Business Franchise Australia

Mentoring Program realises club ownership dreams

Combining a love of fitness and business ownership is something many fitness trainers can only dream of – until now, with the launch of a new Mentoring Program by Lift Brands Australia & New Zealand.

With more than 1200 passionate and talented trainers and operators across their Snap Fitness and 9Round franchises, Lift Brands CEO Ty Menzies wanted to develop a program that put club ownership within reach of people who had all the right skills and experience to own a club but lacked the financial backing to take the first step.

 

“We have so many fantastic people across our Snap Fitness and 9Round brands who are passionate about what they do and live and breathe the brand every day. However, for many of these trainers or managers, club ownership is only something they can dream of, so myself and Lift Brands’ COO Andy Peat initiated the program,” Mr Menzies said.

 

“Over the years of working with our network, we know the best franchisees are those who have a passion for fitness, a love of their local community and a never say never attitude.”

 

“Earlier this year, we announced to our network we were on the hunt for keen operators and trainers who had proved their value and wanted to take the next step into club ownership – to realise their dream of owning their own business.”

 

Fast forward three months and the Mentoring Program has seen Brownie To’o become the new owner of 9Round Redbank, in Brisbane’s South-West after more than ten years with Snap Fitness in Australia and New Zealand.

With three years of Snap Fitness club management in New Zealand, Brownie moved to Australia in 2014 following a knee reconstruction. Over the next six years Brownie worked his way to Area Manager in Sydney, where he managed Maroubra and helped open Minto, Merrylands and Mascot.

 

“After successfully building Maroubra to become the top membership club in New South Wales as well as helping open three new clubs, I’d been running clubs for other people for the best part of 10 years. I knew it was time to do something for myself,” Mr To’o said.

 

“I was introduced to a 9Round workout at the Lift Brands annual conference, Lift Brands APAC Annual Summit, I knew instantly its concept of owner and trainer was a perfect fit for me. My biggest challenge was how was I going to get the financial support to purchase my first club?”

 

“The Lift Brand Mentoring Program has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity to take the step to ownership – I’m now so proud to call 9Round Redbank my business.”

 

“For trainers and managers, the Mentoring Program helps keep the fire alive and give them the opportunity to make a career out of fitness. My advice is go with your gut and when you have the opportunity, go for it!”

 

“Every effort I put into the business is rewarding, knowing it’s all my doing – I honestly can’t wipe the smile off my face.”

 

Since taking ownership of 9Round Redbank on 1 September, Brownie has grown club numbers by more than 30 per cent, well above average monthly targets for the boutique fitness model. Brownie’s goal is to more than double his current members by the start of 2020 and commence growing his own network of 9Round clubs.

Ty Menzies said the Mentoring Program is focused on rewarding great people who want to make a career out of what they love doing and Brownie is a leading example.

 

“Many businesses promote from within, but what the Mentoring Program is doing for us is not only rewarding great people but helping us grow a fantastic new wave of motivated franchisees. We are thrilled to see Brownie take ownership of 9Round Redbank and can’t wait to find our next Mentoree!”

 

Snap Fitness was one of the first 24/7 convenience fitness offerings to hit Australia and celebrates 10 years of operations later this year. Snap’s network now exceeds 270 clubs across Australia and New Zealand.

Founded by world champion kickboxer Shannon Hudson, 9Round offers rolling circuits of 30-minute functional training sessions focused on elements of boxing and kick-boxing, with a new round starting every three minutes. The global franchise launched in the Australia and New Zealand region in 2015.