6 Things to consider when deciding which equipment brand is right for your facility
Finding the right equipment for your facility can be one of the most difficult aspects of business management, not only that, it is time consuming. There's no doubt finding the right brand and perfect mix of equipment is important to the success of a facility but it is not the 'be all and end all'. The factors we recommend considering when investing in products include the end user, quality and aesthetics, innovation, service and maintenance, warranty and with cardio the entertainment options.
Clients
Its important to consider who will be using what in your facility, this should be your main priority. Will the equipment you're looking to purchase meet the demands placed on it during exercise? Does the demographics of your client base have an impact on these decisions, is it easy to use for most people?
Quality & Aesthetics
The production quality of equipment is important, especially in HIIT and Crossfit style training where the equipment will be pushed, pulled and thrown in all manner of directions. Does the gear look the part, continue to look the part and hold up well after repeated use? With Cardio equipment there's usually an option between an LED Console or Entertainment console. Do your research here because whilst entertainment consoles are great they can sometimes be buggy, rendering a fancy and shiny piece of cardio equipment useless until the unit is serviced. On top of that there may not be a local technician who is skilled with this particular brand.
Innovation
Does the brand you're looking at purchasing equipment from invest money in innovation? Are they continuing to make changes and improvements to the equipment they bring to market and after sales support?
Budget
One of the biggest drawbacks to selecting products based on branding is the cost it has on your bottom line. There's no point wasting your budget on a flashy brand when there's other great quality options. Chances are the brands you're looking at get made in the same factory, so do your research or let someone like FWC help guide your choices. Another thing to consider is whether you're going to hire or buy your equipment. We've gone through this in depth before and you can read all about it here.
Service & Maintenance
Is the equipment of the brand(s) you're looking at purchasing easy to service and maintain? Equipment downtime hurts your fitness business so ensuring the equipment is robust and in the event of misuse or tech issues that it's easy to repair. It's great to have the bells and whistles but not when they're expensive to fix.
Warranty
Equipment with reasonable and fair warranty is a must. If something goes wrong, which unfortunately happens from time to time, you can operate knowing that the product can either be fixed or replaced under warranty.
As you can see there's a number of factors when it comes to considering which brand is right for your facility. At FWC we're always here to help when it comes to sourcing the right equipment, we can cut through the marketing hype to bring you to a place where you make informed decisions for the health of your business.
Photos via @deanokyritsis @westcentralsfp
Written by Fitness Warehouse Commercial PT, Simon Mitchell. Simon has a Bachelor of Human Movement, is a certified FMS trainer and has worked in the fitness industry since 2003. Simon started his fitness journey as a trainer with iNform Health and Fitness before moving into commercial radio and then back into fitness with Bodyism in the United Kingdom and Australia. A career highlight was being one of Daisy Ridley's personal trainers on Star Wars IX - The Rise Of Skywalker.