Dane McCarthy, Founder of The Athletic Clubs, shares insights on creating a supportive fitness community through training squads, intentional scaling, and marketing strategies. The podcast explores building genuine connections, optimizing member retention, and future roadmap for the business.
Community-driven fitness clubs promote mental well-being through social connections post-COVID.
Squad training fosters friendships, enhances training experience, and builds a sense of community among members.
Deep dives
Creating a Supportive Community after COVID
The podcast discusses how the founder of the Athletic Clubs was inspired to create a supportive fitness community after a member shared how social connections helped improve his mental health post-COVID. The organic exposure to consistent social interactions and the opportunity to just be themselves within the fitness community had a profound impact on individual mental well-being.
Unique Squad Training Model
The episode highlights the Athletic Clubs' unique approach to fitness through squad training inspired by team sports dynamics. Dane McCarthy, the founder, emphasizes the importance of group training for building friendships, enhancing the training experience, and fostering a sense of community among members.
Scaling Intentionally and Optimizing Retention
The podcast delves into the intentional scaling efforts of the Athletic Clubs while prioritizing retention and fostering community. By focusing on specific metrics like attendance, MPS, and member experience, the clubs aim to provide a holistic training environment that encourages long-term commitment and engagement.
Expansion and Growth Strategy
The episode concludes with insights into the future growth strategy of the Athletic Clubs, aiming to open new locations in Hoboken and Chelsea by the end of the year. With a vision to establish 100 studios by 2030, the focus remains on creating sustainable fitness communities, offering personalized training experiences, and expanding membership opportunities for diverse demographics.
Today, I’m joined by Dane McCarthy, founder of The Athletic Clubs.
Training in squads, members of the private NYC gyms meet twice weekly for a full-body workout and social fix — holding each other accountable while having fun in the process.
In this episode, we dive deeper into the chain’s uniquely communal approach.
We also cover:
• Creating community • Optimizing for member retention • Scaling the business with intention
- The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart workout solutions for fitness and health facilities.
Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Building the Athletic Clubs (03:36) Creating a supportive fitness community using squads (04:56) Going from an idea to a sustainable business (08:04) Best practices for building fitness squads (14:17) Scaling the business intentionally (23:40) Marketing strategies (31:12) Future roadmap (33:35) Conclusion
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