A new fitness place opened up around our area. We passed it today as we were out running errands, and it led to an interesting discussion I wanted to share here. We have a “mega gym” type place about 15 minutes away. The parking lot spills over, it’s packed every single day, and it’s probably the busiest gym I’ve personally ever seen. I’m not a member, I’m talking based on their massive parking lot that I pass quite regularly.
This new fitness place is smaller, targeting many of the same clients, and offers to stay open 24 hours a day. Here’s how the conversation went.
Husband: “Who wants to work out at 3am? That’s got to be expensive to keep employees there around the clock.”
Me: “I used to work midnights years ago, and I’d have been thrilled if something was open at night. People forget not everyone has a 9-5 job.”
Husband: “It has to be such a small sector of people though.”
Me: “Nurses, doctors, police officers, plant workers, retailers, firemen, shall I go on?”
Husband: “I guess I never really thought about it.”
Me: “It’s a brilliant business plan. They are filling a need. People who don’t want to go to the mega-complex gym, and may have to work out at odd hours. They are solving a problem, and that’s good business sense.”
Husband: “I guess, I just don’t see myself working at at 3am.”
Let’s face it, when you’re getting into a business, the best way is to target a need. Example: I worked midnights for 2 years, and at 3am, I was awake, but the only other places that were happened to be diners. To have another option would have been great.
They saw a gap and they filled it.
Are you solving a problem? If not, what are you offering that’s different than the guy next to you?
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