By Allister Beauchamp

Despite all of my success, I still encounter my share of challenges, like any entrepreneur. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who thought my Orleans location was a great spot. A second major national chain moved in less than three kilometres away from me. Then, more recently, less than a kilometre away, a huge 6,503-m2 (70,000-sf) athletic centre, complete with a couple of swimming pools, yoga classes and a basketball court, opened its doors.

However, even with that stiff competition, my club hasn’t taken much of a hit. In fact, the challenge has inspired me even more. I feel like I’ve really put the business model to the test in this market, and have proven it can succeed. I think that’s one of the reasons I was named Snap Fitness’ 2010 Canadian Franchisee of the Year at the company conference in Minneapolis, Minn., which came as a wonderfully pleasant surprise.

With accolades like that, personal and professional satisfaction and a bright future ahead of me, I know becoming a franchisee was the right decision for me. Here’s hoping you can find the same happiness in your franchise journey.

I was surprised and honoured when Peter Taunton, CEO of Snap Fitness, gave me the 2010 Canadian Franchisee of the Year award at our last company conference. With two successful locations and another on the way, I'm very optimistic about the future.

Read the full article: Finding the Right Fit

By Allister Beauchamp

From that first day in business, I knew I’d picked the right spot—and, for that matter, the right franchise. The grand opening happened in early January 2009, and the gym was busy right off the bat. The timing was great, given how eager people can be to get started on those New Year’s fitness and weight loss resolutions. That said, there were still a few early challenges to overcome.

First, as the new gym in town, I had to work extra hard to build brand recognition; the only other Snap franchise in the area opened just a few weeks before mine, so the concept was still being introduced to the public. Thankfully, being the ‘new guys’ also worked to our advantage. People were curious about Snap Fitness and eager to learn more.

To help get the word out in those early days, I held a pre-sale on memberships, did a couple of mail-outs to the surrounding community and ran some ads in the local newspaper. I also did some guerrilla marketing, handing out coupons for free weeklong memberships at local businesses or to employees of other tenants in the power centre. While all of that did help, I really owe much of my success to the gym’s prominent location. Walk-ins make up a huge portion of the club’s membership; when combined with referrals, it makes up about 80 per cent of our business. Once potential clients got in the door, the concept really sold itself.

Allister Beauchamp is an Ottawa-based multi-unit franchisee with Snap Fiteness.

Read the full article: Finding the Right Fit

By Allister Beauchamp

At first, I was looking at a lot of the bigger names in franchising, most of which were in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector. I even worked with a franchise consultant, who recommended everything from restaurant chains to a hair salon; he also introduced me to Snap Fitness.

It seemed like a perfect fit, especially given my recent weight loss experience. Not only would I be able to realize my entrepreneurial dreams, I could also help people just like me, who were looking for a happier, healthier lifestyle. With that, I began my due diligence, starting with a trip to Barrie, Ont., to check out a Snap Fitness location for myself (there wasn’t one in the Ottawa area at the time).

The moment I stepped through the door, I was impressed. The design was very eye-catching and appealing, and it was unique compared to some other fitness centres I’d frequented in the past. This wasn’t your regular, oversized gym, with crowds of people all over the place. It was a lot more inviting and far less intimidating. It also had a good selection of equipment and clean, modern décor.

Read the full article: Finding the Right Fit

By Allister Beauchamp

I know firsthand how difficult it can be to make a change in your life. Truly turning over a new leaf requires commitment, dedication and hard work, whether the challenge you face is personal or professional.

For me, those lessons were put into practice when I accomplished two major life goals—losing weight and opening my own franchised business. As a multi-unit franchisee with Snap Fitness, I’ve even managed to bring those two worlds together, building a business for myself while helping other people achieve their own health and wellness objectives.

Looking for a career

I was born in Ottawa, but grew up in Buckingham, Que., a smaller town located about 30 minutes across the river. I wasn’t the best student ever; school wasn’t really my favourite place to be, but I managed to make it work.

Allister Beauchamp is an Ottawa-based multi-unit franchisee with Snap Fitness.

Read the full article: Finding the Right Fit