Saturday March 4th, 2023
Alex was jolted awake with the sound of his alarm at 5:00am Saturday morning. Why wake up so early? It is because of the store hours that Alex decided to set for the store. Since Alex was the sole employee of the store he decided to break it into two sessions with a 3 hour lunch break in the middle of the day.
The store would open from 6:00am to 11:00am to be able to catch people who wanted to workout before heading to their jobs. Alex would then give himself a break to eat lunch and rest from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Then the second session of the day would be from 2:00pm to 9:00pm. Many people in the LA area tended to work 9 to 5 jobs so this setup would allow him to catch people both before and after they went to work.
Deciding to make a quick check of the FitTech social media accounts, Alex booted up his laptop while sitting up in bed.
As Alex logs onto the FitTech social media accounts, he is relieved to see that there is a significant increase in activity from yesterday and interest in the gym’s grand opening. There are dozens of comments and messages from people expressing excitement about trying out the gym and its high-tech equipment. Many people are tagging their friends and encouraging them to come along. Alex types out quick replies to the comments, thanking people for their support and hoping to see them this weekend.
Alex takes a deep breath and feels a wave of nerves and excitement wash over him. He’s been working towards this moment for a week, and it’s finally here.
As he showers and gets ready for the day, Alex reminds himself to stay focused and present, to be there for the customers and make sure they have a great experience. He puts on his FitTech branded t-shirt that he asked Zara to create for him and heads out to eat breakfast, ready to tackle the day ahead.
While eating his cereal, Alex went over the pricing model that he’d come up with once more to remind himself and asked Zara to transfer the information into the fitness center’s computer system.
[Pricing Model]1. 1-Day Access = T1 – $15.00/ T2 – $8.00 (1/10th monthly rate)
2. 1-month Membership = T1 – $150.00/ T2 – $80.00 (Base Price)
3. 3-month Membership = T1 – $405.00/ T2 – $216.00 (10% discount)
4. 6-month Membership = T1 – $720.00/ T2 – $384.00 (20% discount)
5. 1-year Membership = T1 – $1,260.00/ T2 – $672.00 (30% discount)
To promote the opening weekend Alex had also decided that every customer this weekend would receive a free 3-day trial Tier 1 membership to have the full FitTech experience using Richard the AI Fitness Instructor. Thinking of this, Alex asks, “Zara, would it be possible to create a poster with a step-by-step guide on how to use Richard?”
Zara responds, [Of course, Alex. I can have that poster ready in no time. Do you have any specific design or color preferences?]
Alex thinks for a moment, “Let’s keep it simple and clean, using the FitTech logo and colors. And make sure the steps are easy to follow, with some screenshots to help guide customers through the process.”
Zara replies, [Got it. I have created two posters. One will be placed next to the registration kiosk and the other will be placed next to Richard]
With those details settled, Alex walks downstairs to the fitness center to make one final check to make sure everything is in order before he opens the store at 6am.
Looking at the individually packaged protein powder on the shelves in front of the reception desk Alex realizes he really did forget a couple of things. “Zara, I need two things. First, let’s set the price point of the protein powder to $5.00 per serving for all flavors. Secondly let’s place an automatic water dispenser with recyclable cups next to the shelf of protein powder. Make sure the dispenser also comes with little stirrer sticks so that customers can mix the protein powder on the spot.”
[The price for the protein powder has been set. There is a water dispenser in the system that will automatically refill itself by absorbing moisture from the air but it will cost you $100.00 of company funds. Should I purchase and place this item?] Zara asks Alex.As much as it pains Alex to spend half of his remaining company funds, he knows it’s a worthwhile purchase so he nods he head and agrees to spend the money, “Do it, Zara.” A moment later, a sleek and modern looking water dispenser appears the fits in completely with the rest of the fitness centers decor.
With that completed, Alex looks at the clock and see’s that it is just about 6:00am and decides to open the front door. Looking outside he see’s the beginning of the sunrise and a few people walking around outside, probably heading to their favorite coffee shops. Task completed he walks back inside and sits down behind the reception desk, ready to face his first customers.
As Alex sat behind the reception desk, he could feel his heart racing with excitement and nervousness. He knew that the next few hours would be crucial for the success of his business. Taking a deep breath, he smiled and waited for his first customer to arrive.
Soon enough, a young man walked in, looking around the gym with curiosity. Alex stood up, approached him with a friendly smile, and introduced himself. “Good morning, welcome to FitTech! My name is Alex, and I’m the owner of this gym. How can I help you today?”
The young man seemed impressed by the sleek and modern design of the gym. “Hi, I’m Max. Wow, this place looks amazing! I’m actually looking for a gym to join, and I heard that you guys just opened. What kind of memberships do you offer?”
