The Quad is Closing. Now What?

A couple of years ago I started to sweat, and not in a good, get your heart rate up cardio workout sort of way. I was beginning to see a storm of very compelling promotion (info cards, bus wraps, booths at the First Wednesday street parties and lots of print advertising) for an entity called “The Quad”. The concept was well defined and presented, the instructors had stellar reputations and the sense was that the facilities were going to be top-notch. Besides that, Leisure Sports was behind the operation. They own the fitness stalwart Club Sport Pleasanton (among other entities) and have been very successful in both anticipating and executing on long-term and cutting-edge fitness trends.

I worked for Club Sport about 14 years ago, teaching boxing fitness and taking my own private clients there as a contractor for about a year and a half. I have a great respect for the company and the management. And the trainers there include some of the most experienced, passionate and skilled professionals in the business.

As a small studio owner specializing in small group and private training, I had cause for concern. Fortunately, we were a good distance away from the Quad, and in this business, convenience and proximity figure prominently. But I also underestimated the loyalty we are blessed to enjoy from our current club base. And, to be frank, there’s just a certain level of expected turnover that is accounted for by folks continually trying new fitness options. So some volatility (both with attrition and with growth) is to be expected.

It’s no small achievement of theirs that I literally never heard a single negative comment about their facilities, policies or customer service. As a professional who, of course, wants to remain successful, you might think I would not welcome competition. But the truth is that it’s always best for everyone concerned (providers like us and customers like you, alike) that there are plenty of high quality fitness options available. That challenges all of the providers to continue to improve our respective programs and enhances the level of commitment when customers do find the right “fit” among the various alternatives. And that, in turn, will grow the market (more people exercising!), rather than creating a tug of war for market share in a fixed-sized market. With that scenario, everyone wins.

So now what does this mean for current Quad members? Well, first, their website provides a very customer-centric and thorough explanation of the reasons behind their decision to close up shop and how they intend to service their existing customers. My opinion is that they are providing a broad array of opportunities for the current members to redeem the value of their current investment – as many as their resources will reasonably allow. Many customers will find a smooth transition among those options.

For others, it’s going to be a process of finding the right combination of qualities among other providers that feels like a good match for their interests, values, schedules and preferences.

I could provide a cross section of suggestions based on what I know about local area fitness providers, but that list would be neither objective nor comprehensive. What is probably of greater value to you is a list of steps to take to cull through the options yourself as effectively and with as much freedom and agility as you need to settle on a new exercise destination. Here are my suggestions:

· Ask your friends (either in person or on Facebook) about their fitness provider(s), what they like about them and why.

· Go to Yelp.com and search for the specific type of fitness option in which you’re interested (Small group? Personal training? Specialty classes?) within five miles of your zip code. Don’t just look at the rating. Read the reviews. Do these reviewers sound like your peers? Are they concerned with the same issues you are?

· Go to the website. Does it provide a good sense of the focus and feel of the facility/service?

· Call the facility and ask about (even if you leave a message) any remaining concerns or interests you have. Often clubs or studios are in the process of starting a new program (not yet reflected on the website) or discontinuing another that is featured on the website because there wasn’t enough interest.

· Find out if the facility/program has a free trial period with no strings attached so you can see if it feels like a good fit for you. There should be no pressure to join either short or long-term. Your complete satisfaction should be the sole motivation behind the provider’s efforts and communications.

· If you are interested in personal training, expecting a free consultation is reasonable and, I believe in both the prospective client’s and the trainer’s best interest. Expecting a free session is not. Remember that this is a value equation. If you’re looking for the cheapest trainer, you probably shouldn’t be working with one (same goes for lawyers and plumbers!)

I wish everyone associated with the Quad good fortune and am confident that all involved will move onto successful transitions and continue to do what they do (helping the Tri Valley residents to be healthy and fit) for years to come.

In the meantime, I hope this primer helps you to find the best place for you to continue to pursue your own fitness goals well into the future as well!

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is owner and head trainer at Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They offer personal training and small group fitness solutions and an innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.