Coronavirus: How gyms are trying to get back on their feet

Closed during confinement, the sports halls have suffered the full brunt of the coronavirus crisis.

Despite their reopening, they are struggling to regain their pre-crisis level and attract new subscribers.

"The fitness market shows a loss of turnover of 25%", summarizes on Europe 1 Thomas Monnier, deputy general manager of the KeepCool sign, which has 260 rooms in France.

To get back on their feet, sports halls must therefore adapt and manage to attract new customers.

A vast challenge addressed Wednesday afternoon in the program

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The challenge of bringing in new subscribers

With the coronavirus, gyms are struggling to attract new customers.

"There is an anxiety-provoking climate. Bringing people into the gym to sweat it can be a bit complicated," admits Thomas Monnier.

"It's been two weeks since the campaign was launched, back to school is always a highlight. People are always full of good intentions at this time, like after the Christmas holidays. But it is clear that for the moment it is a little moribund. Those who wish to register do not always come. It is happening moderately compared to last year, "he laments.

Reassure customers about hygiene measures

Another concern for many potential customers: compliance with hygiene measures.

"We have put in place a lot of things to reassure them," says the deputy general manager of KeepCool.

Among these measures: "the coaches wear masks at all times, the wearing of a mask is compulsory when not doing sport and the machines are cleaned very regularly. The air renewal is very regular, with dual-flow air conditioning and with windows for gyms that have them. "

"We provide bactericidal cans for each person who comes to train and not only for coaches, so that people can spray the contact points on the machines, before and after. The showers are also regularly cleaned," continues -he.

Its brand has also developed outdoor lessons, with a maximum of 10 people, in order to adapt to the crisis.

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Online courses

During the lockdown, online sports apps and videos have seen huge success.

It was therefore impossible for gyms to escape this new trend.

"We have accelerated the digitization of sport with live lessons via Facebook and a VOD (video on demand) platform so that people can play sport after, or even during work," says Thomas Monnier.

Stable prices (for now)

Despite the crisis and a significant loss of income, sports halls have, in the vast majority of cases, decided not to increase their prices.

The reason ?

"We are in a hyper-competitive market with large players in northern Europe who are vampirizing the French market. For the moment it is impossible to increase prices," admits Thomas Monnier.

An application to have a private coach

In addition to gyms, other players are trying to exploit the vein of online sport.

This is the case of the TrainMe application, which allows you to book a workout with a private coach.

"You have access to more than 1,300 coaches in more than 25 activities, including fitness, regaining, Pilates and boxing. They are all diplomas and selected by our teams, and you book them safely and when you want ", promises Gatien Letartre, co-founder of TrainMe.

"You have either the choice to do your activity outside, or at home, or in live video. People need to be accompanied, it allows to increase motivation and therefore to do more sport", assures he.

"We have a lot of outdoor classes because people want to play sports. What is going on right now is cross training: it's a circuit with several exercises, like push-ups, burpees ..."