Empowering Fit Pros and Improving Fitness Performance: CoverMe Fitness’ Disruptive Approach.

CoverMe Fitness, now partnered with IDEA, offers a 360-degree solution that simplifies scheduling, improves recruitment, and empowers fitness professionals to run their careers.

Two female industry leaders are disrupting the fitness industry with a smart tool that gives fitness professionals more control over their careers while streamlining scheduling and hiring. In 2023, fitness industry veterans Rosanna Tucker and Beverlee Brinkworth started CoverMe Fitness after facing a time-consuming struggle to find reliable instructors and general classes on time. short. Their solution? A gig economy tool that secures in less than 30 seconds – and more.

CoverMe Fitness simplifies the process, improving fitness for fitness while providing independent trainers with more career opportunities. In its first year, the app was adopted by more than 3,600 fitness clubs worldwide, including major brands such as Virgin Active, with a 100% conversion rate from trial to adoption.

Earlier this year, CoverMe took a major step to accelerate its US launch by forming a partnership with the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the world’s leading association of fitness professionals. The app now offers a practical solution to one of the industry’s biggest challenges – recruiting – while opening new doors for fitness professionals.

Doris Thews, a well-respected industry expert, leads CoverMe’s US expansion as Vice President of Business Development. His experience and leadership drive CoverMe’s mission to redefine how fitness professionals and studios work – to make it easier for fitness professionals to find work and manage their money and for studios to fill classes seamlessly.

Athletech News caught up with Thews to discuss how CoverMe Fitness is paving the way for a new era of success and opportunity in the industry.

Q: What is the inspiration behind the CoverMe Fitness app, and how does it address the biggest challenges in the fitness industry today?

A: At its core, CoverMe is designed by fitness professionals for fitness professionals, so it’s relevant, purposeful and smart. Also, most fitness apps focus only on the facility, whereas CoverMe is truly a 360-degree, dual-focused solution for both equipment and fitness professionals with the goal of improving the entire industry.

The app deals with the old, often inefficient ways many gyms still manage class schedules and security. In today’s world of smartphones and gadgets, the business process is like using a cell phone to hail a taxi. Often, fitness centers rely on phone calls, Google spreadsheets, and complex systems to cover class or find instructors. CoverMe simplifies the entire process into two clicks in less than 30 seconds, saving time and reducing hassle and noise for both fitness professionals and equipment.

Q: What are the benefits of CoverMe for exercise professionals?

A: On a smaller scale, the app allows users to set up a group and get coverage quickly while providing access to benefits and rewards. It also functions as a “digital process,” where CPR certifications, qualifications and training programs are stored in one place.

At a macro level it provides flexibility in work arrangements, allowing fitness professionals to decide where, when, and how much they want to work. In many ways, it’s the “Uber of Fitness,” allowing instructors to take classes at their own pace and not be tied to the clubs or groups they work for. This gig economy model isn’t just innovative – it’s future-proofing, allowing the next generation of fitness professionals to take full control of their schedules and careers.

In addition, CoverMe offers a reward system for eligible professionals to receive great discounts on high-quality clothing, accessories and more.

Q: How does the app work with hiring fitness services?

A: Recruiting is a major pain point for many gyms. CoverMe provides information on class coverage and instructor availability, allowing gyms to see which areas are underserved (e.g., yoga instructors) and proactively recruit talent. Facilities can access a wider network than their own to invite qualified instructors, who have been screened within the designated area for screening, greatly reducing the time and effort required to find new talent. For example, Fitness First recently used the app to hire 15 group fitness instructors and 15 personal trainers. That kind of process is a game changer.

One of the exciting aspects of CoverMe’s partnership with IDEA is access to their entire membership database. This opens up a huge recruiting net, allowing services to tap into the pool of qualified professionals quickly and efficiently.

Q: What else does exercise equipment do?

A: Another benefit of the tools is compliance. With CoverMe, gyms can ensure all instructors have up-to-date certifications, including CPR, which the system automatically marks. If the documents expire (CPR, insurance) the instructor is “frozen” until they submit the renewal documents. There is also the ability to send notifications to instructors, such as important information about certain classes or announcements, to ensure everyone is on the same page. This simplifies the communication process, making it efficient and targeted.

Users can also choose to let the system process sub-requests automatically, or select subs themselves from a pool of qualified and vetted subs. Flexibility is important, because large groups and retail studios sometimes differ in how they want to handle group issues.

Q: What has been the impact of the collaboration with IDEA?

A: The partnership with IDEA is a game-changer for fitness professionals and facility staff. As I’ve shown, the app now connects to the IDEA database, gives gyms access to thousands of qualified and screened candidates, and instructors have more options to provide group coverage. .

The partnership brings another level of expertise to the industry by embedding IDEA’s educational and certification tools directly into the device. Educators can keep everything in one place and make sure they comply with the latest industry standards, which are essential for long-term success.

Q: How has the app been received since its launch?

A: The response has been very positive. I hear “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” a lot. CoverMe has been launched in the UK first, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with gyms and similar establishments recognizing it as the solution they’ve been waiting for.

Q: How does CoverMe help fitness professionals expand their opportunities and grow their careers?

A: Educators are no longer at the mercy of classes or tight schedules. With CoverMe, they can choose classes at their preferred time, set their own rates, and expand their reach beyond their practice. They also don’t need to spend unnecessary time getting coverage if they get sick. It also acts as a digital CV, showing their qualifications, experience, and availability, making it easier for services to find them and manage their services.

And CoverMe isn’t just for group fitness instructors — it’s for swim instructors, pickleball instructors, lifeguards and more.

Q: How do you see CoverMe shaping the future of the fitness industry?

A: The fitness industry, especially group fitness, has been slow to adopt the kind of technology we see in other industries. CoverMe will help us meet and exceed those standards.

This is not just about saving time, although that is a huge benefit. It’s also about freeing up gym staff to focus on what’s most important – providing a high-quality experience for their members. For fitness professionals, it’s about taking full control of their careers, allowing them to work at their own pace. This kind of empowerment is a paradigm shift for the industry.