Hypothesis
Community retains better than discounts
According to Dr. Melvyn Hillsdon's research, members who make friends at the gym are 40% less likely to cancel. Long-term members say they keep coming as much for the people as for the workouts.
The community effect is one of the strongest retention levers. At first glance it doesn't sound like a mobile app feature. We looked again.
Goals
Three segments — one effect
- Pull solo trainers into classesSpark interest in group sessions.
- Tools for social connectionIndependent of group sessions and events.
- Amplify group classesMake them an extension of club life, not one-off sessions.
Solution
A club social network right in the app
Every member has their own page with photo, status and upcoming sessions. The profile can be hidden. Members can DM, wave, friend and invite to workouts.
To keep connections organic we added who's coming to the class and who's in the club right now — formerly just a count, now actual profiles.
Effect
What clubs running Sportiqa now have
- Member profilesStatus, photo, upcoming sessions.
- Member-to-member DMsIn the same app as the schedule.
- Workout invitesFriends get a notification.
- WavesAn easy way to say hi.
- Who else is comingTo a class — with a profile link.
- Who's in the club nowNot a count — a list of profiles.
Already running at boutique studios and city networks across Europe. Numbers are still under NDA, but the pattern is clear: the feature builds community and lifts retention.
How to launch
Three steps to a social network in your club
- 1. Reach outDrop us a line via the form.
- 2. We deploy the appThe next-gen build for members and trainers.
- 3. We flip on the social featuresAnd help you roll them out to members.