Following two profitable years of scaling in Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne-based STRONG Pilates is seeking to seize the eye of health fans within the UK market with the opening of three flagship studios throughout London slated for February 2023.
Founded by former F45 franchisees Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, STRONG Pilates will open studios within the districts of Islington, Holborn and Fulham as a part of its ambitions to have 100-plus places working throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK throughout the subsequent 4 years.
The fast-growing model, which at present has 21 places throughout Australia and New Zealand, can also be seeking to open places in Canada, Singapore and the US subsequent yr.
Speaking with Business News Australia, Ramsey stated the launch into the UK was occurring so much earlier than anticipated.
“It’s surpassed all expectations. I’m amazed by the uptake and the communities we have been in a position to construct in such a brief time period,” stated Ramsey, who received the Fitness class on the 2022 Australian Young Entrepreneur Awards over the weekend.
“It’s an enormous alternative as a result of there’s an enormous inhabitants within the UK and there is actually nothing like STRONG. It seems to be like we’ll be opening all three studios in February, so we’re actually going for it.
“I feel we slot in a style the place we actually haven’t any competitors but we’re competitors to everybody. We’re a standalone product that may go into fairly an energetic market.”
Founded in 2019, STRONG Pilates is a novel health studio that mixes Pilates, high-intensity coaching (HIIT) and rowing, utilizing what is named a ‘Rowformer’ machine. Each studio – which has between 15-20 Rowformer beds – combines robust managed actions and bursts of quick motion to assist health fans burn 800-plus energy in a single 45-minute session.
Ramsey and Armstrong bought six of their F45 studios to kick-start STRONG Pilates, in addition to achieve unique rights for the US-developed Rowformer – which initially utilized to Australia, New Zealand and Asia however is now increasing even additional.
“We’re negotiating grasp franchises in Canada – which is nearly achieved – and likewise Florida proper now. We’re undoubtedly going world with it,” stated Ramsey.
“Everything else is designed in-house – all of the programming, all of the tech, the way in which the lessons run. We’ve obtained an enormous staff of motion workers – train, physiotherapy, Pilates, energy and conditioning.
“We’re most likely one of many solely health franchises to actually develop considerably throughout COVID. It undoubtedly made it troublesome, however we nonetheless managed to open a Gold Coast location throughout Melbourne lockdowns. We have been in a position to continue to grow and going into markets that have been comparatively unaffected – like Adelaide, most of Queensland, Hobart and even scaling into New Zealand.”
Two months in the past, ClassPass – which is the biggest well being membership aggregator globally – named Pilates because the fastest-growing style in Australia and New Zealand, following a 250 per cent development in Pilates class reservations during the last 12 months.
STRONG Pilates foray into the UK market is being led by former Australian worldwide cricketer John Hastings, who’s now the UK managing director of STRONG Pilates.
“We recognized a spot within the worldwide marketplace for a health providing like STRONG Pilates, notably given the speedy development throughout the Pilates area,” Hastings stated.
“This is a chance to steadiness excessive depth with managed energy coaching – one thing the UK market has been demanding for a while now.”
STRONG Pilates’ UK enlargement additionally acquired backing from serial entrepreneur and investor Matt Berriman. The sum Berriman invested is undisclosed.
“As an ex-elite athlete transitioning into enterprise some 15 years in the past, I noticed the market alternative for STRONG Pilates after their hyper-growth in Australia and UK’s thirst for the providing,” Berriman stated.
“I’ve first-hand seen John construct his franchises in Australia, so it was a terrific alternative to not solely again a fellow elite sportsman transitioning into enterprise but additionally spend money on an area the place we are able to clearly see a mass want for high-quality, intense, however a low influence health expertise.”
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