Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when gyms nationwide were forced to close, the fitness industry faced significant challenges. Ismail partnered with Fittever, an agency specialising in building fitness platforms, to help gyms and personal trainers transition to digital platforms. These platforms provided on-demand courses, personalised programs, and live sessions, allowing gyms to continue serving their clients.

Projects spanned a variety of fitness disciplines, from Pilates and MMA to skiing and mental health, and included collaborations with well-known gyms like Easy Gym, Manor London, and Fight City Gym.

Challenges

The pandemic presented a unique set of challenges for gyms and fitness businesses:

1. Urgent Need for Digital Transition:
   With physical locations closed, gyms needed a fast and scalable solution to retain clients and generate revenue.
   
   

2. Customisation for Varied Brands:
   Each gym had a distinct identity, requiring a platform that could cater to their unique styles and audiences while maintaining efficiency.
   
   

3. Comprehensive User Features:
   Users demanded robust functionality, including progress tracking, community interaction, and flexible pricing plans, all while ensuring the platforms were engaging and user-friendly.

Solution

Ismail designed modular components that could be replicated across different projects but customised to align with each client’s style guide or pre-existing design system. This approach ensured consistency in quality while speeding up delivery.

Key Features Built

1. User Dashboards: Designed intuitive dashboards for users to track their fitness progress, including workout completions, course milestones, and personal goals.
   
   

2. Diet Plans: Integrated customisable dieting plans for select platforms, offering tailored meal recommendations for users based on their goals.
   
   

3. Community Sections: Added forums and chat functionalities to foster a sense of community, encouraging user engagement and retention.
   
   

4. Calendars and Timetables: Built scheduling tools that displayed live session calendars, allowing users to book classes easily.
   
   

5. Sign-In/On Systems: Simplified onboarding with Google, Apple, and email sign-ins, making registration frictionless.
   
   

6. Flexible Pricing Plans: Integrated tiered pricing models, supporting monthly subscriptions, one-off purchases, and pay-per-session options to meet diverse user needs.
   
   

   Impact

   
   

   The platforms were instrumental in helping fitness businesses survive and thrive during the pandemic. Key outcomes included:

   
   

   • The platforms collectively generated over $3.5M in revenue across all clients during the first year.

   
   

   • Monthly subscriptions grew by an average of 45%, with 80% of users renewing after their initial period.

   • Platforms saw over 50,000 sign-ups within the first six months.

   
   

   • Dashboards and community features drove user retention, with 65% of users interacting with the platform weekly.

   
   

   • The reusable component strategy reduced development time by 30%, allowing Fittever to deliver solutions quickly and cost-effectively.

   
   

   • Customisable designs ensured that each platform reflected its gym’s unique identity, reinforcing client loyalty and trust.