When Deanna and Jackson Loychuk founded 30 Minute Hit in 2004, they saw the need for a kickboxing gym for women. “Jackson owned a competitive world-class kickboxing and martial arts gym,” said Stacey Firth, vice president of franchise development. By Elice Morgenson
When Deanna and Jackson Loychuk founded 30 Minute Hit in 2004, they saw the need for a kickboxing gym for women. “Jackson owned a competitive world-class kickboxing and martial arts gym,” said Stacey Firth, vice president of franchise development. “The gym was not specifically designed for just men, but it ended up being, like many in the industry, a primarily male membership base. Deanna wanted to get the same workout, learn the same skills but in a space designed for her and her needs. She wanted the workout but wasn’t interested in competing and that type of training environment. They immediately saw the need for a non-intimidating space for women to come in and learn kickboxing.”
30 Minute Hit is a boxing and kickboxing gym designed specifically to create a comfortable and supportive space for women to reach their health and wellness goals. A monthly membership-based system allows members to work out at any of the brand’s 90-plus locations worldwide.
As one of the only boutique-style boxing and kickboxing spaces designed for women, 30 Minute Hit is able to use marketing techniques that target potential clients with ease. “Our concept keeps everything easier on the franchise level. We are able to market directly to reach our clients,” Firth said. “We do not have to cater to a wide audience, and this helps us get our brand message out there to the right consumers. It has also become its own community. Our members are called Hitters, and 30 Minute Hit has become well known as a comfortable place for female empowerment.”
The brand also is known for thinking of every way to elevate the client experience. Each location includes a kids’ area where mothers can view their children safely while getting in a full workout.
“When we design a space, we always keep the kids’ area in mind. It is placed strategically to be viewable from the workout floor. They can still see their kids while working out, but they are far enough away where the children can be in their happy place for 30 minutes. We call the kids that come in our Little Hitters; they cheer their mom on, and when Mom finishes, she comes and stretches, and they often come to stretch beside her,” Firth said.
30 Minute Hit serves a wide range of clients, and its in-person circuit-based workouts promote physical and mental strength. Firth noted that many members have felt reduced anxiety and depression and have had a greater sense of self-confidence. “One member joined the Hit a week after she retired. She started coming every day, and after six months, she was down 65 pounds and had so much more confidence. Soon, her three daughters joined as well, and they expressed to me that the gym had transformed their mom. Her job had made her miserable, and the Hit made her happy. Working out together at the HIT ended up bringing them all closer together as a family.”
The brand has built a business model that simplifies everything for the franchisee. The building footprint needs to be only 1,500 square feet and focuses on accessibility rather than visibility, keeping real estate costs down. The equipment package is custom-made to be cost-effective at $15,000, and it is designed for longevity and easy maintenance, with no ongoing equipment lease or rental fees. A small staff is all that is required to keep the gym running, which lets a business owner focus on building a team that is competent and ready to focus on the unique needs of each member.
Elice Morgenson