Alex was ready for this question. He took out a brochure and explained the different tiers of membership, starting with the free trial that every customer would receive this weekend. He also showed Max the different features of the gym, including the AI fitness instructor Richard, the protein powder shelf, and the water dispenser. Max seemed impressed by everything he saw and decided to sign up for a Tier 1 1-month membership on the spot and just like that, the expense of the water dispenser was recovered.
As Max filled out the membership form at the registration kiosk, Alex couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. He had successfully attracted his first customer and made a sale. He also felt grateful for the support of his AI assistant Zara, who had helped him set up the gym and manage the business operations.
Just as Max was finishing up, another customer walked in, a middle-aged woman named Sarah. She seemed a bit hesitant and unsure of what to do. Alex approached her with a warm smile and introduced himself. “Hi there, I’m Alex. Welcome to FitTech. How can I assist you today?”
Sarah explained that she was recovering from a leg injury and was looking for a gym that would cater to her needs. She expressed that she really needed one-on-one help from a fitness professional to rehabilitate her injury. Alex listened carefully to her concerns and offered her a tour of the gym, showing her the different equipment and facilities that would be helpful for her rehabilitation.
As they walked around the gym, Alex introduced her to Richard, the AI fitness instructor. He told her about how Richard would take an initial scan of her body without any dangerous radiation waves. Richard would then use the information from the scan to create different workout plans based on her needs. Alex also told Sarah about how to use the FitTech mobile app with either her phone speakers or earbuds to receive real-time feedback from Richard in her training.
He showed her how to use the touchscreen display and select the workout program that would best suit her needs. Sarah seemed impressed by the personalized approach of the gym and decided to sign up for a Tier 1 1-month membership, because it included one-on-one training sessions with Richard. Sarah also promised that if it really worked as well as Alex said it would, she would be sure to get a longer membership next time.
As Sarah filled out the membership form, Alex couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had successfully helped a customer who had specific needs, and he knew that the gym would be a safe and welcoming place for her to rehabilitate and improve her fitness.
As the morning progressed, more and more customers started to arrive. Some were looking for a quick workout before heading to work, while others were taking advantage of the free trial to try out the gym for the first time. Alex greeted each customer with a smile and a warm welcome, introducing himself and his business and answering any questions they had.
In the first half of the day the sales results were as follows:
Tier 1:
– 4 x $150.00 (1-month membership) = $600.00
– 1 x $405.00 (3-month membership) = $405.00
Total revenue from Tier 1 = $1,005.00
Tier 2:
– 7 x $80.00 (1-month membership) = $560.00
– 2 x $216.00 (3-month membership) = $432.00
Total revenue from Tier 2 = $992.00
Protein Powder:13 x $5.00 (price per unit) = $65.00
Total revenue in the first half of the day:$1,005.00 (Tier 1) + $992.00 (Tier 2) + $65.00 (Protein Powder) = $2,062.00
After seeing out the last customer at 11:00am and locking the front door, Alex headed upstairs to tell his mom about the store’s progress and eat lunch.
Alex’s mom greeted him warmly as he entered the residence above the gym. She had been keeping herself busy in the kitchen and had prepared a healthy salad and a fresh fruit smoothie for him. Alex sat down at the table and began to tell his mom about the morning’s events.
“Mom, it’s been amazing so far. We had a steady stream of customers this morning, and many of them signed up for memberships. The gym floor was packed with people working out, and everyone seemed to love using Richard the AI Fitness Instructor. The protein powder sales were good too.”
His mom beamed with pride at the success of the gym. “That’s wonderful to hear, Alex. I knew you could do it. You’ve put so much hard work and dedication into this business, and it’s really paying off.”
Alex nodded in agreement, “Yes, but there’s still so much to do. I want to keep growing the business and attracting more customers. I’m already thinking about how I can expand the gym, maybe by adding more equipment and even hiring professionals to classes in the future.”
His mom nodded thoughtfully, “That’s a great idea, Alex. But don’t forget to take care of yourself too. You can’t work all day every day without burning out. Make sure you take breaks and take care of your health too.”
Alex smiled, “You’re right, mom. If the sales continue to go well this weekend, I’ll plan to hire at least 1 receptionist for the gym. I want to make sure that I find the right person though so that I don’t have to worry too much when I’m not there.”
They continued to chat over lunch, discussing the future plans for FitTech and catching up on their personal lives. Alex felt grateful to have such a supportive mother, and he knew he couldn’t have started this business without her help and encouragement.
Alex heads into his room and settles down on his bed and pulls up his laptop to check the social media pages for FitTech. He is pleasantly surprised to see several positive reviews and feedback from customers who visited in the morning.
