Smaller niche gyms gather cult followings

Specialty training facilities are not new. And specialty fitness that focus on a particular style of exercise, piece of equipment, or even philosophical approach, are exploding across the country and have become all the rage. "Belt factories," MMA and Cross-Fit gyms, are flourishing in every town across America, and thus, many nationwide sports fans are under the impression that boxing is fading away from national attention, when in actuality - it is becoming more popular than ever. Statistics prove that traditional boxing is currently surging in popularity and revenue, a trend that is projected to continue well into the future where the potential for growth and franchise opportunity are remarkable. But that barely scratches the surface. Membership often becomes a point of pride and a community develops around the exercise. Branded merchandise and cross-gym competitive events often become additional sources of revenue.

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Industry Facts & Figures

In the United States

- Over 54 million Americans paid gym membership fees in 2014, and for the second year in a row actual visits to the gyms exceeded 5 billion! The average member visited their club over 100 times, an all-time high.





- Memberships have grown 18.6% between 2008 and 2014, and the trend continued in 2015. Where are all these people going? In the United States there were 34 thousand fitness centers – an increase of 6.4% over 2013. Revenue of $24.2 billion in 2014, was also a sharp 7.4% increase over $22.4 billion in 2013.





- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these fitness and recreational sports centers employed 533,200 people in 2014, and jobs are expected to grow 8% by 2024.





Around the world

- Globally there are over 180,000 fitness clubs, estimated to have earned $84 billion from their 145 million members.

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Opportunity

According to the CDC, almost 70% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, including 35% that are considered obese. Conversely, awareness and education about the importance of a healthy lifestyle continues to increase. With that better understanding is the certain knowledge that exercise improves energy levels, decreases medical expenses and likely increases longevity. Even consumers that have shied away from the traditional gyms are getting their groove back in boutique workout studios, outdoor boot camps and even some online do-it-yourself programs. Market demand is strong, and finding success will come down to finding the type of fitness business that will work for your local community. Boxing has always been a champion.

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