Sqwod Daily
Wednesday, 30 September 2026 · Weekday
Most gyms added members this year. If yours didn't, the market isn't the excuse anymore.
In today's episode
- 01 Signal
7 New Sites, £18.7m: This Gym Brand Is Playing the Long Game
A gym operator just closed an £18.7m funding round with a seven-site expansion on the drawing board. If you're an operator wondering what 'go big or go home' looks like on a balance sheet — here it is.
- 02 Build
Gym Operator Flexes With £18.7m Deal to Open Seven New Sites
A gym operator has secured £18.7m in funding to fuel a seven-site expansion, per TheBusinessDesk.com. Someone's clearly not skipping leg day — or growth day.
- 03 Signal
The Next Wellness Boom? It's Coming From Asia
The Global Wellness Institute is pointing to surging middle and upper classes in non-Western markets — especially Asia — as the industry's next major growth engine. If your business model still has only one hemisphere in mind, it might be time to stretch your thinking.
- 04 Gear
Oura's $2.2B IPO is on ice — market jitters hit pause
The smart ring maker has shelved its $2.2 billion US listing as market conditions turn shaky. For fitness operators eyeing wearable partnerships or tech integrations, Oura stays private for now — meaning its next chapter is still being written behind closed doors.
- 05 Build
Workplace Wellness Is Open for Business — Yours
Well Nation says corporate wellness programs are handing fitness operators a fresh revenue lane. If your clients clock 40 hours a week at a desk, their employer might just be your next one.
Do this today
Sqwod recs
- Track: Monitor your Net Promoter Score monthly, not annually — ask one question post-class: 'How likely are you to recommend us?' Trends move faster than you think.
- Steal: Build a corporate wellness one-pager: one paragraph on ROI for HR managers, your class schedule, and a group-rate anchor price. Keep it ready to send in under 60 seconds.
- Try: Run a 'silent audit' — mystery-shop your own front desk or booking flow as a new member would. The friction you find in 10 minutes is what's costing you conversions every day.
- Gear: AG1 (Athletic Greens) — our verdict + best price. · Sponsored
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