Wellness programs create an energetic, positive and productive workplace while assisting employees with improving their health. Employers face numerous challenges when developing a wellness strategy: understanding sensitivities in engaging with employees around lifestyle behaviours, sifting through studies and examples to identify evidence-based interventions that can keep employees motivated over time, and navigating an evolving regulatory landscape. As interest in wellness programs continues to grow, employers may find that seeking employee input and giving employees several options for participating may increase employee satisfaction, long-term engagement, and overall program success. Given consumer willingness to participate in wellness programs, employees may stay more engaged in the long term if they feel the program is not intrusive or mandated. At Talwalkars, one can choose from a range of health solutions including Gym, Personal Training, Nutrition Counselling, Spa, Yoga, Zumba, Aerobics, Nuform and Reduce.
In an interview with Insights Success, Prashant Talwalkar, Founder of Talwalkars gave some insightful answers highlighting the influences made by his company to take wellness programmes to a new level.
Kindly brief us about the company and what kind of wellness programs does the company provide to their employees/ clients.
Talwalkars today is one stop fitness and wellness solution. In terms of Fitness it is No.1 player across India and Sri Lanka and the first listed entity in the industry. Apart from multiple gym models like Talwalkars Premium, Talwalkars, Hi Fi, PWG the company also offer value added services with a vision to cater to the lifestyle churn across the country. The acquisition of Zorba-The renaissance studio enabled company to incorporate Yoga services in its existing portfolio of services. Further the company also was one of the first to introduce electrical muscle stimulation based program in India through its service called NuForm, a service that enables tone muscle and reduce inches providing overall fitness. The company through Reduce provides low calorie, high fibre ready to cook and ready eat products with convenience of doorstep and online services. Further the company is the sole distributor of Zumba merchandise across the country. The company along with its joint venture partners is in process of launching its first recreation and sports club in Pune, Wakad. This club is expected to roll out membership in middle of this year. The company’s recent tie-up with Dr Mickey Mehta enables it to cater to all the age groups.
- Tell us something about the CEO/founder/MD of the company?
With a Bachelor’s degree in Science from University of Mumbai and over 25 years of experience in health club marketing, Mr. Prashant Talwalkar has spearheaded the Talwalkars brand evolution as our Managing Director & CEO. He spearheads gym expansions across India and Sri Lanka. Handling corporate tie ups and other promotional activities, he has brought recognition to Talwalkars at events such as the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 and the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2008 and 2009 & Pinkathon 2012. He has been honoured as one of the Top 30 Most Innovative CEOs of the country by Inc Magazine, 2015. Under his leadership Talwalkars has also been awarded as the “Best Under A Billion” by Forbes Asia, 2013.
- How has wellness programs proven to be an excellent device of change and life enhancement beginning right at work?
As evident, wellness encompasses several key dimensions that include physical, emotional, psychological and social attributes. These factors contribute to wellness in a series of complex and interacting ways. Wellness, unlike health, is more than absence of diseases and involves a holistic perspective of an individual. It involves wide range of human experience such as personal growth, family, education, community. With the advent of sedentary lifestyle, population growth, youth proportion increasing the demand for a complete wellness programs are on a spurge. Awareness regarding fitness and preventive healthcare are growing more than ever before. Programs that Talwalkars offer in weight loss management like Reduce, irrespective of the age has helped clients become fit without a diet. NuForm an innovative fitness offering comprises of weight loss, muscle development, back pain relief etc. On other hand programs like Zorba goes beyond fitness and promotes overall wellness of mind plus body. Programs that are offered by Mickey Mehta carters to age group that starts from age 4 years right upto age 90 years.The programs like Spa, Massage delivering proven health benefits, mental relaxation, lowering stress thus providing enhanced wellness. Thus the wellness programs have proven to be just beyond fitness and leading to a way of life.
- How do you work on your long-term relationship with your clients? Kindly brief us about the most satisfactory experience with a client.
The company’s retention rate has been above 75% . Usually majority members who leave the gym for another gym , rejoin our services after a year or two . This is mainly due to the quality of services provided by the Talwalkars to the trainers and also the other value added services provided to keep the customer engaged. Other than this Talwalkars offer schemes like the Annual August Scheme where usually most of the renewals happen. Under these schemes we offer all inclusive package where all the services are available under one roof and one package which enables customer to experience plethora of value added services along with regular fitness solution. Talwalkars receive positive feedback from its clients that are not just limited to losing weight or being fit but also appreciations for its trainers and personalized services provided.
- Share your point of view on the current scenario of the Industry and its future.
The fitness market in India is highly under penetrated in India. The IHRSA2015 report states that the fitness centre penetration in India is less than 0.13%. If we compare with the US and UK the penetration rate continues to be 14-16% back in the 1980’s the penetration was about 2%. The fitness market has enormous potential not just for growth across India but other Asian countries having similar economies and growth potential. The fitness market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18-20% or more with growing awareness of preventive healthcare and higher disposable income
- Kindly brief us about your strategies to tackle the competition in your sector. What steps are you taking to ensure that you continue to grow and develop
The company today is No 1 in India and Sri Lanka with over 220 fitness centers.
In past the company expanded across PAN India by opening one or two gyms per city and pick up more than 5-10 cities in proposed expansion. The company would set up one or two gyms in a particular city hence bringing in new staff to Mumbai where in academy and key management of the company present was more logical and economical.
The company has now adopted city centric approach i.e. Opening cluster of 20-25 gyms in a city and penetrate in each corner of the city with the target to become largest brand in that city creating and entry barrier for the competitor. In view of this expansion plan; Talwalkars management decided to shift the training of staffs to locations where in expansion is expected to happen in immediate future. As a result of this Talwalkars has decided to shift training equipments to these respective locations to cater to training requirements. This enables to create a common pool of administration block and staff leading to cost effective management. The company also has introduced multiple gym models to cover all the price points. The value added services like Nuform and Reduce has an added advantage of being time effective. The company through Zorba is one of the largest yoga player across the country. The company continues to expand horizons through organic and inorganic way through engaging in value alliances.
- What can be expected from your company in the upcoming years?
The Company is the market leader in gym India and Sri Lanka and is expected through its brand, partners and associates go to countries across Asia. The company plans to increase its presence and foothold targeting top 10-12 cities. The value added services have gained traction in last couple of years, the company plans to promote these products nationally and internationally using best distribution channels both online and offline. Further the company will continue to make innovations and improvement of its centers meeting the international standards. The company is working on unleashing value of its existing centers and also plans to grow through adding new centers.
