It’s no secret that wellness centers are popping up everywhere now; however, when we take a step back and look at why these business have become so popular, a few reasons can be found.

Over the past 2 years, COVID-19 has taken its toll on both the physical and mental health of millions of people around the world. This has encouraged a lot of people to prioritise themselves and put their health and mind first. Additionally, certain outcomes of the pandemic, including social distancing and a more sedentary lifestyle, have given people an increased desire to incorporate new ways to bring activity into their lives. 

With that being said, there are so many physical fitness options to choose from now; gyms, fitness studios, functional training, outdoor bootcamps, yoga, pilates and more. But wellness centers are also doing so well in both the market for franchising and on a consumer level. Below we dive deeper into why that is.

Understanding the new outlook on wellness centers

Entrepreneurs, business owners and those alike have started to invest in the wellness industry before COVID-19 but the affects of the pandemic on the global population increased the interest in this vertical. Rather than consumers just focusing on getting fit and healthy, they’re now also focusing on their mind and their recovery. The entire outlook of the fitness industry has begun to take a more holistic approach. 

Globally, people are now placing a higher importance on wellness in general. However, given the specific trends of the post-pandemic lifestyle, it is clear that certain types of fitness centers have a stronger outlook in 2022. Brands such as City Cave and Recovery Lab (to name a few) are leading the way by consistently opening new centers domestically and internationally as well. Boutique wellness centers are gaining popularity for a number of reasons. One in particular relates directly to a post-pandemic trend identified earlier which indicates that the people now lack avenues where they have the opportunity to connect in-person with others. Boutique centers offer a sense of community and create a more unique experience to each visit. Likewise, many of the brands mentioned above have implemented strong communication systems to provide that connection with their customer base. One of these systems is utilizing social media and other marketing efforts to build this strong sense of community within their wellness centers.

Marketing to the wellness community

With that being said, social media and marketing efforts can be a time consuming process, especially when running a wellness center. The brands highlighted above and many more have found success partnering with Digital Stack to ensure access to these resources. This includes easy access to artwork for flyers, posters, TV images, email newsletters, Facebook, Instagram and Google My Business – plus plenty more! Furthermore, all artwork is on brand to provide a consistent image and approach to marketing for each franchised location.

Digital Stack allows for franchisees and their staff to take it one step further and post or schedule in advance directly through the platform to popular social media channels. As a one stop shop, they can then report on how their social media posts and overall online presence are performing. This is what helps wellness centers determine if they are building strong connections with their location’s community and complying with the health related, post-pandemic trends.

Overall, the pandemic has changed the way people view fitness and overall wellness and what aspects of these activities they prioritise. However, it is comforting to know that people have a desire to participate in the innovative approaches wellness centers offer moving into 2022. Finding ways to understand and incorporate these ideals into your marketing efforts will be vital.