Complimentary consultation is part of membership at Anytime Fitness in Brighton
By Bonnie Gretzner
David Pacheco
Anytime Fitness in Brighton is a gym where members get more than just a workout – they receive one-on-one guidance. Manager David Pacheco, who took over the Brighton facility on Dec. 3, also manages additional Anytime Fitness locations, including one in South Lyon where he worked as a personal trainer. He believes those complimentary consultations are critical for members’ success. “I make sure we help people as much as we can,” says David, who is certified through the International Sports Sciences Association. “It’s not okay to give someone a membership and leave them on their own to wonder, ‘Now what do I do? How much weight should I lift? Should I use the bike?’ I make sure everyone who walks through my door gets the help they need.”
The gym, one of more than 1,600 Anytime Fitness franchises worldwide, includes cardio equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines, strength equipment and free weights. Many of the cardio machines come with a TV, so members can watch their own programs rather than share a big-screen. Members have 24-hour access via a key card, and the facility also provides showers and tanning. They also have access to all Anytime Fitness facilities. “The 24-hour access is more of a convenience for members,” says David. “In a smaller setting like this, it feels cozy. It almost feels like you’re working out with friends, rather than alone in a big warehouse.”
In addition to the workout consultation, members also receive guidance in nutrition and can opt for personal training services or group fitness. David also works with several local businesses, such as chiropractors and dietitians, to provide members access to total-body wellness. “We are really happy with how things are going so far,” he says, “and people are complimenting us on our services.” He prides himself on the clean, well-lit facility, and if equipment does break down, he says he’ll have it working again within five days or less.
David says he can relate to members who are at a loss on how to begin a fitness regimen – he was once in their shoes. At age 19 he learned he had hypoglycemia symptoms and had two choices: take medication or change his lifestyle. He opted for the latter and began working out and improving his diet. “But I got to a point where I was working out six days a week, had lost 20 pounds, and still didn’t look the way I wanted,” he says. That led to him hiring his own personal trainer and eventually obtaining his certification.
In 2004, he split his time between working as a chef and gaining experience in other gyms. That gave him valuable business knowledge, he says. In late 2008, while working as a personal trainer at the South Lyon location, he opted to pursue a fitness career full time. “This is exactly where I want to be,” he says. “It’s a family-oriented business. Many of our members are middle-aged women who don’t have a lot of time for themselves. I show them how they can get a good workout without spending a lot of time in the gym.”
Now that David oversees multiple locations, he only trains a very few clients having special needs caused by injuries or normal age wear and tear. For now, his main focus is on building the Brighton business. “I check out my trainers in the other gyms and see how they are doing. This industry is in an evolution; it’s good to know what’s out there.” Those who want to check out the club first before joining can obtain a seven-day pass allowing them full access to the club. There is no obligation to join after the pass expires.
Belonging to a franchise helps with name recognition, David says, and franchise representatives occasionally visit the club. They evaluate everything from staff performance to checking if there is paint chipping on the wall. “That helps us stay on top of things,” he says. The corporate offices also provide assistance with marketing and keep franchisees updated via email messages and the website, says David. Available to him are research reports, medical reports and other educational tidbits he can pass along to his members. “I get a lot of information from there that I include in the email newsletter I send to members,” he says. “Of course, I retype it and simplify it, so it’s not filled with medical and science terminology. Not too many people can understand that. I know when I first started, I wanted that guidance. Now, I pass that on to my members.”
If you have found this story interesting, informative or inspiring, please let David know! You can contact him at 810-227-3300; visit Anytime Fitness at 8675 West Grand River Ave., Brighton, Mich.; email him at dave@southlyontrainer.com; or visit the website at www.anytimefitness.com.
