Hugo Tessier
Owner
Club Santé Atmosphère
Joliette, Quebec

“Happy with my new healthy lifestyle, I gradually started thinking about owning my own club.”

How did you become a fitness club owner?

In the past, I’ve participated in many high-level sports competitions, including several national slow-pitch championships and provincial badminton championships. I also played volleyball at a provincial level. I stopped competing in sports when I was 23, became very sedentary, developed poor eating habits and gained about 80 pounds. Then, I joined a club and lost the weight over two years. As a club member, I noticed both the positive and negative aspects of fitness clubs. Happy with my new healthy lifestyle, I gradually started thinking about owning my own club.

What’s the smartest thing you ever did?

My investors and I started off very modestly. We bought a club that had only 170 active members. The machines were 20-years-old and worn out, and the decor looked twice as bad. Without a lot of money to spend, we had to make choices. Originally, I thought we should start by updating the equipment. But after developing our concept, we decided instead to emphasize the decor and atmosphere instead. As a result, after only six months of operation we had more than twice as many members.

The additional revenue enabled us to really get going. When we moved into larger (7,000 sq. ft.) and better-located premises 16 months later, things really took off. Two years later, we expanded again to 14,000 sq. ft.

What sets your club apart from your competition?

Our club has a strong social dimension. We knew that many people who exercise alone at home eventually give up. We also knew that many people go to the gym to break up the monotony of exercising at home. Besides offering a large choice of equipment and a broad range of services, like the big gyms do, we also have a friendly small gym atmosphere. We have a health bar and a lounge in the centre of our facility and serve free green tea to members there. We also have a library where members can borrow books on health and other topics. In short, we create an ambiance that fosters well-being.

What’s been your biggest challenge as a club owner?

Getting started. Without experience working in the fitness business, credibility was a challenge when meeting with potential lenders and investors. A good business plan was key in finally getting the financial investment we required.

What have you discovered to be the key(s) to effective leadership?

It’s vital for the leader of a company to be sure that every employee understands the overall vision. There must be structures and procedures that create cohesiveness amongst the staff. Everyone must promote a clear and relevant message to club members and also to their colleagues. Employees must feel that they are supported and appreciated. The leader must earn their respect, not expect it.

What do you like most about this business?

This business, with its focus on health, is an integral part of my lifestyle. Moreover, for the first time in my life, I am doing a job that involves me 100%. The values that the company expresses are mine. I have also had a chance to create a new fitness club concept which has been a wonderful personal challenge.

What else do you do besides run your club?

I have four children, so I spend most of my free time with my family. I’m also a professional real estate appraiser, a board member of Movaxion and studying for a finance degree.

What plans do you have for the future?

I plan to finish my degree and open my own real estate appraisal firm. The firm will have a property investment dimension that will give us the expertise necessary to purchase and lease commercial buildings so we can expand into the corporate fitness sector. Because of the aging population, I believe companies will have serious manpower problems in the future, and executives will be looking for employee retention methods. Our services will fit right in.

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