From open gym to premium studio — eight years of evolution
When Bodywise Gym and Studios opened in Horsham eight years ago, it was a traditional bodybuilding-style open gym. Then the 24/7 gym chains arrived in the area, and it became clear that competing on that model wasn't the future.
COVID gave the team space to think differently. The decision was made to pivot toward small group personal training and premium class packages, and to find the right software to support that transformation. ClubRight was already in place, and it stayed.
By mid-2026, more than half of members are on small group PT or class packages. By the end of the year, the open gym model will be phased out entirely. The business has completely reinvented itself, and ClubRight has been there throughout.
Every competitor came calling. None of them got the business.
Over eight years, Bodywise has been approached by virtually every major gym management software provider on the market. The answer has always been the same.
“All the companies I spoke to before still follow up now and then with an email or a phone call, and I tell them the same thing: I’m not switching. ClubRight has upgraded and it fits everything we need — I don’t see any reason to change.”— The team at Bodywise Gym and Studios
The Pelican update was the moment that turned an eight-year loyalty into something closer to advocacy. The initial concern was about the team, but that concern evaporated quickly.
“My biggest fear was how the team would take it, because they were still struggling with the old interface. But as soon as I started using it, everything felt more logical — easier, less clicking in and out of different screens, everything in one place.”— The team at Bodywise Gym and Studios
Being heard matters
As a beta tester, Bodywise experienced the product development at close quarters. What stood out wasn't the features, it was the feeling that feedback was genuinely being acted on.
“Someone is listening. They hear our feedback and they’re trying to improve. We use the system every single day, so as long as that communication goes both ways — you submit something and know it doesn’t just disappear into a cloud somewhere and get forgotten — that’s what matters.”— The team at Bodywise Gym and Studios
That sense of being heard extends to the support experience too, including ClubRight's AI assistant, Clifford, which the team describe as a near-complete transformation.
“Our lovely Clifford used to get on our nerves — you’d ask him something, he wouldn’t have a clue, and you’d just ask to be put through to a human. But now I actually enjoy talking to Clifford, because his answers are on point. It’s gone from a frustration to something almost fun — nearly a full 360-degree turnaround, and a positive one.”— The team at Bodywise Gym and Studios
Can you outgrow ClubRight?
With the pivot to small group PT nearly complete and plans to grow the team in 2027, Bodywise is in a period of intentional, focused growth. The view on ClubRight is clear.
“You always need a good product and good software to run the business — without it, you’re kind of stuck. I don’t think we can outgrow ClubRight. I don’t think that’s possible.”— The team at Bodywise Gym and Studios