Innovation

The “Judgement Free Zone” caters to the third UN Sustainable Development Goal of promoting healthy lives and well-being for all and to some degree it also fulfills the sixteenth UN SDG which promotes just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. Planet Fitness’ goal is to encourage exercise and healthy living, a lifestyle that would keep people healthy and give them resistance to sickness and physical deterioration. Additionally, the organization’s goal is to include everyone possible regardless of any background or other arbitrary factors. Planet Fitness’ progress with these goals can be seen in this statistic, stating that they have 1,600 gyms throughout Canada, Latin America, and all fifty of the United States, as well as ten million members.

Kush Patel confirmed this and stated that this innovation has allowed Planet Fitness to experience a rapid rate of growth and expansion at all of its locations. This congenial environment allows people to come and exercise without being intimidated by members of the gym who are further along in their fitness journey. Creating such an open and welcoming environment attracts customers because they do not fear being judged by people around them for their level of fitness or exercise knowledge.

Inspiration

This innovation of a “Judgement Free Zone” was formulated by the founders of Planet Fitness, Marc and Michael Grondahl. They assessed why it was that most people did not go to the gym and realized it was because of the prideful and judgemental atmosphere that most fitness centers exuded. So, the Grondahl brothers implemented their theory in their own gym and created an environment that attracted many more customers than previously because of the lack of judgement. This allowed many more people to feel welcomed at a gym instead of intimidated, contributing to Planet Fitness' rapid rate of expansion and growth as well as its massive membership base.

Overall impact

The overall impact of the innovation is that many more people feel that they are able to go to the gym and engage in a lifestyle that they previously would have avoided because of the traditional gym atmosphere.

In the short term, the Grondahl brothers experienced a significant boost in membership and were able to expand their business far beyond the borders of the Northeastern United States. They expanded their business and made more profit. In the long term, Planet Fitness has become the largest gym chain in the world with 1,600 locations and over ten million members. These figures demonstrate how effective the innovation of the "Judgement Free Zone" was in encouraging people to obtain gym memberships and engage in healthier lifestyles.

Business benefit

Planet Fitness' Innovation of a "Judgement Free Zone" benefits the business because it allows the users to get behind a statement that they feel relates to them. Since they have created this model they have been able to expand their market and allow more people to feel comfortable in their gyms. Their employees have also gotten behind this innovation as it has allowed them to have a focus when they come to work and a motto to follow. They have been able to help their members feel welcome while fulfilling their own job.

They have also increased their revenue based on the amount of people that they can reach with this innovation. People no longer feel that they are unable to go to the gym and be surrounded by others who make them feel inferior. This innovation has created an inclusive environment that has allowed everyone to feel welcome at Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness' innovation has allowed it to expand throughout the North American continent and attain a member base of over ten million members.

Social and environmental benefit

Planet Fitness’ innovation of a “Judgement Free Zone” benefits society because it encourages more people to participate in a gym membership and live a healthy lifestyle. By providing people with an environment to exercise where they will not be judged, Planet Fitness has attracted ten million members, individuals who may not have decided to exercise otherwise. The organization is truly trying to influence as many people as possible to live healthy lives.

Planet Fitness realizes its corporate social responsibility with their “Judgement Free Generation” project. It is a Planet Fitness philanthropic initiative designed to combat judgement and bullying in which they organize events in schools and communities and through games and fun activities, teach kids to be more inclusive and tolerant of each other. “Our mission is to empower a generation to grow up contributing to a more judgement-free planet– a place where everyone feels accepted and like they belong.” - says their project report.

Interview

Kush Patel, Assistant Manager