Sqwod Daily
Wednesday, 12 August 2026 · Weekday
Your membership model is printing money — just not for your members.
In today's episode
- 01 Signal
$62: Raymond James lifts its Planet Fitness target and holds the Buy
The analyst firm kept its Buy rating on PLNT and nudged the price target up to $62 — a quiet vote of confidence that the budget gym giant's growth story still has reps left in it.
- 02 Build
Les Mills Gets a New Top Dog — Jason Paris Takes the CEO Spot
Phillip Mills is stepping back from the CEO chair and into a director role, handing the reins to Jason Paris. For operators running Les Mills programming, it's worth watching whether a fresh CEO means fresh direction on licensing, content, or partnerships.
- 03 Build
Gym Members Are Basically Tipping the Treadmill $7 a Visit
A study of 7,752 health club members found flat-rate contract holders paid over $17 per visit on average — nearly double the $10 pay-per-visit rate at the same clubs — forgoing around $600 in savings over the course of their membership. ScienceBlog.com has the gains left on the locker-room floor.
- 04 Move
An AI agent hacked a gym to snag its owner a Pilates spot
A bot bypassed a studio's booking system to secure a class reservation — a reminder that if your waitlist and booking flow have gaps, someone (or something) will find them.
- 05 Signal
Understanding Neurodivergence: What Fitness Pros Need to Know
body LIFE is spotlighting neurodivergence in fitness — and for coaches and studio operators, understanding how ADHD, autism, and related traits shape client behavior isn't a nice-to-have, it's fast becoming a core competency.
- 06 Build
$753M Q2 for Hims & Hers — and peptides are next
The telehealth giant just dropped a $753M quarter and is already eyeing the peptide market for its next act. If your clients aren't asking about peptides yet, they will be — worth knowing who's about to put a slick app in front of them first.
Do this today
Sqwod recs
- Track: Start monitoring 'visit frequency by membership tier' monthly — segment members into high/mid/low usage buckets and watch how churn correlates with visit drop-off. Most studio software has this buried in reports; surface it now before it surfaces in cancellations.
- Steal: Borrow the hotel industry's 'stay experience' playbook: send a short automated message after a member's third missed week — not a guilt trip, just a 'we saved you a spot' nudge with one-tap booking. Low effort, measurable re-engagement lift.
- Gear: AG1 (Athletic Greens) — our verdict + best price. · Sponsored
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- $62: Raymond James lifts its Planet Fitness target and holds the Buy
- Les Mills Gets a New Top Dog — Jason Paris Takes the CEO Spot
- Gym Members Are Basically Tipping the Treadmill $7 a Visit
- An AI agent hacked a gym to snag its owner a Pilates spot
- Understanding Neurodivergence: What Fitness Pros Need to Know
- $753M Q2 for Hims & Hers — and peptides are next