| Whether you own a circuit training franchise or a | | | | To discover what kind of profit you've been |
| large national chain gym, there's no doubt that | | | | making on retail health club t-shirts, find one of |
| two of your primary functions are health club | | | | your old invoices and figure out your actual cost |
| marketing and boosting profits. Every fitness | | | | per shirt. Take the total amount you paid, including |
| center in the country is looking for new members, | | | | set-up fees, shipping and handling and divide that |
| while at the same time seeking to increase their | | | | number by the actual quantity of shirts you |
| income. | | | | received. You may be surprised by how much |
| What if you could do both at the same time? | | | | you're really paying for t-shirts. |
| What if you could get your existing members to | | | | Assuming that you've found a supplier with a |
| do some gym marketing for you, and do it for | | | | reasonable price, you can resell logo shirts to your |
| free? Even better, how excited would you be if | | | | members for $10 each. However, you may want |
| your members actually paid you to advertise your | | | | to consider charging more for your shirts. For |
| health club? | | | | example, 24 Hour Fitness center charges $16 to |
| A custom t-shirt can help you achieve all these | | | | $20 for their women's t-shirt. Bally's Gym has a |
| goals, bringing in more revenue and free | | | | t-shirt for a man listed at $16.99. World Gym |
| advertising for years to come. Selling workout | | | | offers their basic logo t-shirt for $15.95 and their |
| clothing has been profitable for many gyms, and it | | | | designer t-shirt for up to $26 each. |
| can be for you, too. | | | | If you decide to charge more than the basic $10 |
| Perhaps the best way to capitalize on the | | | | for your gym t-shirt, your profit margins might |
| workout wear market is to sell t-shirts with your | | | | look something like this: |
| logo on the front. Your members will wear a | | | | $10 retail = 42% markup |
| high-quality customized t-shirt, and every time | | | | $12 retail = 71% markup |
| they wear it they'll be advertising for you. | | | | $14 retail = 100% markup |
| Before entering this side-business, it's important to | | | | $16 retail = 129% markup |
| consider exactly what type of custom printed | | | | $18 retail = 157% markup |
| t-shirt your members will purchase. As an | | | | $20 retail = 186% markup |
| example, consider the extremely popular women's | | | | (Based upon a cost of $7 per shirt) |
| circuit-training gyms that are spread across the | | | | So now you're aware of the potential profit to be |
| United States. Most of these hydraulic | | | | gained by selling workout clothes, while at the |
| circuit-training gyms cater to women. Color and | | | | same time getting completely free fitness center |
| quality are important, especially to a woman. While | | | | marketing and advertising. Still not convinced that |
| most women will not wear a regular white t-shirt, | | | | you should be selling t-shirts in your health club? |
| they will eagerly purchase a custom designed | | | | Here's another idea that may even help with |
| t-shirt. Cheap t-shirts that are practically | | | | member retention: |
| see-through after the first wash won't generate | | | | Hold a t-shirt design contest for your gym |
| many sales. Offering high-quality shirts in a wide | | | | members! Have your members submit drawings |
| assortment of colors, on the other hand, will | | | | or ideas for a novelty t-shirt. Choose the best |
| maximize sales. | | | | design and have some printed up for sale. Give |
| So how do you get into this profitable business? | | | | the member who submitted the best design a |
| It's simple! You already have the membership | | | | free t-shirt or some other prize. Your members |
| base, and all you need is a t-shirt design. For most | | | | will have fun, and you'll be surprised with the |
| of you, that will be your existing health club logo. | | | | humorous t-shirt ideas they'll create. |
| Once you've decided on an image, slogan or logo | | | | If you like this idea, here are a few funny t-shirt |
| for your printed t-shirt, your next step is to find a | | | | sayings to get you started: |
| supplier that can wholesale t-shirts and also handle | | | | "Leave Your Fat Behind At __________" |
| all your t-shirt printing needs. | | | | (name of your gym) |
| Perhaps you already have a t-shirt printer that | | | | "Actually Weight What Your Drivers License |
| you're working with. Maybe they've even quoted | | | | Says." |
| you a price that appears to be low. But is that | | | | "Don't Weight Another Day! Join __________ |
| really what you're paying? Be wary of the hidden | | | | Today!" (name of your gym) |
| charges on your bill. Most gym clothes providers | | | | "The Weight Is Over!" |
| charge a set-up fee ranging from $60 to $140. | | | | "Change Your Life Inch By Inch." |
| You pay this fee every time you make a change | | | | Selling t-shirts in your health club is profitable, it |
| to your t-shirt design. Other companies quote you | | | | provides you with free advertising and it can help |
| a low price on the shirts and then hit you with a | | | | increase member retention. No matter what size |
| huge shipping and handling fee, bringing the | | | | your gym may be, this is one strategy that |
| per-shirt price well over $9. Hidden costs like | | | | deserves a closer look. |
| these will erase any profit potential. | | | | |