You might be over the pandemic, but that doesn't mean the pandemic's over—just ask Ruth Cheng, owner of CrossFit PTBO in Peterborough, Ontario, which just entered its third lockdown.

Each of those lockdowns set Ruth to tears as she watched the cancelations pour in. Yet despite the hardships, the gym's gross revenue grew 20 percent in 2020 compared with 2019.

Here, she shares her strategies for retaining clients, increasing revenue and staying positive during one of the toughest years gym owners have ever faced.

Links:

CrossFit PTBO
Level Method
Two-Brain Programming
Working With a Spouse: The Secrets to Ending the Stress
“Couple-Preneurship”: How to Work With Your Spouse
Gym Owners United

Timeline:

1:33 – Growth during one of the toughest years for gym owners.

2:54 – Drawing strength from partnership.

3:47 – When the pandemic hit.

6:28 – Watching cancelations pour in.

7:53 – Finding the strength to keep going.

10:55 – Moving the gym during lockdown.

13:33 – Retaining members during lockdown.

17:37 – Making a plan to re-acquire the ones who left.

18:11 – The power of communication.

22:40 – The race to $50k.

25:26 – Increasing revenue by listening to clients.

28:22 – What to do if you’re feeling beat down.