7 Ways Fitness Studios Can Prepare for Father’s Day

According to the National Retail Federation, spending for Father’s Day is projected to reach $22.4 billion. In addition, 75% of consumers plan to celebrate the father figures in their lives. While Father’s Day is a time to honor dads, father figures, and mentors, it also presents a significant opportunity for consumer spending. The average shopper is expected to spend nearly $190 on gifts and experiences, which creates a golden opportunity for local fitness studios. 

If you operate a gym or boutique studio, Father’s Day can be a great chance to boost your summer revenue. The key to making the most of this occasion is through effective, targeted marketing. You'll need to position your offerings as the perfect gift for the dads in your community.  

Here are seven ideas to help you turn your gym into the ultimate Father’s Day destination.  

1. Host a Father’s Day pop-up event

For many families, the perfect Father’s Day begins and ends with quality time spent together. So why not make that time high-energy, fun, and inclusive for everyone? Host a festive pop-up event at your studio or at a local park featuring games, mini competitions, or relay races that dads and their families can enjoy together. 

This event not only strengthens your studio’s community ties but also creates opportunities for collaboration with other local businesses. Consider partnering with nearby vendors to offer added perks like free smoothies, giveaways, or raffles featuring coupons and branded merchandise. It’s a great way to boost attendance, market your business, and create a memorable Father’s Day experience that keeps your studio top of mind. 

2. Create Father’s Day swag bags

Holidays like Father’s Day offer a prime opportunity to spotlight your studio’s retail and branded merchandise. If you sell items like apparel, water bottles, or sweat towels, promote those overstocked products in the days leading up to Father’s Day. Rather than selling them individually, consider bundling them into a themed swag bag. Not only does this create a ready-made gift option, but it also turns every dad sporting your branded merchandise into a walking advertisement for your studio. 

3. Promote Father’s Day gift cards

When in doubt, gift cards are a surefire way to boost revenue, especially during holidays like Father’s Day. Not only do people love getting gift cards, but it’s also the perfect option for last-minute shoppers and anyone who's unsure about what to buy for their loved ones.  

Promote both physical and digital gift cards on your website, at the front desk of your studio, and across your social media channels in the days leading up to Father’s Day.  

Take it a step further by creating Father’s Day–themed gift cards that are customized with your studio’s branding. This adds a personal, professional touch and helps reinforce your brand every time the card is seen or used.  

4. Offer discounted memberships, classes, and packages

Father’s Day is the perfect time to roll out limited-time offers. Consider offering discounted memberships, drop-in classes, or class packages specifically for dads or for anyone purchasing a gift for a dad. Options could include a "Buy One, Get One" deal, an introductory offer, or a discounted personal training package. These offers can increase sign-ups and introduce new clients to your studio.  

5. Organize a "Dad's and Donuts" workout

Combine fitness and fun by hosting a “Dads and Donuts” workout event. Depending on your studio’s specialty, whether it’s strength training, martial arts, or CrossFit, put together a lighthearted workout featuring partner drills, circuits, or team-based exercises. After the session, treat attendees to a donut social as a fun reward for their hard work. This event is a great way to celebrate the dads in your community while giving them a chance to connect, socialize, and enjoy the day in a unique and memorable way. 

6. Create a father and child fitness challenge

Engage your members with a father and child fitness challenge designed to strengthen family bonds and promote healthy habits. Build the challenge around fun, age-appropriate partner workouts that encourage dads and kids to work together. Some high-energy activities to consider include relay races, obstacle courses, or friendly competitions featuring push-ups, planks, and other simple exercises. 

You can host the challenge as a one-day, in-person event or extend it over the course of a week through your app or social media. Offer prizes for participation or top performers to keep motivation and engagement high.  

Promote your special offers

For your Father’s Day events and promotions to succeed, they need the right level of visibility. Ensure you're reaching your audience with a multi-channel marketing campaign. Promote your specials through social media posts and targeted ads and encourage your followers to like and share. You can also update your website with an attention-grabbing pop-up banner to showcase your Father’s Day offers.  

Additionally, take advantage of the Mindbody App by promoting introductory offers to attract new clients who are actively looking for fitness and wellness experiences. Use email and SMS campaigns together to connect with current members and re-engage leads who’ve shown interest in the past but haven’t yet converted. Mindbody's partnership with Attentive is the perfect way to send automated messages and encourage sales and sign-ups.  

Make your studio the place to be for Father's Day

Whether it’s a family fitness challenge, a “Dads and Donuts” event, or a well-timed membership deal, the key to an enjoyable and profitable Father's Day is to align your offerings with what people are looking for: memorable experiences and thoughtful gifts. By planning thoughtful events and offers and using strategic marketing to get the word out, your fitness studio can stand out as the go-to spot for celebrating dads in a fun, active, and meaningful way.