HEALTH AND FITNESS

Bodytec

The fi tness industry has been among and promote the South African fi tness industry, the hardest-hit sectors in SA under has done a lot of work under lockdown to try to lockdown. Initially closed for fi ve keep its members’ facilities alive. Spokesman months, gyms now face the prospect Grant Austin says that Fit SA has assisted of smaller client numbers as people member gyms with rental relief guidelines exercise greater caution and prioritise that have helped them negotiate fair relief with social distancing. their landlords, and engaged with government

Bodytec co-founder Sandra Leyck says and the rest of the bigger players to set the that the company’s franchise studios closed protocols under which the industry reopened. for months and the group didn’t charge It monitored facts and surveys from overseas membership fees from May until August. “We to back up its insistence that gyms are part of wouldn’t have survived as a franchise if it wasn’t the solution rather than the problem regarding for the rental relief support we got from most of COVID-19 transmission, lobbied government on our landlords and TERS funding for most of the behalf of the industry for reopening dates, and personal trainers,” she is currently investigating insurance relief options says. “While our 40 for members. studios were closed, the support offi ce team was busier than ever before, working from home to prepare for reopening.” Fit SA, the nonprofi t Grant Austin representative body that works to assist

HEAVY LIFTING

Gym franchises around the country have worked hard to sustain the industry through troubled times, writes TREVOR CRIGHTON

SUPPORTING FRANCHISEES

Bodytec waived the franchise and marketing fees and negotiated discounts for the group with its suppliers and service providers. “Two of our studios did close despite this – but we have opened two more since September and are opening another one in February,” says Leyck. “Besides fi nancial support, there was plenty of mental support with a lot of one-on-one and group Zoom calls for everyone to compare notes and share lessons.”

“We have found SA to be far more health-conscious due to COVID-19,” says Austin. “People have fi nally realised that regular exercise is not just about looking and feeling good; it is more about keeping your immune system strong. COVID-19 has reinforced what gyms have been saying for the longest time: forget about your weight on the scale, good health comes fi rst, then being able to lead an active life, and only then your outward appearance.”

“WE WOULDN’T HAVE SURVIVED AS A FRANCHISE IF IT WASN’T FOR THE RENTAL RELIEF SUPPORT WE GOT FROM MOST OF OUR LANDLORDS AND TERS FUNDING FOR MOST OF THE

PERSONAL TRAINERS.” – SANDRA LEYCK, CO-FOUNDER, BODYTEC

HEALTHY EATING A PRIORITY

Real Foods founder Dean Kowarski says that there is de nitely more anecdotal evidence that South Africans are taking healthy eating more seriously in the face of the pandemic. Real Foods owns and operates the Kauai and Nü Health Food Café brands.

“We have opened seven new Kauai stores since lockdown restrictions have eased as we believe that the healthy-eating macro trend is even more important now during the pandemic,” says Kowarski.

“Several studies have highlighted the importance of a healthy immune system, and eating healthy food is one of the most important ways to boost and maintain this system. We have seen relatively consistent sales and basket sizes since our stores reopened, which indicates that customers are still prioritising healthy eating.”

Around half of the Kauai stores in SA are franchised and the other half are corporate. A retail store costs approximately R2.3-million to establish, ex-VAT. Real Foods head of franchising Guy Le Ray-Cook says that the company implemented a six-month royalty and marketing relief plan when the lockdown was initially announced – before even a single

“We set up chat groups and had regular Zoom meetings with the

franchisees throughout lockdown.” – Guy Le Ray-Cook, head of franchising, Real Foods

Nü Health Food Café

franchisee asked. “We set up chat groups and had regular Zoom meetings with the franchisees throughout lockdown, discussing how to best deal with the ever-changing environment including providing information on landlord negotiations and TERS, insurance claims and how best to motivate staff,” says Le Ray-Cook.