-looking floor or new carpet or whatever else they require us to do? I just added what they wanted a year ago, yellow stripe and all and now they want me to remove what I paid to add?!?!
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Post by snaplongtimer on Feb 3, 2017 23:46:34 GMT
Welcome to franchising. We beat this one up on page 3 under club modernization. The answer is...they don't care what you did already just what they want you to do now. There are many clubs that haven't upgraded yet. I wouldn't do the decal. I don't have the wall space to do something like that anyway. From my understanding, the wood floor is optional depending on your layout. New carpet, rubber, front desk, cubbies and color change throughout are required. Red is out.
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Post by swtexan on Feb 4, 2017 2:00:10 GMT
I'm planning on the new carpet (black), LVP (wood floor), "wood" panel behind TV's, desk and paint. Hoping to be in under $10k. Has anyone already done this? Someone in MN claims that their gross has increased by $10k/month simply because they completed the renovation- I find that hard to believe.
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Post by Dale on Feb 4, 2017 3:05:50 GMT
+10k in revenue for modernizing?
Hahahah...ahhhahaha..Holy shit that was a good one!
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Post by cheryl on Feb 4, 2017 14:04:43 GMT
I've now been to one of the modernized clubs. It is nice, however I doubt that it will bring in $10K/month in additional revenue, if any. The pictures of the club they show has all new equipment and it sounded like they expanded their space as well. It's kinda like swapping out your 100hp engine with a 400hp engine and dying your hair black. Then claiming that your new coif has caused you to increase your top speed by 80mph.
Also, I don't think snap fully understands what a boutique club is. These are clubs which specialize in things like spinning, crossfit, etc. Changing the paint scheme and installing laminate flooring doesn't now make you a boutique club, it just means you remodeled.
We'll most likely add some of the modernization features, but we sure as hell won't let snap do any of it.
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Post by snaplongtimer on Feb 4, 2017 16:58:20 GMT
It's the same sales pitch they are giving for modernizing as it was on the conference calls when I bought into this franchise. They try and suck you in by profiling very successful franchisees. I have learned not to buy into their sales pitch. The 10k increase in revenue is bullshit once again. There is no sense to that. It might help a bit with retention for everyone likes a new car to drive and also may help that person that's on the fence about joining, but other than that no.
The only way you may be under 10k in modernization costs is if you do it yourself. If you let liftbrands do it for you, start with $5 per sqft flooring no matter carpet, rubber, wood. Then add wood panels, desk, cubbies, mural and paint. Anyway, for a 3200 sqft club it will probably be in the low 20k's if they do it.
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Post by Amy on Feb 4, 2017 17:31:59 GMT
The desk alone is $3,200!!!!!!!!! And it's a sit down only....who wants to encourage employees to sit behind a desk in our gyms??? Yet another perfect example showing they have no idea what they are doing.
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Post by New Here on Feb 5, 2017 4:17:32 GMT
A sit-down desk for a fitness club? Do these people really run Snap Fitness Corporate? How are they still in business?
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Post by greenergrass on Feb 5, 2017 13:34:39 GMT
As some of us have admitted that we are volunteering our time (unable to pay ourselves), I sure hope this modernization is not an absolute requirement to continue with this franchise. I can see them pushing this on us though, and additional locations will close (they don't seem to care). And they will hope to find someone new to drink their koolaid. But in some markets, those that are saturated with the cheap gyms, there will be nobody to fill in.
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Post by snaplongtimer on Feb 5, 2017 17:27:46 GMT
You could hire a carpenter, tell him to take a look at what their front desk looks like and you want something similar, but better. He'll probably charge less that $1500 delivered. Realistically, the corp office should just require the colors and specify cubbies, wood here and there to keep the look consistent. Let us farm out the work and bring in better materials than they would provide. Where they would charge $1000 for particle board laminated cubbies, I had one made with solid wood, stained and painted trim for $350. It looks very nice. Where they would install Dynex tv's for $600 a piece (cheapest tv out there), I installed Toshiba and Sony's for less. They want to maximize their profit while giving us something that will just work for now not necessarily last as long as a better quality item. Try to do everything yourself staying within their guidelines as far as looks go and you'll save $$ and be much happier.
Upgrading is a requirement. If you don't have the funds don't worry...they will finance it for you..blah. If you want to sell the club, you or the new owner MUST upgrade it within 6 months of selling or thereabouts. If you are about to renew your contract, I bet they will force you to upgrade at that time. Whether it be selling, transferring, renewing or any other bumps in the road you encounter they will enforce the modernization upgrade.
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Post by determined1 on Feb 5, 2017 21:08:32 GMT
The only time you're required to update your club is at the end of your franchise term. Since snap has pushed that out to 10 years, then it'll be a while before most clubs are required to update, and most will most likely just sell to a private buyer or close their doors.
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Post by cheryl on Feb 5, 2017 22:58:14 GMT
Are you saying that the company that charges $2000 for a $450 computer, $4,000 for an $800 camera system and $1000 for a $200 door lock would rip me off? Oh, I forgot to mention $155/month for a $2/month member mangling software package.
determined - I think you're correct about not having to do updates until you hit your renewal. If you renew then that's when they can push the issue. Prior to that I think you can tell them to go fuck themselves.
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Post by New Here on Feb 6, 2017 2:31:13 GMT
The only time you're required to update your club is at the end of your franchise term. Since snap has pushed that out to 10 years, then it'll be a while before most clubs are required to update, and most will most likely just sell to a private buyer or close their doors. Are you saying that per the contact (have to find that part yet) we do not have to update anything unless we are renewing our term? If we have 5 or 6 years out that there is an out clause that allows us to churn along without doing this "upgrade"?
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Post by determined1 on Feb 7, 2017 19:14:17 GMT
Go through your franchise agreement. I have mine in a pile of papers, but I just moved it the other day and no idea where I "organized" it to. In there you'll see a part that states when you hit the end of your term you may have to bring your club up to current standards, or something to that effect. It doesn't say you have to do it when they decide they want to raise money.
That said, anyone put in their flooring yet? I'm looking at the faux wood and wondering just what it is. We may do something if it's not too pricey, but I'd like to see just what they're using and how durable it is. It looks like only have it in walkways and not in any of the exercise areas. I'd like to replace my flooring as well, but I know it'll be a pain with moving equipment around, and I know it'll take time before equipment can be placed back on it. The faux wood sounds like an easier task.
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Post by swtexan on Feb 7, 2017 23:16:57 GMT
Determined1, I looked into the flooring. It is LVP- Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring made by a company called Parterre. Luckily, I have a PT client who owns a flooring company. He is familiar with the company. I gave him the specs on the flooring and he told me that it appears that it will last until we need to "redesign" the next time. I was quoted a very reasonable price from corporate. I'm looking at making a walkway and perhaps around the front desk area. I would not put it in where the equipment is located. Hope that helps.
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