24 Nov
Blog

5 Mistakes You’re Making When Ordering Gym Shirts

Ordering clothes for your gym should be fun. Cool gear should be a way to bring the community together and pocket some extra cash. But time and again I see gym owners giving up the process or avoiding it because of the stress and confusion that comes with it.

I see this because I run a bespoke clothing store myself. I've seen the mistakes most people make. So here are my recommended strategies to avoid the headache and just focus on what really matters – bringing your community together.

Too many options and styles

Did you know that people actually buy less when they have more options? If you want to know why choosing is demotivating for customers and consumers, read the Columbia Jam Study. Essentially, the study focused on a jam tasting booth set up in a popular grocery chain. On different weekends they tested the following:

  • On a Saturday the booth had 24 different jams to choose from.
  • The following Saturday the booth would only have six different jams.

It found that with less choice, the stall sold more jam jars. This has been repeatedly tested with different products in different studies.

So where exactly are the pitfalls when ordering sportswear? For one, customers don't have time to think about which shirt color they want. They just want someone to show them the best option, not all of the options. So, yes, you've probably designed a shirt that will work ten different colors, but that doesn't mean you should use it and have all of those shirts made.

Often people come to us who want every color shirt we offer. We try to talk them out of this, but sometimes people just ignore our advice. Then when they reorder they will tell us: "I sold out color X, but I still have a whole box of color Y left!" In these situations, groupthink or the herd mentality takes over. When five to six people start buying the blue shirt, they all want a blue shirt and you get stuck with the box of red shirts. When in doubt, keep it simple.

Many owners believe that ordering different styles is the golden ticket to selling. But just because a person wants a V-neck doesn't mean you should fit that one person in. Gym owners tend to get out of hand and want six different styles for women. Just offer a women's t-shirt, a women's tank top, a men's t-shirt, and a men's tank top. Keep everything simple.

Too many cooks in the kitchen

You are a busy gym owner. You don't have time to coordinate the clothes ordering, but you know you need one. You instruct the office manager to place the order. In return, he or she asks his friends for help, who in turn ask the rest of the gym for help.

You've essentially turned your chance of winning into a three-ring circus by inviting outsiders to a pseudo-committee decision-making process. Keep the dress code between you and some trusted counselors. Sure, ask for outsider feedback, but if this is for your bottom line and branding then you should have the final say.

No clear branding

Are you the type of owner who just isn't happy with the way your gym is branded? Have tried different logos and fonts and nothing just seems to stick to you? Well the secret is that that's the problem. You need to stick with a logo and branding message.

Think all the big brands you see on a daily basis, from Apple to Rogue Fitness. All of their branding is the same from day one. Apple doesn't bring a new logo to market every year for every new product launch. Successful companies stick to their branding in good times and bad. Find some type of branding that shows what you and your business is about and stick with it.

No pre-order

You chose to order tanks on behalf of women's group training because you think you know their size. Or you “don't have time to pre-order” and just ordered twenty of each size.

Wrong move! This is also due to a chance of winning. Take the time to organize your pre-order carefully and eliminate excess inventory issues.

Delay in sales of shirts

We know you are crammed with time commitments. We also deal with it every day. However, if you delay your clothing order, you could be leaving hundreds of dollars a month on the table. Selling clothing is one of the most passive sources of income you can have in your business.

To conclude, before you get stressed about your next clothing order, take a minute to organize yourself, cut out the noise, and remember the main reasons you wanted shirts in the beginning.

Photo 1 courtesy of Jorge Huerta Photography.

Photos 2 & 3 courtesy ofShutterstock.

15 May
Blog

5 Mistakes for New Trainers to Avoid

Let my pain be your gain as I've rounded up some common mistakes coaches make early in their careers.

When I started training clients I thought I knew everything and strutted like a peacock across the gym floor to assert my superior knowledge of the gym. When I look back, I knew absolutely nothing.

That attitude more than hurt me, and it was the first of many mistakes I made early in my career.

Continue reading

14 May
Blog

5 Mistakes for New Trainers to Avoid

Let my pain be your gain as I've rounded up some common mistakes coaches make early in their careers.

