Thessaloniki: A precise shot for the gyms
Coronavirus, restrictive measures and precision prevent even the sworn… fans of gyms – Padlocks and staff reduction
Padlocks, shrinking number of stores when it comes to chainsSearching for new countries with lower rents and offers is their new reality gyms of Thessaloniki.
The coronavirus, the restrictive measures and now the accuracy dropped an explosive cocktail that discourages even the previously sworn… fans of the gyms.
Now, as he explains to Voria.grThe Secretary of the Association of Gym Owners of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Koparanidis accuracy is what mainly prevents gym clients from continuing when their subscription tells them. The coronavirus and the anxiety that still exists, seem to be secondary, but without being negligible.
“Everyone is talking about rising energy prices and a range of products. Everyone is whining. “Despite the offers we make on our subscriptions, customers do not seem to be tempted,” says Mr. Koparanidis.
Typical is the case of the gym, where the monthly subscription is at 40 euros, however if one chooses a five-month package the total price drops to 80 (!). Nevertheless, many Thessalonians, in their attempt to reduce their expenses in order to cope with the ever-increasing prices, even for the essentials, take a break in their training, baptizing it as an unnecessary “luxury”.
As Mr. Koparanidis typically says, while in October last year and November the gyms had started to find their pace today after their average turnover is at 40% compared to 2019. Some gyms work with ⅓ of their clientele with what that means for the survival of the industry.
The result of this deplorable situation is that some fitness chains reduce the number of their stores, closing those that do not bring them substantial income, small gyms put a padlock, without, however, specifying the number of those who rolled down, while some are looking for . new spaces with lower rents.
However, the relocation process means that the entrepreneur will have to issue a new license for the gym, resulting in a delay, operating for two – three months, in a new location but without the license.
There are also cases of gyms that are sold year round and companies that keep the gym alone by firing any staff they had.
The beach was filled with “portable gyms”
At the same time, personal trainers are becoming more and more popular, turning parks or the beach of Thessaloniki into portable gyms, while there are many who want to work out more safely; they continue to attend online gyms. In the case of the personal trainer the cost ranges from 10 to 15 euros per hour, while the online courses from 2 to 4 euros.
However, there is no shortage of tricks as some in their desire to exercise in the physical space of the gym bypass their husbands or wives who try to warn them – who talk about the danger of coronavirus and the possibility of getting stuck indoors – saying the lies that they go for coffee or shopping.
While others, in order to feel safer, bring the gym mattress from their home.