Network Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 3

Exclusive! Your next clients are waiting to be included We all like to be sold exclusivity, don’t we? Makes us feel special to think we’re getting something that the masses aren’t. Indeed, the facility you work at or operate might trade a little on this premise. But what about inclusivity? A perennial problem for the fitness industry is its inability to reach 80% of the population – the people that need our services the most. For some, the reason they stay away is the perception of exclusivity, of not feeling comfortable entering venues they believe to be populated only by ‘the beautiful people’. Perhaps our own advertising and marketing imagery could have something to answer to here: what we consider aspirational, others may deem intimidating. Imagine, if you can, being in the shoes of Dean Clifford, the author of our feature on page 28. A lifelong sufferer of the rare genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa, his skin is so fragile that, heartbreakingly, he couldn’t even be held by his parents as a child. The gym environment seems the antithesis of where you might expect to find Dean, yet 12 years ago he began his unlikely powerlifting journey. How comfortable would he have felt training in your facility? On page 40, Amy Webster shares her insights into making fitness more accessible to people on the autism spectrum, who, research shows, are less likely than others to participate in sport or physical activity due, in part, to sensory challenges and heightened anxiety in social situations. How ready is your club to welcome this demographic? In her article on page 60, Fiona Compston shares her experience of putting on a business-boosting community event that brought new people into the facility by providing them with no-strings-attached, life- enhancing tools and expertise. The lifeblood of every trainer and facility is our local community, which encompasses all human life. Pursuing exclusivity may work for some, but for others could alienate potential new clients and members. From both a human and a business perspective, inclusivity makes sense. How inclusive are you? Oliver Kitchingman, Editor [email protected] AUSTRALIAN FITNESS NETWORK NETWORK’S CORE PURPOSE ‘To inform, inspire and educate our members to be the best they can be’ Post: Ground Floor, 40 Oxley St, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Ph: 1300 493 832 (local call rate) Ph:     02 8412 7400 fb.me/ozfitnetwork twitter.com/ozfitnetwork ozfitnetwork Web:     fitnessnetwork.com.au E-mail: [email protected] NETWORK MAGAZINE Editor, Oliver Kitchingman 1 PDPs Network magazine is the official quarterly publication of Australian Fitness Network. It is distributed in March, June, September and December. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, Australian Fitness Network accepts no responsibility for the correctness of any facts or opinions. All information including prices (quoted in AUD) is correct at time of publishing, but may be subject to change. Where CECs are stated, they may only be applicable within Australia. We welcome articles from all industry professionals on the understanding that the author ensures the work they submit is their own. No material in Network magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. © 2018 All material copyright to Australian Fitness Network. All rights reserved. ADVERTISING For information on advertising in Network magazine, direct email marketing, or through Network’s social media and other online options, please email [email protected], call 02 8412 7486 or click HERE. COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS Unless otherwise specified, all competitions/giveaways contained in this issue commence on 18 September 2018 and conclude on 29 October 2018. Each competition is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be selected by the editor and will be notified by email no later than 9 November 2018. Click HERE for full Terms and Cond itions. Your Network Membership provides you with access to 8 CECs or 1 PDP annually at no extra cost. THE NETWORK TEAM We love hearing from our Members. Get in touch using the details below. Network Leader: Katrina Cochrane [email protected], 02 8412 7411 Editor: Oliver Kitchingman [email protected], 02 8412 7486 Graphic Designer: Jack Lee, Novu Creative, [email protected], 0466 426 649 Membership Consultant: Paige Nossiter [email protected], 02 8412 7402 Accounts: Accounts Team [email protected] Special Projects: Ryan Hogan [email protected] Learning & Development Coordinator: Bel Fong [email protected], 02 8412 7418 NETWORK SPRING 2018 | 3