Anytime Fitness / Annual Revenue: $1.1 Billion / Headquarters: Hastings, Minn

healthcare & wellness anytime fitness www.anytimefitness.com / Annual revenue: $1.1 billion / Headquarters: Hastings, Minn. / Employees: 200 (corporate employees) / Specialty: Fitness center franchises / Michael Zwiefel, director of construction and design: “We look at each location individually, ensuring the basic requirements are met.” Always Open Supporting franchisees with state-of-the-art tools, vendor relation- Anytime Fitness looks at each location individually to ensure the basic functional and branding ships and flexibility has helped Anytime Fitness grow. By Eric Slack requirements are met. Open 24 hours a day and 365 Nearly 3,000 gyms are now open Anytime Fitness works with its days a years, Anytime Fitness is in 50 states and more than 20 franchisees to guide them through a different kind of fitness center. countries, making the compa- the design of their club and educate Anytime Fitness utilizes a franchis- ny the world’s fastest-growing them on the overall development ing approach that offers entrepre- fitness club and largest co-ed process. Its franchisees come from neurs a convenient and affordable fitness franchise. all walks of life and have varying recurring-revenue business model. “I joined Anytime Fitness in experience within the industry. Franchisees benefit from a turnkey 2010,” says Michael Zwiefel, di- “The big challenge for us is to system that minimizes payroll rector of construction and design. help them through that process,” costs while maximizing security “When I started, the company Zwiefel says. “Our franchisees and enjoyment for club members. had just launched a new décor manage the development and The first Anytime Fitness gym package to create a unified brand construction of their gyms. The opened in May 2002 in Cam- image for their clubs. My role was process can be complicated for a bridge, Minn. It has opened an to lead implementation of the first-timer. We provide tools, sup- average of 300 new gyms each program for new clubs as well as port and guidance to ensure they year for the past eight years. our existing facilities.” are successful.” 66 anytime fitness healthcare & wellness What can be both a blessing and a Since he came on board in 2010, curse for the company is the fact that Anytime Fitness has supported the model offers a degree of flexibility. Zwiefel’s department by adding a “We are not a cookie-cutter concept number of team members to ensure with a rigid operating platform,” the company can support its opera- Zwiefel says. “While we have core tions. In addition to making sure the requirements and standards we still company has the right vendors in place allow for flexibility in some of the ame- and continues working to stay on top nities and design. This flexibility can of trends, Anytime Fitness also has be a challenge to manage from a design invested in technology to help fran- and brand aspects, but it is also one rea- chisees operate the brand and connect son why we are so successful. We look with members. at each location individually, ensuring the basic requirements are met from a “This is a fast-paced industry. functional and branding perspective. The franchisee is involved throughout We must remain agile and the process and are able to influence stay current, making sure we many components of the design.” have the right amenities and Anytime Fitness franchises typically offerings in our clubs.” opens in existing real estate, which results in a wide variety of spatial _________ configurations. The lack of ground-up construction makes it nearly impossi- About 80 percent of all Anytime ble to maintain a true prototype. Fitness gyms are located in the Unit- ed States. But already international Staying in Front locations have opened in Canada, Anytime Fitness keeps its finger on Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the pulse of the fitness industry as well England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the as trends in construction, design and Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Grand materials. The company looks for the Cayman, India, Chile, Spain, Japan, right vendor partners that can provide Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the true value. the Philippines. “We are always concerned with cost, Within five years from now, the but it is only one aspect of material and company anticipates that its U.S. vendor selection” Zwiefel says. “Value portfolio will be closer to 50 percent of is key. First and foremost, we have to its footprint with approximately 4,000 pick the right products for the intend- clubs in the United States and another ed use and ensure they perform. Price, 4,000 around the globe. ease of installation, durability, mainte- “We want to maintain a vibrant and nance, warranty and cost of owner all successful global model,” Zwiefel says. go into material selection. Ensuring we “This is a fast-paced and ever-changing are partnering with the right vendor is industry. We must remain agile and also important. Factors such as points stay current, making sure we have the of distribution, shipping, ease of order- right amenities and offerings in our ing and customer service are critical, clubs. We need to be able to connect especially with a franchised concept with members and support their that covers a larger geographic area.” health and fitness goals.” 67.

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