Stay Informed: The Best Publications and Podcasts for the Sports, Fitness and Gym Industry

Franchising is a great way to start a business with the support of experts. But if you’re looking for extra insight and advice on operating in the fitness industry, there are numerous podcasts and publications out there to boost your knowledge. We take a look at some of the best ones.

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In the UK, fitness facilities see a combined annual revenue of £2 billion. This is a lucrative sector, and is set to rise in profitability as the trend for healthy living becomes more widespread. Currently, 17 percent of adults are gym members and almost 10 percent use wearable fitness devices so, while the market is thriving, there’s still plenty of room for new businesses.

It’s a great time to get involved in the sports and fitness industry, but the more knowledge and expertise you have, the better. These days, there are countless resources for those looking to gain extra insight. Let’s look at some of the best regular podcasts and publications you can use to keep your knowledge up to date.

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Podcasts to listen to

1. The Fitness Business

Offering a comprehensive analysis of the sector, The Fitness Business Podcast invites industry experts, business owners, coaches and authors from across the globe to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Since the podcast’s launch in 2015, it has focused on a specific topic each week and ended by recommending three clear actions for listeners to take.

2. The Fitness Entrepreneur

This podcast, hosted by fitness business coach Phil Graham, covers a broad range of subjects, from sales growth and personal productivity to marketing and team building. There are also regular interviews with the industry’s most inspiring businesspeople.

3. The Fitness Founders

This is a peek into the lives of some of the most influential industry leaders. They tell the story of the challenges they faced on the way to success and how they overcame them to get to where they are today. It’s a revealing look behind the curtain of highly successful fitness businesses.

4. 20 Minute Fitness

This podcast is ideal for those who feel they don’t have enough spare time to keep up to date with industry news. In just 20 minutes, you can find out about the latest developments in the sector, and gain extra insight into exercise and nutrition.

5. Ben Greenfield Fitness

If it’s an expert’s opinion you’re after, try this podcast. Ben Greenfield is a triathlete, ‘Ironman’ and nutritionist with two master’s degrees in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology. He gives a rundown of the most recent research, explaining complicated subjects in simple language. Previous topics have included endurance building, running on hangovers and carb dependency.

6. Dishing Up Nutrition

Maintaining fitness is as much about eating a healthy diet as it is about working out. Dishing Up Nutrition brings in licensed nutritionists and dieticians from Nutritional Weight & Wellness, who help bridge the gap between eating and wellbeing. In this podcast, you’ll discover healthy living solutions and learn how to help your customers (or future customers) make the best choices when it comes to optimising their fitness.

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Magazines to read

1. Sports Management

Sports Management is one of the most popular magazines among professionals in the fitness industry. It’s read by major operators, manufacturers, suppliers and policymakers, as well as investors and franchisees. You’ll also find it being circulated at many of the sports industry’s biggest events. It’s published four times a year, and you can catch up with all the interesting news and research on the Sports Management website if you’d rather read the magazine online.

2. Health Club Management

Aimed at those holding senior positions in the sports industry, Health Club Management (HCM) magazine covers in-depth news, research and analysis from across the sector. Like Sports Management magazine, it’s read by large companies, manufacturers, suppliers and investors and supplied at some of the industry’s leading events. New HCM issues are sent out 11 times a year, but it can also be read online.

3. Gym Owner Monthly

This publication was launched just three years ago but it’s already become the UK’s top digital magazine. As the name suggests, it’s written with gym owners in mind, but other professionals working in the sports and fitness industry may also be interested in reading it. Gym Owner Monthly offers information on recent trends and doesn’t shy away from controversial topics. It also celebrates a different gym owner and PT every month.

4. National Fitness Trade Journal

If you own a fitness centre of some sort, this magazine is for you. It throws light on all the latest cutting-edge technology, equipment and resources emerging in the industry, so you’re always armed with knowledge of how to improve your fitness centre. The National Fitness Trade Journal was first dreamed up in 1982, when Wally Boyko noticed a lack of quality publications for fitness facility owners and decided to launch his own. There are five editions a year, which you can read online.

Boost your knowledge with a fitness industry publication or podcast

We’ve just touched upon a few of the resources available for professionals, business owners and investors in the sports and fitness industry, but there are many more out there. Conferences and workshop events can also be helpful if you want to share ideas and learn more about running a business. But many people seek out magazines and podcasts because you can take on their information as you go about your daily life.

As a nation, we’re leading increasingly busy lives, zipping from work to the gym, before rushing home to cook up a healthy meal and then crashing into bed. But there’s usually time to catch up on the latest industry news. Turn on a podcast as you work out or flip through a magazine as you travel on the bus or train.

If you want to learn even more about starting a business as a franchisee, you’ll find lots of information right here. Point Franchise has a whole catalogue of useful articles to help guide you through the business set-up process and maintain profitability. Just click here to browse them. You can also check out our 'Top 10 Sports, Fitness, and Gym Franchises in the UK' article here.