AusLeisure

Jetts Fitness Clubs have reached a significant landmark with 100 clubs operating in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, making it the region's largest gym chain in terms of club numbers.

The Sunshine Coast based business launched its first club on the Gold Coast in 2007, introduced the contract free, 24/7 gym model to Australians.

Founder and Managing Director of Jetts Fitness, Brendon Levenson, says further franchised clubs will continue to open nationwide to keep up with growing member demand, stating "our success says a great deal about how customers needs have changed due to tighter budgets and busier schedules."

Known for its customer friendly policies such as no contracts, low fees, 24/7 access and capped memberships, Levenson took an opposite end approach to the traditional gym model with a view of satisfying the current needs of today's time poor and value conscious gym consumer.

As he explained "we identified that larger, traditional clubs were not satisfying their customers and were providing facilities that members did not have time to use.

"Contracts, limited opening hours, crowds, and pushy sales staff were big sore points with consumers so we built a model that eliminated these barriers and it has been an outstanding success."

Jetts clubs are typically 300 metre2 in size, focus on the equipment member's use on a regular basis such as treadmills and resistance machines, and are located in convenient locations including neighborhood shopping centres usually minutes from members' homes. The clubs do not have classes, steam rooms, pools or saunas. Membership prices are approximately half that of larger, full service gyms and users can cancel their membership at any time with 30 days notice.

"Our gym members want to get in, workout in an uncrowded club using the equipment that gets results and then get out," Levenson adds.

Levenson said his idea of launching a 24/7, contract free gym chain was born after purchasing an existing gym which had very old equipment and decor, yet was extremely popular among members.

"The old owner charged very low rates and there were no contracts. He even gave some members keys to the gym, allowing them to come in when it was closed to have a workout."

"After I purchased the club I purchased new equipment and set about creating a gym that was more like larger, traditional clubs, but of course this was reflected in membership prices.

"I quickly discovered that the smaller, low cost model was more valuable to members, but with state of the art equipment, a nice club atmosphere and 24/7 access, so the Jetts Fitness model was born." After its launch in 2007, the Jetts Fitness model quickly exploded, with eight clubs opening in 2008, followed by 41 in 2009 and 49 in 2010. The leading chain currently operates clubs in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Clubs are scheduled to open in the ACT and Northern Territory in coming months.

3rd June 2010 - JETTS FITNESS EXPANDING INTO NEW ZEALAND