How do gyms make money without relying on constant discounts? It starts with retention — and retention starts in the first 90 days.

In this episode of Well Run, Annie Adragna explains why the first 30–90 days of a new member’s journey determine their long-term loyalty and lifetime value. She shares the exact usage thresholds that matter most — like why 4–6 visits in the first month predicts retention and why a 14-day no-show is your biggest red flag.

Annie also spotlights what the best fitness clubs are doing differently in onboarding: from structured fitness assessments and connection experiences to celebrating early wins and tracking usage with simple dashboards. These proven strategies not only keep gym members longer, but also increase the average revenue per member and create sustainable growth without discounts.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why nearly 50% of cancellations happen in the first 90 days.
• How to keep gym members longer by tracking early usage.
• What lifetime value really means in the fitness industry — and how to grow it.
• The best revenue strategies for fitness clubs that don’t rely on discounts.
• How to sell and deliver high-value memberships through smart onboarding.
• A simple framework to increase average revenue per member in your gym.

If you’re serious about building sustainable growth for your fitness business, this is where it starts: helping members succeed in their very first 90 days.

In this episode of Well Run, Annie Adragna, a seasoned consultant and mentor in the fitness and wellness industry, explores one of the most overlooked truths in club management: member love doesn’t equal member loyalty.

Annie breaks down why retention is built on behavior, not just sentiment and why usage frequency is the single greatest predictor of long-term loyalty. From onboarding to group class participation, she shares practical strategies for building a retention dashboard that highlights early warning signs and opportunities to re-engage members before they walk out the door.

You’ll also hear a powerful story from The Ritz-Carlton that illustrates how small but meaningful gestures transform satisfied customers into lifelong loyal advocates...something every club operator can apply today.

Key Takeaways:

• Love is an emotion. Loyalty is a behavior.
• Why tracking member usage in the first 90 days is critical.
• The surprising retention power of group exercise.
• How proactive outreach and personalized touchpoints drive loyalty.
• What the fitness industry can learn from Ritz-Carlton’s legendary service culture.

If you want to build an unshakeable membership base, this episode is packed with strategies you can start using right away.

Connect with Annie:

• Visit: OASISCONSULTINGFIRM.CO
• Follow Annie on LinkedIn
  
  

Welcome to the very first episode of Well Run—a weekly podcast for owners and operators of luxury fitness clubs, wellness centers, and recovery spaces. Hosted by Annie Adragna, a seasoned leader with 20+ years in the industry, this show explores how to build sustainable businesses, strong cultures, and high-performing teams.

In this kickoff episode, Annie dig into why emotional intelligence (EQ) in leadership is the most critical factor for long-term success. She explains how low EQ leadership can drive turnover, weaken member retention, and stall revenue growth—and why high EQ leaders consistently create respected clubs and motivated teams.

Key Takeaways

• What emotional quotient (EQ) really means in the context of fitness and wellness leadership.
• The cost of low EQ leadership in gyms, health clubs, and wellness businesses.
• How high EQ leadership drives member retention, employee engagement, and profitability.
• Practical strategies to improve culture and strengthen your leadership skills.
• A preview of upcoming episodes tackling real industry challenges and growth opportunities.

This is just the beginning of weekly conversations designed for leaders who want to transform their fitness or wellness business into a thriving, people-first operation.

📩 Connect with Annie: annie@oasisconsultingfirm.co

🌐 Learn more & grab free resources: www.oasisconsultingfirm.co

🔗 Follow Annie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annie-adragna

Welcome to "Well Run", the podcast dedicated to owners and operators of luxury fitness, wellness and recovery spaces. Hosted by industry veteran Annie Adragna, this podcast covers the essentials of creating a successful, people-first and performance-driven business.

Each episode offers practical strategies and real-world insights into high EQ leadership and developing profitable and respected clubs in 10-15 minute episodes.

Let's get to it!

Launch: 9/1/25