8 minute read
People
with the right management, marketing and skill the Fire Fitness brand has a place in Australia, as its business model is attractive for a start-up sole operator who can launch with one modality - or for the more experienced business owner who can launch with three. Fire encompasses your cardio HIIT, cycle, boxing and wellbeing formulas.
With studio fitness locations ideal for sole operators and COVID-19 highlighting the need for support, better digital and marketing opportunities and business systems, many are now moving across to recognised and newly established foreign brands.
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In addition, new suppliers in the market who are set to exhibit at the highly anticipated FITNESS + WELLNESS AUSTRALIA trade show - now scheduled for March next year - include Terra Core, Terra Glide and the COBA Board.
With 2020 having witnessed a soar in virtual programming, all three products allow for take home equipment purchase and online classes as well as in club timetabled classes.
With group programming during lockdown periods keeping a vast majority of clubs and trainers heads above water, more clubs are now seeking hybrid solutions that enhance at home and in-house experiences, the COBA Board delivers all.
Those seeking out the Australia fitness culture also include newly formed business consulting agency and event holders, Active Entities launched in the USA through the COVID crisis who saw a gap in the industry as club doors closed with no industry support available.
And while traditionally the Australian fitness industry has looked at the US market for upcoming brands and trends, let’s not forget some new innovative home brands that are launching well into the marketplace, new young franchise group such as Fitstop are now working with Lift Brands.
Sydney brand Infinite Cycle franchise has opened new studios in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra while the Belgravia Group is set to launch new wellness studios and a Reformer Pilates studio business in competition with the new FS8 wellness brand owned by F45.
There is no doubt that Australia is the location for those wanting to expand their business on an international scale and there is no shortage of buyers for new innovative brands. Consumers want different and these brands will deliver. Mel Tempest is the owner of the Ballarat Body & Soul Genesis 24/7 gym and an acknowledged industry leader and speaker. In 2017 she was the first Australian recipient of a scholarship from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) to attend the IHRSA Institute at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Celebrated St Peters Western, Queensland Head Coach Dean Boxall ‘virtually scooped the pool’ at the recent Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) Awards. Boxall, who continued his long list of award achievements after being named the back-to-back Age Coach of the Year and Youth Coach of the Year following the 2021 Australian Age Group Championships on the Gold Coast in April. The Awards, presented at ASCTA’s Virtual Awards Night in its 50th Anniversary Year, saw Boxall - the 2019 Australian Coach of the Year - recognise his coaching staff of Maxine Seear, Richard Sleight and Stuart Melton.
As coach of swimmer Ariarne Titmus, Boxall’s reaction to her winning gold in the 400m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was widely commented on.
ASCTA also bestowed its highest honour of Life Membership to pioneering Victorian coach Peter Ruddock and its former Chief Executive, the late Michael Ursu.
Advertising executive appointed new Chair for the Australia Council
Robert Morgan, Executive Chairman of advertising agency the Clemenger Group, and former Sydney Swans and Opera Australia Director. has been appointed as the new Chair of the Australia Council for a three-year term.
Morgan takes over from outgoing chair Sam Walsh who has spent five years leading the organisation.
New Supreme Heating appointments look to drive business growth
Supreme Heating, specialists in the design and installation of innovative, energy efficient pool heating solutions, have announced the appointments of Anthony Denahy, Bianca Horewood and Shannon Wong in roles to drive the expansion of the business.
Horewood joins the company as Marketing Coordinator, Denahy joins as Business Development Manager - Victoria and Wong has been hired as Business Development Manager - Western Australia.
Tourism educator Ross Dowling (pictured at right) has been named Emeritus Professor of Tourism at Edith Cowan University. The award, has been given in recognition of distinguished academic contribution and leadership in tourism for more than two decades, as well as his contributions to geotourism, ecotourism and cruise ship tourism in Australia and internationally.
Dowling is the Foundation Professor of Tourism in ECU’s School of Business and Law.
Netball Australia has named Kelly Ryan as its new Chief Executive, replacing Marne Fechner, who stepped down late last year to join AusCycling.