When I started training clients I thought I knew everything and strutted like a peacock across the gym floor to assert my superior knowledge of the gym. When I look back, I knew absolutely nothing.

That attitude more than hurt me, and it was the first of many mistakes I made early in my career.

Continue reading

18 Feb
Blog

Makeup Mistakes That Are Bad For Your Skin

It happens to the best of us – some days we are really good at taking care of our skin, others much more effort. If you notice increased breakouts, increased dryness, or other signs of irritated skin, this may be due to one of the most common makeup mistakes:

1. Wear makeup in bed

After a long day or night, it can sometimes feel like an insurmountable task to wash off the makeup before going to bed, but it needs to be done. Why?

Your skin produces oil and sebum naturally throughout the day. When combined with makeup that stays in your pores for hours (not to mention bacteria that come in contact with your skin by touching your face or pollution), there is great potential for breakouts. Clogged pores, dull complexion and increased blackheads are just a few of the problems that can arise if you go to bed without washing your face.

The best way to avoid these skin problems is to Do a double clean before you call it a night. An oil-based cleanser is best for breaking up and removing makeup, followed by a second cleaning with your favorite formula that works deep in the pores to remove makeup impurities and traces after the first cleaning.

Eminence Organics rice milk 3 in 1 cleaning water

2. Exercise in make-up

Sport is actually great for the skin, however If you do this with a full face of makeup, you can expect breakouts and irritation!

When sweat, oil, and makeup are combined, there is an increased risk of clogged pores, dull complexions, and uneven texture. Before going to the cardio machine, cleanse your skin quickly with a gentle but effective formula like Eminence Organics Rice Milk 3 in 1 Cleanser that moisturizes and moisturizes the skin while makeup is cleaned, strengthened and removed.

3. Skip an SPF moisturizer

You know that Sun protection is important to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Did you know, however, that using a sunscreen moisturizer brings double benefits to your skin? When the skin is dry, the make-up is difficult to apply and often dries out the skin even more, which leads to a dull complexion and increasingly visible fine lines and wrinkles.

Firm and moisturize the skin with an SPF cream before applying makeup – especially with a formula that addresses certain skin problems, such as a protective or corrective moisturizer.

4. Use expired products

You may have spent a pretty penny on this foundation or love the color of your favorite lip gloss. However, if you use the products for six months to a year, you're probably using expired makeup.

For some reasons, it is important to note the expiration dates of cosmetics. First, aged or expired makeup doesn't work as effectively due to changes in the consistency or degradation of active ingredients like SPF. Second, your skin could react to compromised ingredients. It is known that when using expired cosmetics, irritation, inflammation, redness, bumps and even blisters occur on the skin.

Bacterial growth is much more likely with expired products and when applied to the skin can increase the risk of infection or swelling in the eyes, lips and skin. Always pay attention to the expiry dates of cosmetics and throw them away if they look a little suspicious!

Woman applying lipstick

5. Apply makeup to dry skin

Have you ever tried applying lipstick to dry, flaky lips? You know that the results are less than excellent.

Apart from the appearance, the lipstick is not so easy to apply to dry lips and, depending on the formula, can zap traces of remaining moisture. The best way to keep your lips plump and healthy is to use a moisturizing balm before applying the lipstick.

Dry lips can tear or become irritated. Therefore, always use a lip balm rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which deeply replenishes the moisture and at the same time promotes collagen production.

6. Do not clean tools properly

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes and tools? If it's longer than a month, your breakouts or dull complexion may be the result of using dirty brushes.

Make-up brushes and sponges absorb oils, dirt and bacteria from the skin every time you use them – imagine walking for weeks or months without thoroughly cleaning them! Dirty makeup brushes can bring bacteria and debris into your pores and endanger your overall skin health. Wash all makeup brushes and reusable sponges monthly – weekly if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Our leading skin care trainer, Natalie Pergar, tells us all about these makeup mistakes and more in her video "In The Mix" below:

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65BF3Tpxbfo (/ embed)

These are some of the most common makeup mistakes that ruin your skin – have we missed any? What are your tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.