Retail is one of the most overlooked revenue opportunities for gym owners. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Without the right system, it’s clunky, hard to track, and often feels like more work than it’s worth. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I spent over five years managing gyms. I handled the day-to-day operations and I’ve closed out more months than I can count by manually invoicing people for drinks tallied on a clipboard. So when I say I get it, I really do.

When set up the right way, retail can be a profitable and easy revenue stream to manage. The numbers back it up: When we looked at Wodify customer data, we found that businesses in the top 10% generate 10% or more of their total revenue from retail, while the bottom 25% generate less than 4%. That gap? That’s your opportunity. With the right setup, retail can increase your average revenue per member by 10–15% without the overhead of adding more members or classes.

And beyond the revenue, retail adds value and convenience for your clients.

Watch our Retail Reimagined webinar for strategies and tools that help gym owners sell more and stress less.

Retail isn’t just about selling stuff, it’s about serving your people better

Here’s what I mean: your members already trust you. They come to you for training and recovery advice, and probably even the occasional chat about nutrition or gear. They want your recommendations. Retail just gives them a convenient way to act on it.

You don’t need a full-blown store-front. You don’t need to become a supplement salesperson. What you do need is a small, curated selection of products that fit your philosophy and a simple way to get them in your clients’ hands.

But most gym owners aren’t set up to succeed with retail. And that’s not on you.

If you’re using a whiteboard, a clipboard, or some patched together solution of spreadsheets and a cash jar—same. I’ve been there. And I know why we default to that:

  • It’s fast.
  • It’s flexible.
  • It avoids those annoying transaction fees on low-cost items.

But it’s also:

  • Prone to errors
  • Hard to track
  • A time suck for you or your staff
  • An unremarkable client experience
  • A margin killer when those $3 drinks come with $0.30 fees

There hasn’t been a great solution. So you’ve had to work around it. But now, Wodify has built one.

Wodify built the retail tools I wish I had when I was managing gyms.

Over the last few months, the Wodify team has been working closely with gym owners to design a retail system that’s actually built for the way fitness businesses operate. Here’s what’s new (and what I would’ve killed to have back then):

Speed Up Checkout With An In-Person Point of Sale 

Staff can check out members quickly or switch the POS to self-service mode during peak hours. It also supports refunds, invoice lookups, staff sales tracking, and guest checkout with card reader support. Whether it’s a client grabbing a drink or a drop-in buying a t-shirt, you’re covered.

Make Retail Effortless for Clients With Mobile Shopping

Clients can browse and buy the products you choose directly from the Wodify app—whether they’re in the gym, at home, or on the go. They can check out right from their phone with a simple swipe using their saved payment method eliminating the need to wait in line at in-person POS.

Protect Margins and Save Time With Add to Upcoming Invoice

Instead of charging small items one at a time, clients can grab what they need and add it to their upcoming membership invoice. It keeps checkout smooth, protects your margins, and automates invoicing.

Move More Products With Spotlight Features

Whether you’re using POS or Mobile Retail, you can mark items as on sale and automatically feature your most popular products. It’s an easy way to drive more purchases and clear out seasonal apparel without saying a word.

Boost Sales Through Staff Picks 

Use custom filters to let your coaches highlight the products they love—Reganne’s Recs, Frankie’s Faves, whatever fits your brand. Members already trust your team. Make it personal and fun, and let those recommendations sell for you.

Sell Apparel Without the Risk Using Pre-Orders‍

If you’re worried about over-ordering apparel, pre-orders are your best friend. Upload your designs and pricing, promote them for a week, let clients pre-order through mobile retail, then send to print. No leftovers, no wasted spend, and you can turn pickup day into a fun moment that builds community.

Start Small

Setting up retail doesn’t mean turning your gym into a supplement shop. Start with a handful of go-to products that your clients already want—drinks, quick snacks, your favorite gear—and build from there.

Here’s what I’d do if I were setting this up today:

  1. Add a few go-to retail products in Wodify.
  2. Upload photos, set pricing, inventory and descriptions.
  3. Make them available for purchase on Point of Sale and/or Mobile Retail.
  4. Enable “add to invoice” so purchases can get added to the clients upcoming bill.
  5. Announce the new, easier way to shop to your team and clients!

Retail doesn’t have to be something you dread managing. With the right tools, it becomes a seamless extension of your gym experience. It supports your mission. It gives your members more of what they already need. And it helps you grow.

If you’re already using Wodify, now’s the time to set it up and go live. If you’re not, and this piqued your interest, book a demo and we’ll show you how it all works.

You deserve tools that make retail simple and profitable.

Let’s break up with the clipboard for good.