SINGAPORE: More than a year after fitness enthusiasts were able to remove masks and resume high-intensity indoor exercise, gyms in Singapore say business has yet to return to pre-COVID levels. I’m here.
Rising costs, labor shortages, a new routine that avoids going to the gym, and the new distraction of travel are just some of the challenges facing the fitness business, she told CNA.
The fitness industry has come together this year to rebuild what it lost during the pandemic, said Ross Campbell, co-founder of the SG Fitness Alliance, a nonprofit industry group.
“Sadly, some businesses have been forced to close, but thankfully, some new investors and operators have entered the market, offering exciting new facilities and member experiences. rice field.
“However, there are still persistent headwinds that are preventing most businesses from fully recovering to pre-pandemic levels,” Campbell said.
abrupt closure
The struggles facing the fitness industry have become apparent in recent weeks, with gyms like X Fitness and Superfly Studios suddenly shutting down.
X Fitness, a spin studio in Selegie’s GR.iD mall, went offline in mid-September, leaving customers unable to book classes and stranded with unclaimed class packages.
One customer told CNA that Jim had not informed her of the closure, and that attempts to contact the studio had no success.
Police say a report has been filed regarding the closure of X Fitness and associated brand Kyklos Studio and they are investigating the matter.
Police also confirmed that a report had been filed regarding the closure of Superfly.
The company launched last September with three stores offering a variety of exercise classes.
After checking our Facebook page and Google reviews, we saw some comments from customers expressing frustration with the lack of communication and refunds after the store closed.
A Superfly representative told CNA that the company has been providing customers with “progressive notice” of the closure since the last week of August, with “final notice” by the end of the month.
The company added that it had consulted with staff beforehand and that “an agreement had been reached to scale back the business.”
Operations at the United Square studio have been transferred to 24-hour fitness chain Anytime Fitness, and the Forum The Shopping Mall studio is in the process of being taken over by another operator, a representative said.
Superfly said it had processed 75% of class package refunds for customers as of Sept. 14, with the remaining 25% expected to be completed “within the next few weeks.”
A spokesperson for Superfly said the company has been losing money since the beginning of the year.
“The changing fitness landscape meant that the plans we made to roll out the studio late last year didn’t go as well as we had hoped.”
Superfly also said it “couldn’t foresee the impact of the resumption of unrestricted travel and a full return to work, which means customers have other priorities.”
“As a new brand, it meant it was difficult to attract customers and staff.
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