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ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION 30 SEP – 13 OCT 2014 ISSUE 642 The power to create great changing spaces Craftsman Lockers are leading space planners us to deliver changing areas that can meet needs, as well as those of their members. in the design and supply of great changing evolving requirements and that have the That’s why we ensure we build long-lasting rooms that enhance the leisure experience. capability to stay pristine in even the most relationships as part of a powerful working Our innovative approach to matching demanding of environments. philosophy across private and public sectors, provision with customers’ ever-rising expec- Creating sensitively-designed, great places that caters for all operational models from tations for high quality facilities enables to change is about understanding the client’s high-end to low-cost. Craftsman head `glorious` Goodwood refurbishment Asset refresh at Goodwood Health Club is `a breath of fresh air` he Earl of March owns one of the most successful commercial estates in Europe, where prime golf rests Talongside the Festival of Speed motor revival event, an aerodrome, shooting, racecourse and stately home. Goodwood means so many memories for so many people. Its customer service ethic ranks second to none and the site is renowned for creating unforgettable experiences, foster- ing huge loyalty among the paying public. That’s also true of Goodwood Health Club, which opened in 1989, with a 91-bed hotel next door. Boasting 2,200 members, the club can proudly claim a monthly retention rate of more than 98 per cent. “There’s such Smart, crisp and stylish, loyalty here,” says Operations Manager the male changing area, Kathryn Gard. “Some of our members have like the female, features been with us since we started.” digital locking and heated mirrors throughout The glorious rural West Sussex setting near Chichester is one factor in the equation no doubt, but so too is the club’s commitment to make members’ stays utterly memorable. no one else can offer. It’s an amazing place has just completed the first phase of a three to “Goodwood is pretty far up the league of to work. I’ve worked here five years now and four-year complete refurbishment of the site, the world’s leading adrenalin sporting estates,” remain ridiculously excited about the endless which will undoubtedly raise levels of says Leisure Manager Jen Evans, “while our opportunities. That enthusiasm is transmitted excellence even further still. 12,000 acres also include a dairy farm to club members, I’m sure.” This first stage of the `asset refresh` is the producing milk and cheese for consumption.” Now establishing its own identity within changing areas, which the club considers of The team ethic permeates every aspect of the regional health and wellbeing market- prime importance in customer satisfaction. the estate, she explains. “We all talk to each place, targeting an eight-mile catchment that The club’s indoor and outdoor provision other to help create customer packages that embraces Chichester and Arundel, the club includes tennis courts, boot camp academy, ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION A beach hut ambience was the vision in the female changing area, with its subtle pastel shades main and baby pools, sauna, steam, whirlpool “Ideas went back and forth several spa, gym with new Precor Preva networked Sharing customer values times,” says Jen, as the final designs evolved. fitness solutions and a studio staging more “Craftsman have helped us deliver light, than 60 classes a week of activities including “At Goodwood, there is a certain level of expec- airy and fashionable provision that retains ballet fusion and Bokwa. tation that suppliers will work with us in a a `beach hut` ambience with its pale duck Catering for the wide scope of services way that is consistent with our own customer egg blue and grey wood décor in the female places differing demands on the changing service values. Throughout our years of asso- changing area. areas, explains Jen. “We are about everything ciation with Craftsman, the company has “The male area décor is more masculine to do with wellbeing here and want mem- responded quickly and proactively to help us with sharp, black faux leather upholstered bers to have fun and enjoy their stay with us, deliver the quality of provision that our 2,200 benches and crisp brushed metal finishes.” which means we have to maintain the stan- members demand. Craftsman’s way of working Huge heated mirrors create a feeling of dard of provision right across the club.” with us makes our job here so much easier and space, while keeping condensation at bay – Still in fine fettle, the changing area that has undoubtedly contributed to our extremely another new feature the members have Craftsman fitted out for the club’s opening high levels of retention.” welcomed, says Jen. has stood the test of time, she adds. “They are Kathryn Gard, Operations Manager “There’s been such a feeling of thankfulness so hardwearing, they looked almost as good Goodwood Health Club and a belief that the refurbished changing area as new. Naturally though, styles and designs has made their day much better. As one mem- change over time. “We have undergone quite ber remarked: `It’s like a breath of fresh air`.” an evolution in 25 years and technology has A system that didn’t create added stress was The next phases of refurbishment will moved on. As Goodwood grows, we have to our intention and we discussed the pros and include a new gym and dance studio and reflect the estate in the best possible light. cons of alternatives with Craftsman before repositioning the Water Beach spa and treat- “The changing area can have an immediate deciding on digital locks. ment rooms. The importance of an “easy effect on everyone’s day, from members and “Members have their own four digit code - flow” for members will rank high here too, hotel guests to the staff, so it needs to present it’s quick and easy and we no longer have the says Kathryn. the right image and enhance the total experi- worry of keys, which members sometimes lost “The first stage of refurbishment has set the ence,” Jen maintains. or left somewhere. All they now have to do is scene going forward. Craftsman have a really The contract for the asset refresh went out to remember the locker they used and their great reputation and we are delighted to stay to tender, which Craftsman won with work own personal code. No more keys to carry. with them as our preferred supplier.” which embraced several modifications and We have also eliminated personalisation of These sentiments are shared by Jen Evans: innovations. “We’ve looked at the critical the lockers by programming lockers to open “I was so pleased to learn Craftsman was non-essentials, like introducing elegant towel automatically overnight which means there is awarded the contract. Their commitment to drops to replace baskets and wanted to intro- always a locker for our members. customer service excellence is in keeping with duce a new method of locker security as well. Given that the locker shells were still fully our own. At Goodwood, there is a certain “The key system could cause problems for serviceable, the project team chose to retain level of expectation – Craftsman responds members and staff – sometimes locks could them, directing the spend on elements such as quickly and proactively, which makes our job seize up because of the wet environment. cubicle redesigns and family provision. here so much easier.” 2 Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014 TM 400,000+ READERS Find great staff ISSUE leisure opportunities6 Sept 30 SEP – 13 OCT 2014 ISSUE 642 Daily news & jobs: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk Exclusive: PayasUgym targets Bitcoin payments Online gym pass provider and operators to do business PayasUgym will soon begin on the internet. With more testing Bitcoin as a form of than 2,200 gyms available payment across its network, through the recently-launched paving the way for more PayasUgym marketplace, cus- than a third of UK gyms to tomers would be able to use be able to sell membership the online tool to quickly com- via the cryptocurrency. pare gyms in their area and Th e news marks a major use Bitcoin to pay for their step forward for the health gym pass or membership. and fi tness industry, making The project is still in the it a relatively early adopter of early stages, however a more a digital currency described detailed timetable for adop- by Bill Gates as a “technolog- tion is expected to be outlined ical tour de force.” Launched in the coming months, with in 2009, Bitcoin is the ‘cur- trials through a number of rency of the internet’ and south east England clubs has been hailed for its rela- expected to be underway tive immunity from infl ation, PayasUgym co-founders Jamie Ward (left ) and Neil Harmsworth have high hopes for Bitcoin by the end of the year. How corruption and human error, early the currency capability as it is based on mathematical formulae, rather numerous industries as it negates bank charges will be launched across the PayasUgym net- than government policy. However, critics have and currency exchange fees, while its adop- work depends on the outcome of these trials, pointed out that the currency can be suscep- tion by the gym industry would mark a major with details such as how to peg the pric- tible to theft by hackers if it is not stored breakthrough at a time when companies like ing to pounds sterling still to be ironed out.

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