From Demo to Done:
How to Direct a Smooth Remodel or Re-equip
2025 Issue 3 | GearedUp
28
With so many competitors entering the fitness industry, it is important for gyms to remain ahead of the curve, including staying in the best condition and having great service. At Planet Fitness ®, remodels and re-equips are critical investments that help refresh clubs to address competition, maintain brand standards and continue to meet the needs of members.
During both re-equips and remodels, there are many moving pieces that need to be considered through thoughtful planning and clear communication. This article uncovers key strategies to ensure a smooth remodel and re-equip process to keep members coming back.
Planning Ahead
The biggest part of any remodel or re-equip is planning ahead. Planning and thinking proactively can help the process run more smoothly, according to several PF ® franchisees.
“ Planning is crucial for an extraction. Having the right serial numbers filled out on the extraction form is the first step in this process. With re-equips evolving over the last few years, there are items that might be staying or leaving early, and it is important to clarify which equipment is going where,” said Vice President of Global Operations at Taymax Anthony Cera.
Planning also helps keep everyone organized throughout the process. At Midwest Fitness Partners, COO Mike Hamilton shared that the extraction company is provided with a complete list of equipment to be removed, and any equipment that is meant to stay is clearly marked.
For the extraction process, he also added,“ Schedules and confirmation times are finalized months in advance. The process is overseen by our vice president of operations, with support from multiple team members on-site, including the club general manager, regional leaders, COO and VP of operations, to ensure everything runs efficiently.”
Good planning also helps meet timelines. The longer a re-equip or remodel takes, the higher chance a member may get impatient and cancel their membership to go to a competitor.
Cera explained that Taymax tries to complete the extraction process without delay.“ Our goal is to have the extraction crew out of the building as quickly as possible. We do this so we can re-open the club to where it looks brand new to our members. The sooner they extract the equipment, the earlier we can begin deep cleaning. We bring additional equipment dollies and have the equipment moved out typically within two hours or less,” he said.
Communication with the extraction lead is also important, according to Cera. He said it is vital that the lead knows where by Julia Sanders the trucks need to be, where to stage equipment to be loaded and what order the equipment needs to leave the club. Working together with all the teams is recommended.
“ Taking partnership early on with both extraction and installation vendors is key for a successful project. The more you help them, the more they will help you to leave you with a perfect setup,” said Cera.
giving members notice
While a member is likely to be excited about the new equipment and club renovations, they will still likely want to be informed of the upcoming changes. Reid Wolfe, regional manager at Anchor Management Group, which has four clubs in North Carolina, deploys best practices for communicating with members and completing the extraction process.
“ We alert members of the potential disruption a few weeks ahead of time, which also gets them excited about the new equipment. Marking the machines out of order the morning of ensures that we do not have to ask members to stop their workout once the extraction team is ready to start moving. We touch base with the extraction the week of to confirm everything is on schedule. If a portion of the equipment is being donated, we set those machines aside before extraction to prevent confusion about what is being taken,” said Wolfe.
Eclipse Fitness Group believes the best strategy for communicating with members is“ the sooner the better.”“ We like to give our members as much notice as possible – notices on the website, mobile app, and adding signage to the club with dates or any updates has led to less confusion and frustration among members,”