Whilst our slow-burning global economy doesn’t seem to be making any wild shifts in gears any time soon, the fitness industry hasn’t felt the brunt in the slightest. On the contrary, in fact.
1 in 7 people are gym members. The estimated total market value is almost £5 billion in the UK, up 2.9% from last year and total membership numbers have grown by 2% in the same period.
The global health and wellness boom is music to the ears of our leisure clients, many of whom have been busy expanding their facilities to accommodate growing membership numbers.
What’s been the catalyst for this fitness boom?
There are a number of factors that have aided the growth of the fitness world, amongst them:
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A global information shift on the importance of healthy living
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The rise of health-related illnesses
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Greater press exposure on health and wellbeing
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Wearable tech
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Social media
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Changing consumer behaviour
The two last points, in particular, have been chiefly responsible for the changing tide of fitness over the last few years.
From run-of-the-mill workouts, such as running, yoga and circuits, a plethora of revolutionary new fitness genres have emerged. Dance, trampoline-classes and digital fitness are just a tiny handful of the new activities available in the upgraded fitness market.
What was once considered a necessity (and a mild inconvenience) by many has become a fun hobby, generating a network of communities that centre around specific sports, classes or trends.
Fitness has become more than a routine part of a person’s day. It’s become a lifestyle.
The growing fitness and wellness market has arguably been most evident in the proliferating job market. The greatest areas of increase in the fitness industry, according to Statista, are alternative medicine, sports equipment, weight loss and gym memberships.
Each facet brings with it a host of roles from sport science to sales and more hands-on personal training jobs.
So are health and wellness trends here to stay?
Whether they’re here to stay – who knows? But the storm doesn’t appear to be quelling anytime soon. The estimated market size of wellness and fitness is expected to increase by £1.4 billion between 2018 and 202, according to Statista.
The foreseeable future looks promising, that’s for sure. There’s never been a better time to be involved in health and fitness. It’s great news for us at DFC and our many leisure clients.
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DFC is a leading revenue management solutions provider in the health and fitness industry. DFC works with a large number of charities, trusts and independent bodies across the UK, providing seamless bespoke Direct Debit solutions that free their clients up to focus on their core business.
Find out more about DFC: https://www.debitfinance.co.uk/