How Specific Gym Uses LegitFit to Power a Care-Driven Small Group Training Business

One Branded App Built Around Personalised Care.

Liam Sheridan founded Specific in January 2008, opening a small group personal training facility in Rush, North County Dublin. After four years studying sports management in Blanchardstown and three more working in the fitness industry, starting his own gym was less a leap and more a natural next step. Today, alongside co-owner Owen Conroy, Liam runs a gym built around one simple mission: creating as many happier, healthier humans as possible - and LegitFit has been central to making that mission scale.

Key Results

• Founded in January 2008
• Grown from around 100 to 175 members since returning to LegitFit
• Trial sign-ups and member conversions both up since the switch
• Fully branded app covering sign-ups, trials, membership purchases, lift tracking and session bookings
• Smooth, low-disruption migration back onto the LegitFit platform

A Gym Built Around Care, Not Just Reps

Specific specialises in small group personal training, and the team is clear about what sets it apart. It isn't the equipment or the size of the facility - it's the people.

"I think the thing that we do best is our level of care. So whether that be programming, individualisation, just knowing our people really well - that level of care we really, really pride ourselves on. And it's kind of what helps us get above the rest."

That focus on personalisation runs through everything, from how sessions are programmed to how members are communicated with day to day. It's also exactly why the team has built its software stack around tools that get out of the way rather than add friction.

The Challenge: Outgrowing a System That Couldn't Keep Up

Specific started out on LegitFit in its early days but then moved to another provider when they needed more features but it didn't take long to feel the gap. 

"One of the biggest things for us was the other providers - they didn't do what LegitFit did well. So that personalisation wasn't there. When we had an issue, it took a little bit longer to get resolved."

The other platform had plenty of features, but not the right ones used the right way. Issues took longer to resolve and with a busy gym full of members relying on the system daily, that lag mattered.

"So a lot of the usability, the simplicity, the guys at LegitFit taking on board what we were requesting and just being there for feedback - that personalisation again was really of benefit to us. So we transferred back and we haven't looked back since."

What Specific needed from a platform:

• Something simple enough for both staff and members to use without friction
• Fast, personal support when issues came up
• One system instead of several disconnected "moving parts"
• A setup that could keep pace with a growing membership

Why Specific Came Back to LegitFit

The comparison between LegitFit and the other providers wasn't subtle. Where the alternative felt like a pile of disconnected features, LegitFit felt designed.

"On top of that, again, the simplicity. So the other providers, we thought that they had loads of different moving parts. Not that LegitFit doesn't have what we need - there's lots of good stuff in there - but it's just done in a nice, simple way that makes it easy for us to not waste time, and use the pieces that we need."

Support was the other deciding factor. LegitFit's team didn't just fix problems - they listened to feedback and acted on it.

"The thing that gets us most excited about working with LegitFit is the fact that they listen. They're constantly in contact with us, and if there is anything that we need adjusted or change to help our business, they're more than willing to work with us to do so."

Creating a Seamless Member Journey with a Branded Gym App

One of the features that's made the biggest day-to-day difference is LegitFit's branded app. Before switching, the team relied on a clunky mix of a web link and a half-built app - a setup that created friction at exactly the point a new member needed things to feel effortless.

"I think the branded app has brought that simplicity. It's also brought a level of sophistication that we didn't have with our older provider. We had an issue where we needed to use a web link and then a half app, and it just wasn't as clean as the branded app with Specific."

Now, everything a member needs lives in one place, under Specific's own branding:

• Download the app and sign up
• Start a trial
• Purchase a follow-on membership
• Track lifts and progress
• Book sessions

"Having the branded app has been really important for us in terms of having everything in one place. When we're trying to sign someone up, they can download our app, sign up, start their trial, purchase their follow-on membership, track their lifts, and book their sessions - all within the one place."

The result is fewer support headaches for the team and a smoother experience for members.

"It stops people coming to us with issues - can't book here, can't track my lifts here. So it's really simple and has been super effective since we've implemented it."

A Platform That Continues to Grow With the Business

Since returning to LegitFit, the numbers tell the story: Specific has grown from around 100 to 175 members, with trial numbers and conversions climbing alongside.

"In terms of our return, since we came back to using LegitFit, we've probably grown from around 100 to 175 members - a significant increase there. Our number of trials has gone up, our number of conversions has gone up, and we can attest a lot of that growth has been down to the guys at LegitFit."

Even the migration back onto the platform was simple - no small thing when you're moving to an active gym full of members.

"The process of transferring from an older system to the LegitFit system has been extremely smooth from start to finish, for both ourselves and our customers. It was really easy, really straightforward, and the guys at LegitFit were extremely helpful in doing so."

Looking Ahead

Specific's plans haven't changed since day one - get more people through the door, and help them become happier, healthier humans. With a simpler member journey and a platform that keeps pace with the business, that circle of impact is only getting wider.

"Our aim is to create as many happier, healthier humans as possible."

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