A health and fitness chain is set to expand to Queensland by opening a gym on the Sunshine Coast.
QuickFit Health Clubs, which has 16 outlets in Victoria and one in Tasmania, is expected to operate at Nambour from late July.
Company founder Linda Allen, a former Commonwealth Games triple jumper, said she was eagerly anticipating it.
“Absolutely, especially because it’s our first Queensland one,” she said.
“I’ve been looking for a Queensland site and one has popped up that is just right, so it’s a big moment for the company.”
Ms Allen said QuickFit and Nambour were the ideal match.
“The demographics of the area are a big reason for opening there,” she said.
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“It’s got the same type of demographic at most of our other locations.
“Our demographic is not hardcore gym users. It’s more family, everyday people who want to go to a nice gym and they shouldn’t need to go into the city for it.
“All of our gyms, bar one, are in regional areas.”
The gym is being prepared at Nambour Mill Village, near one of the largest Coles supermarkets on the Sunshine Coast.
“(Being at) a shopping centre has worked for us before. It’s a proven model,” she said.
Ms Allen said the gym would boast world-class equipment from Italy.
“It (the gym) is likely to open in late July but it depends on when the equipment lands,” she said.
“We’ll probably have a soft opening in June and then a grand opening in July.”
She said there would be cardio machines, plate-loaded lifting areas, Pilates reformers and more.
“QuikFit is not a group class-based business,” she said.
“We fit our gyms out with the best equipment from Technogym, which are sponsors for the Paris Olympics. Their equipment will be in the Olympic athletes’ village. They are also in hotels around the world.”
She said the Nambour gym would be packed with equipment, as she wanted to make the most of every square metre of flooring.
“It will be one of the biggest gyms we have,” she said.
“Most of them are about 200sqm but the Nambour one is 400sqm.
“We should have many pieces of equipment that are going to be essential to everyone’s workouts.
“The fit-out is important to us, and making sure that we have an aesthetic gym with the best staff, so people in regional areas can have a great gym that they don’t have to drive a long way for.
“We’re doing interviews with local personal trainers. A lot of them hope to work there.”
There will be 24-hour access for members.
“There will be a no lock-in contract option and a one-year option as well. Plus, we’ve got foundation rates for the first 100 members.”
Ms Allen grew up in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne to further her athletics dream.
She represented Australia at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 before progressing the gym chain during the past 13 years.
“It hasn’t been a fast-growing company. It’s been slow and steady,” she said.
“But I really make sure each gym is successful. I like being hands-on and being a part of the fit-outs, and I like listening to members’ stories. I visit all of the gyms in Victoria so I can hear what members want directly.
“They don’t have to go through layers (of staff) and a boardroom: we can make adjustments quickly.”
QuickFit is set to keep expanding, with new gyms poised to open in Victoria and Tasmania.
There’s some potential it could grow in Queensland.
“But to become a big brand is not our goal,” Ms Allen said.
“We don’t want to be perceived as a cookie-cutter gym. We’re more of a specialty brand that’s customised to an area.”
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