Johnny Coleman always knew he wanted to be his own boss in the fitness industry. Glofox gym management software helped him to achieve his dream.
Name: Johnny Coleman
Gym: Fitness HQ (www.fitnesshq.ie)
Location: 3300 Lake Drive, City West Business Campus, Dublin, Ireland
Opened: 5 Jan 2015
Favourite Exercise: Most definitely TRX Suspended Mountain Climbers
So Tell Us Johnny, What Brought You into Fitness?
My background is professional sports. I spent four years in the UK playing both professional Rugby Union & Rugby League, being lucky enough to represent Ireland while playing Rugby League in 2009. After realising that I wanted to stay in the fitness industry I studied health & fitness with The Training Rooms in London, obtaining qualifications in Spinning, Circuit Training, Boxercise, Nutrition & Resistance Training.
I then went on to get a Conditioning Certificate from the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). I was introduced to TRX in 2010 after I injured my shoulder. I was looking for the right exercise & equipment to help me with my rehab. TRX was the perfect tool I needed to get back playing. It led me to get my qualification with TRX in Suspension Training and I haven’t looked back since. Now it’s honestly part of every training routine I do in & out of the gym.
Why Start Your Own Fitness Business?
I always knew I wanted to work in the fitness industry & liked the idea of working for myself. I wanted to create my own brand with FHQ. After training in different types of gyms around the world I knew exactly what type of gym I wanted to open. I wanted to create a tough, but friendly & enjoyable environment for my clients to train in. I knew if I could do this I’d bring out the best in myself and more importantly, in my clients. I was also doing a lot of one to one training with clients and they encouraged me to branch out and start the Gym.
What Have You Found Hardest About the Experience to Date?
Setting the gym up and not knowing if people were going to come through the door. In that regard, my App was great because people saw it on Facebook and actually downloaded it and made booking inquiries before I opened the doors.
What Has Been the Most Rewarding Experience?
Definitely the client satisfaction. I now have a lot of repeat customers who are really happy with the service. It has also been my first January in business and it has been great seeing all my clients freshly motivated with new year’s resolutions.
Why Did You Choose Glofox Gym Management Software?
The main reason I chose Glofox gym management software was because of how simple it was to use. I can safely say that I am not the most IT savvy person in the world but when I saw how easy it was to operate during the demo I knew it was right for me. I have worked in other gyms and I found some of the other systems really complicated and hard to use. The other thing I love about it is that the door is always open with bookings because of the App. This means that I didn’t have to think about hiring someone to do admin for me and also that I am not missing a potential booking because I am busy taking a class.
How Have Your Clients Found Glofox so Far?
The feedback on the App has all been really positive so far. The clients love how easy it is book and pay. As one of my clients said to me, it is most definitely idiot proof! I also have a few older clients who don’t have smartphones so the fact you can also do all the bookings on my website has been really handy.
