When your members sign up at your gym, they’re looking to you for advice on how to get the best results. That generally starts with fitness guidance, followed by nutrition suggestions. But what about selling supplements?
We get it. Supplements can be a divisive topic. Business-savvy gym owners know that selling supplements is a great way to increase gym revenue. And they can help your clients achieve goals faster. The key is to make it simple for them and of course, keep it ethical.
Here’s some food for thought: Chances are, your members are already buying supplements. They’re spending the money, just not in your gym. So why not provide them with more value by offering options in house?
Your members trust your knowledge and expertise. They know that you’re the professional and that you’re in the know about effective fitness and nutrition guidance. You’ve already built the relationship. Now it’s time to show them how you can help.
Five Tips for Selling Supplements in Your Gym.
Here are five ways that you can increase revenue and improve the gym member experience by ethically selling supplements to your community.
1. Keep Members’ Goals in Mind.
There are supplements for everything. However, you could lose members’ trust if they feel like your recommendations aren’t correlated to their goals. Therefore, think about what’s best for helping them achieve results faster, versus random sales strictly aimed at revenue.
For example, you wouldn't tell someone to train for a marathon if their goal is to put on muscle. The same goes for how you recommend supplements. Ultimately, your suggestions and guidance need to align with the member’s goal.
2. Educate Them about Supplements Options.
You want to educate your members on why you recommend certain supplements, so they can make informed decisions about their own health.
The supplement industry is massive. And it can be very confusing. As a result, your members might be purchasing supplements based purely on good marketing. By educating them, you add an extra layer of expertise. You help them filter out the noise of sub-par products and help them make educated decisions.
3. Ask for Their Opinion.
When you ask for your members’ opinions on supplements, it helps them feel more included in the process. Even if they don’t know anything about the products, even asking about flavor preferences will make them feel heard. This builds trust, strengthens the relationship and leads to increased member retention.
There’s even scientific research to back this up. Studies have shown that asking for someone’s opinion helps them feel more confident in the decisions they make.
4. Build an Even Better Relationship.
Remember that your members are not just customers; they’re people who you care about. Engage with them as friends and encourage support of their gym-mates.
Supplement conversations are actually a great way to build rapport. As you learn about their goals and what they’re doing to achieve them, you can continue connecting and making recommendations.
5. Take the Pressure Off.
Encourage, but don’t push. In other words, aim to be a resource to your members, versus a salesperson. If you properly educate people and prioritize their goals, they’ll continue to trust you and buy from you.
Keep it simple: Make some suggestions and let them decide. If they want to purchase supplements from you, great. If not, that’s okay as well. You’re providing a valuable service by educating your members on what they need for their training goals. If they want to make changes or purchases down the road, they’ll know exactly where to turn.
In Summary: Selling Supplements Means Gains for Everyone.
So there you have it, an ethical approach to selling supplements in your gym!
It doesn’t take much effort but has huge benefits for both you and your members. You’ll build trust, improve customer satisfaction and provide your members what they need from their workout experience. Members will be both educated and confident in their decisions, and you’ll build rapport for the long run.
