Multiple Locations
Franchise Owner: David Ross
39 stores across Canada
Seven years ago Fitness Depot started selling hot tubs as a side line to their fitness equipment. “Patio furniture and spas are kind of the off season from fitness equipment and bring in different types of clientele,” says Paul Riley, the store manager for Fitness Depot in Ottawa, which has 39 locations across Canada. Their 30,000 square foot location in Ottawa is the largest fitness retail store in North America.
“Its kind of like the warehouse concept, we’re about getting the best product at the best price,” Riley says. “Conceptually you have a choice of everything so you can see it all and then you pick and figure out what you like.”
He says the hardest part about running the two Ottawa locations is making sure that they have enough stock. “That’s a problem a lot of people would like to have,” Riley jokes.
The Fitness Depot location in Ottawa has the advantage of being in the same city as the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Lung Association, so they see many people who come in to look for equipment to aid in rehabilitation. “We’ve got a banner right in the front entrance way just explaining some of the benefits [of a hot tub]…We put it out in front so people can understand the need.”
Riley says that both fitness and hot tub sales have slowed, but the economic troubles haven’t hit them as hard as their counterparts in the states. However, a 30 percent increase to buy U.S. dollars has had an impact on their cost. It’s not enough though to sway Riley from staying loyal to his American manufacturer.
This year he says they’re focusing on getting the word out that Fitness Depot is the place to purchase a hot tub. “Not that long ago, a lot of people didn’t think that Fitness Depot was really the first place to go for buying a spa. We do a lot of shows now and that helps with getting awareness for the company. Being out in the public is a very important thing.”