I'm pretty sure the lot of us have seen warehouse gyms like those seen in the US (along the lines of metroflex).

What do you think of the idea of having one of those gyms set in Malaysia? The warehouse is not going to be in a housing area of course, but near to one.
Lots of space for lots of hardcore heavy weights action. It's a very nice idea, but at the end of the day. It is a business.

And businesses thrive on being in the right location. The thing about warehouse gyms is that we can't have one right smack middle of town. The closest one can have is to be next to a housing area. What you guys think? Would that be a big hindrance and be the big factor ? Or would it be a factor but not decisive enough to destroy the business?

For those that watch a lot of youtube. I'm talking about something along the lines of Brandon Campbell's gym. Where he squats from a half rack and deads on a platform with bumper plates.

You mean those gyms like Elliot Hulse trains in?

Yes. Basically, lots of power racks, deadlift platforms. Lots of weights plates and dumb bells. Plate loaded machines. All within a warehouse, a small factory if you will

sounds interesting...

I think its a great idea since we can't find any warehouse gyms in Malaysia. I am keen to join those too, just couldn't find any in KL and didn't know they were called warehouse gyms. I think a normal shop lot would suffice right?

We did a feasibility study for this and here were the challenges;

1. Malaysians, are attracted to hit the gym for very very social reasons. We're a highly social culture and the density of our population makes it quite interesting when it comes to choosing for locations. Unlike in different countries, you can run one in a real industrial area and people will search for you.

But in Malaysia, unless your online marketing is solid beforehand, you'll have a hard time persuading a Malaysian to go into some jinjang industrial area. Especially women, as our study out of a sample size of 300 women from ages 18-55, about 80% were unwilling to go into hard to find areas. They mostly attributed this to the safety factor and this perception that many women have of industrial areas is mechanics, welders and foreign workers.

This itself, was the reason I moved my business outside of Malaysia.

Then there's challenge number 2.

The operational costs of such gyms, is actually quite bloody high. Rental alone will set you back around RM10,000/month. Utilities, albeit no air-conditioner except in the office is still roughly about RM3000/month. Then due to the size you'll have to handle, the costs to build is roughly RM250,000. We're talking about a 10,000 square feet warehouse. This is in areas like Jelutong. IF you're looking into Subang, Damansara, area where density is higher, you're looking into I think RM3-4/sqft.

We aimed to bring in about RM25,000/month so at RM150/month, we needed about 167 members. Any extras would be from merchandise and drinks and PT services.

AND THEN!! And then we found out about the tax for commercial land. Due the the nature of our business, I think we had to fork an additional RM30,000 or something like that for yearly taxes. A mamak, for the same floor space would for about RM1,000. And their profits are WAY higher than ours.

I modelled the gym after my friend's gym in Melbourne, called Results based training. His costs were roughly AUD 265,000/year. Due to the size of Melbourne and the personality of the people, it was much more workable there. Also he had a huge online presence beforehand so it wasn't too difficult.

All in all, it proved to be a gigantic hassle, which is likely why such gyms hasn't surfaced in Malaysia.

Trust me, when we finally sat and did the figures, we were like "OH SHIT! No wonder nobody has done this." You actually make more money, selling espresso shots in places like KL Sentral, the Curve or selling pancakes in SS15.

EDIT: THIS IS JUST OUR OPINION!

This post has been edited by pizzaboy: Nov 12 2013, 05:10 PM

This is very very eye opening. Answered a shitload of questions

Could tell you more but I'm off to meet a Danish partner. G'luck mate!

i was having the idea to open a small scale open gym (warehouse gym) when i am financially stable.
but after read this post, i have doubt

Thanks for sharing

Imo, ur selling point would b grp of elite lifters abke workout tkgether and exchange thoughts.

But how many r there in msia that they aren't gym owners/operators or associated closely to the gym? Very few. The remaining existing lifting guys would have used to the gym they working unless you offered a much better offer in term of price, facilities and mayb operation time.

If you targeting potential or new guys into fitness.
1. They normally just enjoy social in commercial gyms.
2. Otherwise prefer per entry gym due to inconsistencyof workout.
3. They either scared away by the big guys or they irritate the big guys and chase them away

Anyway, just make a quick browse online or social medias, you find lot of new shoplot gyms which ranged 60 to 120 monthly. Most run using products frm impulse though.

bolded statement. +999999. The fitness fad is all about how glamourous one can be, at the brand new shining, air-conditioned, fancy ass gym. which unfortunately, is the one thing I'm trying to avoid at all cost.

You're right. about the elite lifters part.

not really gonna work...sorry to burst your bubble.
my fren did Crossfit gym, struggle for months, nearly bungkus edi...he had no choice and to add the machines to attract the mainstream crowd....

i do know losta hardcore gym goers wants space...lotsa free weights etc...but this is very niche market, but this is business bro, its not about what YOU want, but what other people want.


if people go see your gym, " wah kosongnye....mesin takde, tapi RM 150 per month? waffak?" they will walk out.


me myself run a gym. i favor power rack over Smith machine, but people keep asking about machines balblabla. comparing same rate with other gyms that have machines. You see my point?

This post has been edited by bata: Nov 18 2013, 01:22 PM

Like working out in a gym, every thing we do has obstacles. We just need to overcome them. I have ideas.

Anybody plan to open one and looking for an experienced business partner, please consult me. Thank you.

if you have a warehouse ..
anything inside can be your warehouse gym lifter ..
you dont need to buy anything fancy ..

my company have alot foreign worker ..
and they use cement to build up their own dumbell barbell ..
modify chair to do sit up ..
anyplace in warehouse can do pull up , and they prefer to hand with our backhoe machine .. and yes .. backhoe machine back big tyre ..

too much thing in warehouse that we can use to weight lifting ..

imagine how army workout ? they dont bring anything with them anywhere ..

they just make use of everything around them to do the weight lifting ..