Watch above: the city is currently collecting data to figure out why less people are using its facilities
SASKATOON – Saskatoon’s leisure services will soon have a plan to combat a revenue shortfall it had in 2013 after years of consistent growth.
The city is currently collecting data that it hopes will provide reasons to answers as to why they’ve experienced a downturn, said Cary Humphrey, the manager of leisure services for the city. Last year revenues were projected to come in roughly $250,000 less than expected
“When we experience a decline in our sales, we want to find out, why is that? You don’t know; is it price; is it the quality of service; is it the type of programming you offer,” said Humphrey.
Attracting more consumers may not be an easy task; Tim Siebert, co-owner of Mawson Fitness in Sutherlund, said the fitness industry is a saturated business in Saskatoon.
“For the size of this city there’s an abundance of places you can go for working out, studios, that kind of stuff,” said Siebert, who’s co-owned Mawson for close to two years.
Mawson has seen its membership base grow through a ‘person-to-person’ marketing strategy that includes a full-time sales team.
“You’re not going to Mawson on the radio, on TV, or billboards,” said Siebert.
“A lot of times we go out there and people still haven’t even heard of us.”
They also rely on word of mouth; Katie Kristjanson is one member who’s convinced a number of her friends to join as well.
Humphry said that he believes the city must improve on marketing to the ‘average’ person who wants to get involved in fitness and recreation, rather than fighting for members that would spend many days a week in a weightlifting gym, like Mawson.
“I think, generally speaking, they provide a different service than what we do.”
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