Episode 13: Gym Culture and Community with Scotty Johnson MS,CSC,USAW,SNS
If you ask Scotty Johnson what’s the secret to running not one, but two, successful gyms, he won’t tell you it was because of any special marketing tactics he did.
He also won’t say it’s because he has Master’s degree from one of the top universities in the country and a bunch of specialty certifications on everything from olympic weightlifting to sport nutrition.
Don’t get me wrong - as professional in the fitness industry, I can tell you that being properly credentialed and understanding business are important things.
But they’re just not as important as the number one thing that matters to your clients.
And that’s creating an environment and experience that not only gets them the results they are seeking, but is enjoyable for them.
And that is exactly the theme of our conversation today: good old fashioned fun.
Scotty's got over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as both a trainer and a gym owner. In 2015, Scotty opened and ran B-Fit Biscayne in Miami, Florida, which was a training facility that ultimately was nominated as one of the best gyms in South Florida several years in a row while earning over 5,000 5-star reviews on various platforms.
More recently, Scotty has opened his new gym in Michigan called Stomping Grounds Training and Recovery.
Scotty has extensive experience training individuals at every ability level and is intensely passionate about guiding people toward their fitness goals. He wholeheartedly believes in hard work and consistency, but knows that the most important piece of the puzzle is fun.
Here’s a brief overview of the episode:
[03:34] Small gym culture and community
[08:12] The learning curve of starting a business in the fitness industry from scratch
[12:21] How to save money when starting a gym
[17:40] Scotty’s tips and tricks for fitness businesses
[22:54] How do you avoid burnout in running your own gym?
[31:02] The importance of having an open mind when it comes to running a business and progressing your career as a fitness professional
[43:01] Marketing 101: Don’t substitute clarity for cleverness
[47:19] Client retention and attrition - how to weather the cycles and seasons of the fitness industry
[52:43] How to build a community in your gym or fitness studio that makes people want to stay
[58:53] Training your staff to reflect your values, unprofessional behaviors, and Bridget and Scotty’s trainer pet peeves
[71:24] What it’s like to have your spouse as your business partner
Links Mentioned In this Episode:
Stomping Ground Training and Recovery
