Business View Magazine | April 2020

94 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE APRIL 2020 With more than one million members and over 2,000 clubs open, or scheduled for development worldwide, Snap Fitness’ no-excuses, results- count philosophy has already proven itself several times over to be a revolving door of opportunity for its valued clients and franchisees alike. It was through owning big-box health clubs that Snap Fitness founder, Peter Taunton, came to recognize the rigidities and biases of traditional gym memberships. “Ultimately, he realized that members were often paying for services they just weren’t using—amenities like racquetball courts and swimming pools,” explains Cory Lyons, Director of Franchise Sales and Development. “He identified an opportunity with smaller health clubs, smaller facilities, and named it Snap Fitness.” The first location opened April 2004 in River Falls, WI. Characterized by its small-box, compact facility, it built on the brand’s image of a leaner gym experience. “When we started franchising, our facilities were a lot smaller,” Lyons admits. “They were 2,000 square feet; no frills whatsoever - essentially a room full of equipment.” As Snap Fitness celebrated its 15th year of franchising and the brand continued to evolve, the average size of a Snap Fitness gym swelled to 4,500 square feet. “We were the first major brand to go to market with no long-term contract,” says Lyons. “That, alongside our 24-hour electronic key card access AT A GLANCE SNAP FITNESS WHAT: A health and wellness brand WHERE: Headquarters in Chanhassen, MN WEBSITE: www.snapfitness.com