When it comes to putting their heart into their business—and their customers—nobody does it better than the small gym owner, whose generosity and commitment often goes far beyond just fitness.
Case in point: Gym owners always want to accommodate their members’ needs, and schedules, so it’s not uncommon for them to get keys cut, or share door codes, with members they trust, so the members can come in after hours, or on a Sunday, to train.
And while this open-door policy, so to speak, is always rooted in good intentions and strong relationships, it can sometimes backfire.
This is what happened to PJ Martinez, the owner of BridgeLakes CrossFit in Cypress, Texas.
He used to rely on a door code system to unlock his gym’s doors, and Martinez sometimes shared the code with coaches and some members he trusted.
Ultimately, though, the code was often shared with others who weren’t on his V.I.P list “far too freely,” Martinez explained.
- “It not only creates a safety concern, but it also made me feel like my generosity was being taken advantage of,” Martinez admitted.
So he turned to HybridAF this spring and immediately found a solution.
- “The entire set-up process was smooth and efficient. Communication from the HybridAF team was clear, and the timeline matched exactly what I was told when I enrolled,” he said.
More importantly, the result for his business has been huge: He is now able to control access and manage member privileges with ease, all the while knowing his building is more secure.
Martinez now offers 24/7 access at an upgraded membership rate, and he has requirements in place as to who is eligible for unattended access based on how long they have been a member and their experience level.
- “Since implementing HybridAF, I have complete peace of mind regarding after-hours gym usage. I no longer worry about who’s in the building, or whether it is being used appropriately,” Martinez said.
He added: “I highly recommend HybridAF to any gym owner looking for a simpler, more secure, and more manageable way to offer 24/7 access. It has brought me both structure and peace of mind.”
A Similar Story In Wisconsin
Nathan Elliot, the owner of Hybrid Fitness in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, has had a similar experience.
Having HybridAF in his corner provides him the piece of mind he needs as a gym owner.
- “We have a security system installed, and whenever anyone accesses the gym with the HybridAF app, we get notified. Not that I have to check it, but I can,” Elliot said.
Ultimately, this means if there was ever an incident, or if something was ever stolen from the gym (which has never happened), he can look back and see who was in the facility when.
- “It tracks the traffic really well and there’s a log we can look at that tells us who was there. It really gives you peace of mind,” said Elliot, who estimates that between 20 to 25 percent of his clients take advantage of unattended access.
Elliot is adamant that adding HybridAF is a breeze, and offers nothing but positives for the members, coaches and gym owner.
- “The initial start-up was seamless and simple, and it integrates perfectly with PushPress, and the cost is minimal. I thought it might be a headache and that it might be expensive, but it was neither of those things,” he said. “Whenever you start something new that is technology-related, you can have bumps and hiccups, but we didn’t have any.”
Elliot’s Message: “If you’re a small gym business owner and you have any desire from your members to have unattended access, even if you have 10 members who want it, your costs will be offset.”
Not only will it add value to your members and increase the security of your building, but it also provides the gym owner with more freedom to escape the gym, and “some serious piece of mind,” he said.
Final Thoughts: Beyond Unattended Access
For gym owners like Martinez and Elliot, HybridAF has done so much more than add value for their members.
By enhancing security, simplifying access control, and freeing up valuable time, HybridAF empowers them to serve their communities without sacrificing peace of mind.
