For Bianca and Matthew McAuliffe, owners of UBX Training in Hoppers Crossing, success at the 2022 Wyndham Business Awards came at just the right time.
“We were originally 12 Round Fitness, but we did a rebrand in May and it helped us get our name out there, the awareness of it,” said Bianca of the change, which as franchisees, they had no say in.
Fortunately their reputation in Wyndham already transcended any brand name, something Bianca said was the most gratifying part of winning the art and recreation category last year.
“You want people who live locally to come to your business so that and the fact that it’s recognised in the local community is great for growth” she said.
As a trained accountant, the business side is Bianca’s responsibility, leaving training to husband Matthew, whose boxing background was what got them into the fitness industry to start with.
“My husband Matthew was in construction for 25 years and he and a friend had been training together and had just finished a 12 week challenge and they were looking for something else to continue their training,” Bianca said of the process that led to them opening their franchise in 2019.
Since then the boxing based gym, which offers 12 round circuits of 3 minute exercises, has grown to 250 members across sites in Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook.
It’s growth that’s made all the more impressive given the impact of COVID-19 which wiped out many other gyms and franchises.
Bianca credits customer service with helping them survive the pandemic and thrive afterwards.
“We really care about our members, we want to know what they’re goals are.
“We’ve been told that we exceed customer expectations so we must be doing something right.”
The post-lockdown period led to a boom in the fitness industry as people flocked back to gyms, and while UBX Training benefited from this, Bianca said the cost of living crisis has presented another challenge.
“Unfortunately people see their gym membership as a luxury not a necessity for their health, it’s very volatile,” she said.
While pointing out that numbers at UBX Training remained strong, Bianca said another win at this year’s Wyndham Business Awards wouldn’t go astray.
“If that popped up again that would be awesome.”
Entries for the 2023 Wyndham Business Awards close on June 13 and can be made at: https://shorturl.at/mCDJT