One customer, who goes by the username “FitGuru88,” posted a photo of the gym on Instagram, along with a caption praising the cleanliness of the gym and the quality of the equipment. Several other customers commented on the post, agreeing with FitGuru88’s sentiments and expressing their excitement about the free trial.
On the FitTech Facebook page, another customer left a five-star review, writing, “I had an amazing experience at FitTech this morning. The owner, Alex, was extremely helpful and friendly, and the gym had everything I needed for a great workout. Richard is my new favorite. I will definitely be signing up for a membership.”
Alex smiles as he reads the feedback, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s heartening to see that his hard work and dedication to creating a welcoming and high-quality gym experience is paying off.
He quickly types out a thank you message to the customers who left positive feedback and takes note of any suggestions or criticisms mentioned in the comments to improve the gym’s offerings in the future. He sets the alarm on his phone for 1:30pm and takes a mid-day nap.
Alex wakes up to his ringing alarm feeling refreshed and ready to continue his day at FitTech. He washes up and gets back into his work attire to face the second half of his day.
As he walks back to the gym, he notices that there are more people out and about in the afternoon than there were in the morning. He arrives at the gym and unlocks the doors, turning on the lights and music to prepare for the next wave of customers.
The first few hours seem to fly by quickly, he notices that the atmosphere is different than in the morning. The earlier rush of customers has passed, and now there’s a sense of calm as people work out on the machines, chatting with each other and Richard the AI. Alex takes a moment to observe and appreciate the space he’s created.
As he walks behind the reception desk, a young woman named Sydney approaches him. She has a bubbly personality that shines through as she greets him. “Hi there! I’m Sydney, and I’m interested in trying out the gym,” she says with enthusiasm. Alex notices that she has a warm and welcoming tone of voice that would be perfect for a receptionist.
“Absolutely, Sydney! We’d love to have you try out the gym and see if it’s a good fit for you,” Alex responds, smiling. He guides her to the kiosk to fill out her information and create her trial membership card and shows her around the gym, pointing out the different equipment and amenities.
As they walk, Sydney can’t contain her excitement. “This place is amazing! I love how clean and modern everything is. And that AI fitness instructor Richard is so cool! I’ve never seen anything like it before,” she exclaims. Alex is impressed by her enthusiasm and how well she seems to interact with other people.
As they finish the tour, Alex tells Sydney, “After talking with you for a while I feel you’d be a good fit for our team as a receptionist. If after this weekend you like the atmosphere here you’re welcome to come in for a formal interview on Monday morning. We’re always looking for talented and enthusiastic individuals to join us.”
“Thank you so much! I’m definitely going to give this gym a try and see if it’s a good fit for me. I really appreciate the opportunity,” Sydney replies with gratitude.
Alex nods and smiles, feeling confident that Sydney would be a great addition to the team. He watches as she heads off to try out some of the equipment and continue her workout. As he walks away, he notices that Sydney’s positive energy and enthusiasm have infected him and that would be a great asset to bring to the gym.
Finally 9:00pm comes around in what seems like a flash and Alex escorts the last couple customers to the door and locks up the shop. Finally alone with his thoughts, Alex asks mentally, “Zara, can you compile and itemize our total sales for today?”
[Certainly, Alex. Wait just a moment,] Zara responds.Tier 1:
– 6 x $150.00 (1-month membership) = $900.00
– 1 x $405.00 (3-month membership) = $405.00
Total revenue from Tier 1 = $1,305.00
Tier 2:
– 11 x $80.00 (1-month membership) = $880.00
– 4 x $216.00 (3-month membership) = $864.00
Total revenue from Tier 2 = $1,744.00
Protein Powder:18 x $5.00 (price per unit) = $90.00
Total revenue in the second half of the day:$1,305.00 (Tier 1) + $1,744.00 (Tier 2) + $90.00 (Protein Powder) = $3,139.00
Total revenue for the entire day: $2,062.00 + $3,139.00 = $5,201.00
Personal Funds: $3,900.00 + $520.10 = $4,420.10
Company Funds: $100.00 + $4,680.90 = $4,780.90
Looking at his current funds in his system status, Alex realizes he may have grossly underestimated the earning potential of an upscale fitness center in this prime Santa Monica, beach-front location. Being able to pay off this month’s mortgage after only the first day, Alex realizes he might even have money to spare for other expenses this month.
After his father died and Alex became the man of the house, he had experienced nothing but setbacks and sorrow. Finally at this point, Alex became cautiously optimistic that his life was about to change for the better.
Exhausted from a full and busy day. Alex says goodnight to his mother and heads into his bedroom to get ready to sleep. Taking one final pass on FitTech’s social media accounts and responding to comments where appropriate, Alex closed his eyes and almost instantly fell asleep.
