324. A New Global Standard and Award for Gym Equipment Design, with Benny Price

Most gym equipment is still judged on the wrong things: Brand reputation, how it looks, or which influencer recommends it. In this episode, Benny Price of RTS Global joins us to talk about his new venture, Gym Equipment Design, and why the industry needs a proper standard for what "good" actually is. We get into the thinking behind creating a comprenesive award for gym equipment design, built around human-centered performance, rather than marketing. From usability and adjustability to resistance profiles and innovation, Benny breaks down how equipment should be evaluated based on how it actually works for the user, not just how it looks on the gym floor. This is essential listening for any fitness manager, gym owner or coach. Visit Gym Equipment Design   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram   GUEST RESOURCES Benny Price on LinkedIn Gym Equipment Design

Linda Tang's WeBarre has earned multiple awards from The Fit Guide for both class and overall experience, making it one of the standout fitness brands globally, not just in Barre. In this episode, Linda shares how she has maintained consistent five-star standards across multiple Singapore locations, in a city where pre and post-class service has historically scored lower overall. Expect plenty of practical takeaways for operators who want to raise their standards. Check out Five-Star Fitness on YouTube here.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram   GUEST RESOURCES Linda Tang on LinkedIn WeBarre

We welcome Jeff Bladt from ClassPass to answer some of the questions and concerns studio owners often raise about the platform. ClassPass has its vocal critics, so we discuss some of the most common sticking points and areas of tension between studios and the platform. For host Jack Thomas' analysis of ClassPass's role in the industry, check out episode 321, The Truth About ClassPass.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram   GUEST RESOURCES Jeff Bladt on LinkedIn ClassPass

ClassPass has become a controversial topic, with studios publicly leaving the platform recently. They say it damages pricing, brand value and the industry. In this episode, Jack shares his honest perspective as a studio owner who has worked with ClassPass for years, as well as someone who has had extensive conversations with ClassPass management and studio owners around the world. ClassPass is here to stay, so it's very important to make smart, informed decisions about the platform that are best for your business. This episode will help you do that.

At BASE, fewer than 2% of coaching applicants make it through the hiring process. In this episode, Jack breaks down the full 13-step system they use to find, test and develop world-class trainers. We talk about red and green flags, vibe checks, observed sessions, how candidates handle honest feedback, and why most fall away before they ever get near a class.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram

Albert Ramos joins host Jack Thomas to break down the financial mistakes he sees fitness businesses make again and again, and the numbers that actually matter. We cover the key metrics for single clubs and multi-site operators, what "Five Star Finance" really means, and how strong back-office discipline supports a better experience on the gym floor.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram   GUEST RESOURCES Albert Ramos Jr on LinkedIn Stratego

In this episode, host Jack Thomas digs into The Fit Guide's data from its 2026 Singapore launch, based on anonymous visits to the city's top clubs and brands. While some standards have improved, the data also highlights clear and significant areas for improvement.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support!   Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram  

Host Jack Thomas is joined by Edward, founder Hertzman of Athletech News, to discuss what it takes to build a successful media company in health and fitness, what the industry can learn from other sectors, and what to expect over the next few years across global health, fitness and wellness.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram   GUEST RESOURCES Edward Hertzman on LinkedIn Athletech News  

In this episode, host Jack Thomas breaks down the real trade-offs between opening your own gym and buying into a franchise. He walks through the questions you need to ask yourself around risk, control, systems, creativity, and skillset, so you can find the path most likely to lead to success. SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution   NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram

Host Jack Thomas is joined by Susie Millen, founder of My Vocal Fitness, to unpack how widespread vocal damage is in the fitness industry, why it happens, and why it should be on every coach and manager's radar. They break down how the voice actually works, what's going wrong when instructors shout to be heard, and the simple habits coaches can adopt to protect their voice before, during, and after sessions. Susie also shares practical guidance on being heard clearly without shouting, when to use a mic (and when you don't need one), and small changes managers can implement to protect their team, reduce burnout, and keep coaches performing at a high level. SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram GUEST RESOURCES Susie Millen on LinkedIn Article from Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups- 2024 Journal of the Voice- Group Fitness Questionnaire, 2013 Extra reading on some basic vocal tips SOVT warm up straw- OOVO Wireless headset - Amazon