Ryan joins Netball Australia after holding positions with Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs AFL clubs and most recently at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Steve Hocking moves from AFL House to become Geelong Cats Chief Executive
The AFL’s Executive General Manager of Football, Steve Hocking, has left the governing body to become Chief Executive at the Geelong Football Club.
Hocking, who first joined the AFL in 2017 following his previous experience as the Cats’ Head of Football, will replace Brian Cook - currently the longest-serving Chief Executive in the AFL, having spent 22 years in the role.
Basketball Australia names Melbourne media manager as new chief executive
Basketball Australia has appointed Matt Scriven, most recently the Managing Director of Nine Melbourne, as its new Chief Executive. In addition to his extensive corporate experience, Scriven has a lifelong connection to basketball and is deeply passionate about the sport, having first-hand experience across every level of the game, from grassroots through to high performance.
He played State Representative at the National Junior Championships and SEABL Basketball for 10 years and was most recently a Board Director with both the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix and Basketball Hawthorn.
He also worked in marketing and sponsorship for the NBL in the late 1990s.
Otium Planning’s Mike King moves to Senior Associate role in change of Directors
Otium Planning Group has advised that, after nearly six years in the role, Mike King decided to resign as a Director of consultancy as of the end of June 2021.
King will move into a role as Senior Associate at Otium Planning Group (OPG) allowing him to bring his expertise and project experience to a range of ongoing projects.
With King stepping down as a Director, Dave Lanfear Consulting and OPG have decided to build on their strategic partnership and formally merge companies and join forces.
As a result, Dave Lanfear is now a Director of OPG.
Changes at Vivaticket see John Godwin move to focus on charity ventures
Leading global attractions and arts ticketing and access control business Vivaticket has announced that John Godwin, the longstanding Managing Director of its Australian operations, has stepped down from the business to embark full time on focusing his efforts towards charity ventures.
Godwin, who founded ticketing and CRM solutions provider enta Australasia in 2007 - which became part of Vivaticket predecessor Best Union Company SpA in 2018 - has founded two charity ventures - the Fair Go Australia Foundation and Creating Positive Future Foundation - which he describes as being “very close to my heart - because they do make such a wonderful and positive impact on the lives of the people we support.”
Following Godwin’s departure, Company Director, Andrew Steel, will now lead the business while Oliver Smith has joined the business in the role of Business Development Manager.
Monarto Safari Park Director receives UNESCO conservation award
Peter Clark, Director of Monarto Safari Park has had his conservation career spanning nearly 50 years recognised with a UNESCO Achievement Award. Clark, who began working as an agricultural advisor for the Papua New Guinea and Australian Governments in 1973, joined Zoos SA in 2003 when he became Curator of what was formerly Monarto Zoo. Clark worked his way up to his 2018 appointment as Director of Monarto Safari Park, soon to be home to the largest safari experience outside of Africa.
IN BRIEF
David Aitchison has been promoted to the role of General Manager - Club Operations Australia (Fitness First and Goodlife) at the Fitness and Lifestyle Group. Shooting Australia has appointed former Australian Netball representative, Jane Altschwager as their Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Lead. Having led Paralympics Australia for the past six years, Chief Executive Lynne Anderson is to depart her role at the end of this year. Five new members have been appointed to the Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sport NZ) Board with Suri Bartlett, Robyn Cockburn, Duane Kale, Rakesh Naidoo and Karen Vercoe each appointed for three-year terms. Ken Barton has been appointed Facility Operations Manager at Melbourne University Sport. Todd Bowden has taken on the role of Managing Director at consultancy SportsPM. Rebecca Brown has returned as Western Australia’s Department of Jobs, Science, Tourism and Innovation (JTSI) Director General and Tourism WA Chief Executive. Health and fitness business sales specialist, Business & Franchise Brokers (BF Brokers), have appointed Shane Byrne as their Business Broker for NSW. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association has appointed Elizabeth Clark as their next president and Chief Executive. Tennis Australia has advised of the appointment of experienced executive Cedric Cornelis as its new Chief Commercial Officer. Adelaide United FC Director of Football, Bruce Djite has taken on an additional position as a Board Member of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission within the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
