Gyms, fitness centers are mushrooming

HK-originated Pure Group eyes mainland market amid ongoing consumer shift toward health

As small fitness studios and independent instructors mushroom in big cities, Hong Kong-originated premium gym chain Pure Group has opened its first outlet in Shanghai, which is believed to be one of the biggest and most expensive in town, if not the country.

Covering 3,010 square meters on the top two floors of luxury shopping mall IAPM, where fashion brands such as Prada and Gucci cluster downstairs, the new Pure Fitness gym includes a spinning classroom with a $5 million screen offering a 270-degree perspective that immerses cyclists in virtual scenes such as glaciers and race tracks.

"Being large doesn't mean the sacrifice of privacy or intimacy. We think that our customers over the long term want more than just one program," said Colin Grant, co-founder and CEO of Pure Group, in Shanghai before the store opened in April.

"I have lived in Hong Kong for nearly 40 years, and always looked at the mainland for the right timing," Grant said.

"Now there is almost a global trend toward not only exercising, but also having a healthy lifestyle. China is no exception, if not a leading player. So now is the right time," said Grant, a tennis fan who established the company in 2002.

Dubbed "the gym of choice for Hong Kong's financial elite", the Shanghai outlet's annual membership fees start at 13,000 yuan ($2,034), excluding any private one-on-one sessions.

Customers can also pay a day rate of 300 yuan to use all of its facilities.

In contrast, emerging small fitness workshops, usually about 100 to 300 square meters in size, charge a minimum of 68 yuan for a one-hour session in activities such as belly dancing and Thai boxing.

In Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang province, a startup gym chain, LeFit, has man-aged to lower its membership fees to 99 yuan a month by eliminating facilities such as shower rooms. Founded in late 2016, the chain has grown its presence in more than 60 cities and had opened 200 outlets by the end of last year.

These new studios, which make up less than 10 percent of China's more than 20,000 gyms, are believed to be attracting a substantial number of new gym-goers because of the affordable prices. There was also explosive growth in 2017 of traditional large footprint clubs measuring 2,000 square meters and above, such as Will's and Luck Bird, which saw revenue up by 50 to 80 percent year-on-year, according to Kelvin Goh, CEO of Shanghai-based AsianFit Consulting.

"This kind of all-in-one-stop model has been working globally for decades. We have 16 years of experience in the field, while the small independent ones are just popping up," said Grant, talking about competition with emerging small-scale studios.

Founded in Hong Kong, Pure Group has been operating Pure Yoga and Pure Fitness in Singapore, New York and Taipei. It boasts 80,000 members who are supported by more than 1,400 staff. All of its instructors work exclusively with the company, which is seen as a big advantage over other gym operators as it promises more consistent services to customers.

In October, the group, whose current investors include buyout firm Leonard Green & Partners and businessman Bruce Rockowitz, was said to be seeking a sale that could see the firm valued at $500 million, according to Bloomberg.

Talking about expansion on the mainland, Grant refused to give the number of upcoming new shops, but noted that "Shanghai is much bigger and sure to have the potential to have more outlets than Hong Kong", which now has 22 outlets including yoga and fitness centers. The team is also looking for opportunities in other cities such as Beijing.

Gyms and fitness centers started to gain popularity in China around 2003 after the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, after which many people became aware that working out is an essential method to improve one's health. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games became another incentive attracting young people to an athletic lifestyle.

According to Ali Sports, a new venture established in 2015 under e-commerce giant Alibaba, China's sports industry consolidated a revenue of 150 billion yuan in 2017. Gyms and fitness centers make the largest contribution at 40 percent, followed by equipment, attire and sports nutrition products.

"More and more people have realized that life is about being happy and healthy, which inspires them to spend more money on leading a healthier life rather than buying an expensive handbag or things like that," said Grant. "There has been a shift among consumers. It's less about things. The new phrase is health is your wealth."

He predicted that the Shanghai flagship gym would have 1,000 members within one or two years after opening.

"I want us to be the gold standard of the industry. If they think of fitness, they think about Pure. I don't want us to be the biggest, but the best in helping people lead a healthier and happier life," Grant said.