Get Connected

Whilst travelling back from a meeting yesterday I was turning over one of my good friend Joe's ideas about taking coffee with clients or potential clients I thought about how we can translate this into the gym environment.
What struck me is that when running the gym the time to just pop out for coffee is limited so why not invite clients in to see you.
So look at the week and select a quiet time then design your event.
Once a time and day is selected put together an invite and hand them out personally to your chosen clients inviting them to join you.
The event could be an instructor led programme lasting 45 Min's with the emphasis on having fun, get some good tunes going and lots of smiles and masses of energy!!!
Aim to leave at least 15 minutes for coffee or juice and how about some healthy flapjack (better if homemade - recipe coming soon) and sit back and chat to your guests.

Push this for at least six weeks - don't forget it was a quiet time!! keep handing out the invites and get staff to start to create a buzz about the session. If you have staff in at the time get them involved in the workout!!! When it starts to get busy look at another day and time and start again.
The cost is very little and the benefits can be huge.
Try it and let me know how you get on

XT 20 Cross Trainer

This week has been another busy week for us all at Sportsart UK.

The week started off with me driving to Durham to deliver training to the PE staff at Durham Johnson School on their new Sportsart cardio. This is a great part of the job for me as I get to go right back to my routes and deliver training on fitness kit (its were it all started for me). It still amazes me how far we have come as an industry and yet how little has changed in some respects in 22 years!!

Facilities are now fantastic in the range and specification of kit offered, the kit has made giant steps in function and aesthetics. Yet I still find the same doubts and misconceptions in people regarding training in a gym which underlines a lack of education with in the vast majority of the population. Its great to see facilities being developed in schools as this is the place where the education can really start.The team at Durham Johnson are looking to maximise the facility they have including fitness testing, which is a great way to get kids finding out more about what makes the body work and what affects exercise has on them.

My second trip up to Durham on Wednesday was to show a potential client around two of our show piece installations East Durham College and the Radission Hotel.

East Durham College is always a great place to visit as the staff are very knowledgeable, always look happy to be in the gym and the facility is kept immaculate - it's a credit to all involved. Dirk had made the trip up from London to view our kit as they are looking at new cardio for their facility. Meeting people with a passion and depth of knowledge of training is always a bonus for me and it was evident that Dirk was one of those people. I am hopeful that we will be seeing our kit in their facility in the near future as Dirk seemed to be impressed with the features and designs of our kit, especially the XT20. The XT20 is a fantastic machine for all levels of fitness and abilities allowing the user to have a complete body workout on one machine. Plus the resistance levels are independent for the arms and legs, allowing you to tailor the workout to the individual.

With over 30 years manufacturing experience it is little wonder that across the globe we are collecting awards for our products. Both cardiovascular and strength machines have been given awards for their design and function over more established manufacturers.

But function and design are only part of the equation, service is the key to performance once the machines are installed.

Sportsart UK has and extensive stock of parts to keep your machines working and our aim is to fix machines on the first visit. This means your machines are out of order for less time which your customers will be pleased with.

First Blog - why ride

With a busy week behind me and another scheduled, with a long time sat behind the wheel, even the high winds couldn't dent my need to get out on the bike (that and a shinny new saddle to test).

Dropping Matt off for cubs gave me 1.5hrs to blow the cobwebs off. I was soon gaining altitude enjoying the climb up onto the moors on twisty back roads.

Its easy to forget how lucky we are and the countryside around Burnley is stunning offering cyclists unlimited potential for great rides.

The downside of being on the moors is that you are exposed to the elements. After leaving the windfarm and heading back to the splended Townley Hall to collect Matt the wind was so strong it almost stopped me in my tracks and at one point I was trying to work out just how far I could lean into the wind before gravity took over.
So why ride? Each of us will have our own reasons but a dramatic sky and stunning views is'nt a bad reason to be out on a bike!!