Mel Tempest Fitness Business Influencer

15/06/2026

LIVE ON ZOOM - IGNITE FITNESS BUSINESS TOWN HALL -
I'M TAKING MY LIVE IGNITE ROUNDTABLE EVENT ONLINE AND IT COSTS YOU $0. Join independent gym operators, franchisees and suppliers from across Australia & New Zealand for an honest conversation about what’s really happening in our industry. Our speakers are not pitching products they are providing you with a practical tool to go back into your club and implement. I have asked each presenter to assume those online have limited funds and to create a ten minute conversational resource tool that you will benefit from.

Attendees are welcome to forward questions in advance so that as a town hall we can address issues and provide solutions to all attendee's.

You will need to register, presenters will be announced shortly, they are all familiar faces who do work with club owners on a regular basis and understand the pain points that we as independents and franchisees are all going through.

As I said this is not a pitch session my objective is for you all to walk away with resources and tools to be build more profit in 2026 and find solutions that work for you. All attendee's will have the ability to be involved in live Q & A on the day.

Register at https://ignitefitness.com.au for date and time.

COM Marketing AUSactive Australasian Leisure Management Myzone Belgravia Leisure Impact Training Corporation Fitness On Demand RAW Fitness Equipment Genesis Health and Fitness Jamie Hayes Les Mills Asia Pacific Women & Leadership Australia

06/06/2026

INDEPENDENT - FRANCHISEE - SOLO PT - UPDATE ON PREVIOUS POST.

How many business owners are one bad month away from the pic below?
The fitness industry and media often celebrate growth, expansion, and success. Yet, many gym owners are fighting a very different battle.
Rising wages.
Retention and arrears blow out.
Increased superannuation.
Recruitment and staff challenges.
Higher operating costs such as equipment, music fees and marketing.
Technology and licence fees.
System charges for systems they dont use or dont work in their community.
Growing competition from high-value, low-price brands.
Some operators have dropped their business and life insurance.
For some, every week feels like a balancing act.

This pic may be Mel - dramatic, but for too many businesses, the fear of seeing a "Closed" sign on the door is very real.

Independent, franchisee, it doesn't matter on the sign out the front, the fight is painfully identical.
The reality is that many gym owners aren't looking for miracles. They're looking for practical solutions and support from their industry. Even when they have no cash to spend, they deserve support.

That's exactly why I'm bringing together independent club owners, franchisees, and industry suppliers for an open discussion about the current state of our industry—what's working, what's not, and what operators can do right now to improve profitability, retention, and long-term sustainability.

When Friday June 19th 1pm - 2pm+

This conversation needs to be had because we're simply ignoring it.

COM Marketing AUSactive Australasian Leisure Management Genesis Health and Fitness RAW Fitness Equipment Fitness On Demand

03/06/2026

Thank you to ABC Glofox and Richelle Volk for having me on the show. It was nice to share my learnings with the fitness industry.
I hope you enjoy the episode https://youtu.be/kgzF0bFxw8M?si=TGp2yr6VxlTry7ao

What does it take to build a gym that truly stands out? In this episode of Fireside Fitness, Mel Tempest - gym owner since 2003, global speaker, and business...

03/06/2026

Independent Gym Owners, Franchisees & Fitness Suppliers.
With only weeks left in the financial year, many operators are feeling the pressure, and let's be honest, it doesn't matter if you're an independent or franchisee, the pain is real, those KPI's need to be met.

Rising costs.
Licence fees.
Music fees.
Staffing and Retention Challenges.
Compliance headaches. BAS and Superannuation.
Shrinking profit. No profit. No money.
Low- priced competitors.

I have a question:-
What's your pain point in your business right now?
What and who is helping you in business to create solutions?
The industry is profitable for some, and for others it's not.
I'm putting together a panel discussion featuring independent gym owners, club managers, franchisees and suppliers who can share real solutions, not maybe's.

We'll also discuss how to plan your exit strategy and when is the right time to sell.

If you're keen to be involved - DM me.

COM Marketing AUSactive Australasian Leisure Management Belgravia Leisure Impact Training Corporation Fitness On Demand RAW Fitness Equipment

29/05/2026

27/05/2026

Today, Ken and I, along with the AUSactive Independent Business Operators Advisory Group (ABAG), came together via Zoom, all with the same agenda.

What stood out immediately was that this wasn’t just another industry conversation about memberships or registrations. The focus has shifted toward something far more important — real industry impact for the independent.

The discussion centred around how AUSactive can become more practical, more valuable, and visible for independent operators, while ensuring independents are involved in decisions early, not after the fact.

A few major topics kept rising to the top:

More practical business support.
Compliance, Fair Trading changes, workforce challenges, fitness award confusion, payroll pressures — operators need implementation support, tools, education, and clarity.

Creating real ROI for operators.
No more theory. Not more noise. Real outcomes that improve business sustainability, margins, member growth, and day-to-day operations.

Giving independents a stronger and heard voice.
Independent operators make up the majority of the industry, yet many still feel invisible.

Growing the sector collectively.
One of the biggest opportunities discussed was how we position fitness within the broader health system, while ensuring independents directly benefit from that growth.

Focusing on opportunities such as:-
Group buying power and cost reduction strategies
National affordable marketing campaigns that independents can collectively benefit from that dont see them having to sell a kidney.
Medical integration, including GP referrals and “med-ready” fitness providers.
Better industry data and benchmarking so operators can make smarter club decisions.

But when I asked the group about 'PAIN POINTS' in business, everyone agreed on the following:-
Rising costs.
Licence fees.
Increasing compliance.
Staffing pressures and Wages.
Consumer affordability challenges.
The pain of simply running a business.

There were also some great ideas around creating AA member rewards ecosystems, and embedding fitness into education and culture earlier so future generations, our children and grandchildren, see fitness and health as essential, not optional.

There’s genuine alignment right now around the opportunity to elevate the voice of the independents on a grand scale.

I think we can all agree that, as an industry, we don't need a long list of ideas.
We need clear priorities, measurable and collaborative action.

If you're an independent and you would like to be part of the above, please do reach out.

25/05/2026

The Road To Success - Don't Replicate - Evolve.

The team at RAW Fitness Equipment is creating opportunities for clubs to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Follow them for more updates or give them a call.

23/05/2026

Big week in the club: new sled track in HNR, our 280m2 purpose-built zone, 15 mtrs of red and purple! - Equipment moved and cleaned! Keep your business evolving; dont replicate others; meet the needs of your demographic; you have more than one business model under your roof. Open your minds to exploring, talk to your peers, and dare to be different. Same-same kills, just like replication, and free.

COM Marketing AUSactive Australasian Leisure Management Fitness On Demand AusFitness Expo ABC Glofox Les Mills Asia Pacific