Contours gym franchises celebrate fifth birthday with national expansion drive

Business is only warming up for Contours gym franchises, with the company announcing a bold new national expansion drive to coincide with its fifth birthday.

In its first five years, the company has established 160 gym franchises, and has announced its next five year plan will incorporate a 50% network growth target, including immediate plans to expand into new regions, as well as a 100% growth in memberships and turnover by 2015.

The plan has been developed in consultation with the Contours board of members, operations team and franchisees, and outlines:

• substantial growth across the Contours’ network of gym franchises, revenue, and membership base
• strategic new appointments;
• significant investment in new innovative systems and infrastructure
• implementation of unprecedented national franchise support; and
• the establishment of a new corporate social responsibility program.

“The purpose of our 2015 plan is to continue consolidation of our immense growth of the past five years with improved systems and support, while maintaining a healthy and achievable growth for the business,” he says.

Contours will undertake an HQ restructure to consolidate the high level of support provided to its national network of gym franchises, and to ensure it is maintained as the company expands.

Justin comments that “restructuring our operations team was an important and necessary move to improve the level of service to our national network and in turn to deliver better outcomes to our members and partners.”

Simone Bingham has been appointed to the newly created National Operations Manager role. She has over five years experience with fitness franchises, and will be responsible for increasing the profitability of each franchised studio and improving retention and overall growth of the Contours member base.

Justin notes that Contours have also invested significantly in a new, custom-built information technology system. The integrated platform will implement a roadmap for studio integration, education, e-commerce and online marketing and will feature member retail applications.

“This will ensure effective and efficient operations and streamline communications between the franchisor and franchisees”, Justin says.

In addition, new Contours franchisees will have access to extensive classroom and in-studio training with the launch of national Contours road shows.

Providing professional development programs, the road shows will ensure franchisees are trained in all aspects of running a small business, including:

• marketing and sales techniques
• HR and recruitment packages
• cashflow management; and
• up to the minute best practice fitness methodology.

The company will partner with global sustainability projects to plan and implement economically advantageous environmental programs nationally and locally.

Contours will celebrate its fifth birthday in November, offering customers at its gym franchises free membership until the end of the year.