JD Sports launches JD Gyms
by Jak Phillips | 22 Jan 2014
An artist's impression of the first JD Gym
Retail megabrand JD Sports has announced its entry into the gym market with the launch of the new JD Gyms brand.
The inaugural site – a former Fitness First club – is set to open in Hull on 28 February following a £1m refurb. The 1,950sq m (21,000sq ft) club will be equipped by Technogym and Freemotion, with around 70 Technogym CV stations complemented by Technogym strength kit, Freemotion's Live Axis cable-based circuit and free weights. There will also be a functional zone with a training rig, where the gym will offer bootcamp-style sessions.
Group exercise classes will take place in a 185sq m (2,000sq ft) studio; there will also be a separate group cycling studio.
A DJ booth will add a buzz to the gym floor, while the whole club will be given a sporty feel with a running track motif worked into the interior design. Membership will cost £15–20 a month, including classes.
With the recent launch of ventures such as Reebok Fithub – Reebok's retail outlets in London which offer not only active opportunities to try out products in store, but also free on-site fitness classes – fitness clearly holds great potential for sporting brands looking to grow their footprint and further drive their credibility in the physical activity arena.
JD Sports' recent financial results, which highlighted a buoyant performance - particularly in its sporting division - would appear to put the company in a particularly strong position to expand its brand.
JD Sports owns a range of high street brands including Blacks, Millets, Kooga, Bank and Scotts.
Retail megabrand JD Sports has announced its entry into the gym market with the launch of the new JD Gyms brand. The inaugural site – a former Fitness First club – is set to open in Hull on 28 February following a £1m refurb. The 1,950sq m (21,000sq ft) club will be equipped by Technogym and Freemotion, with around 70 Technogym CV stations complemented by Technogym strength kit, Freemotion's Live
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