The history of the rise of the chain of the Planet Fitness sports and recreational clubs is closely connected with the appearance of the first fitness club in this country. At the end of the 1980’s Irina S. Razumova, after living in Sweden for a long time, brought into the new Russia western standards of management, which were successfully adapted and implemented by her in the Russian market, giving a start to the development of the Russian fitness industry. In 1990 the first fitness club was opened under her leadership in the territory of the former Soviet Union, in Leningrad. Within 5 years she was the head the first Russian chain of fitness clubs, which evolved out of the “first robin” of national fitness.
Planet Fitness Company was founded by Irina S. Razumova in 1997, when the first clubs of this brand started operating in St. Petersburg. In Moscow the first Planet Fitness appeared in February 1998. The Company offered its customers a new affordable-to-everyone format of fitness and rapidly took leading position in the industry of sports and health services.
In 1999 Planet Fitness launched a unique initiative “Your health costs a dollar per day” – a revolutionary proposal of the club chain on Varshavskoye Motorway, taking into account that an average annual fee for a fitness club membership in Moscow at that time was $3000-3500 per year.
Planet Fitness for the first time in the history of the Russian fitness industry introduced various club categories: “Family Rest”, “Fitness”, “Fitness and Sport”, “Fitness and Rest”, “Personal Training Studio”, “Dancing Studio”, and “Hotel Fitness”.
2005 became a jubilee year for the fitness industry – 15 years elapsed since the time when the enthusiasts of healthy lifestyle had passed the threshold of the first fitness center on the territory of the former USSR.
In 2006 the Planet Fitness chain of sports and recreational clubs was called “Brand of the year/EFFIE” in the “Services” category. The company is forging ahead: over 40 projects are being developed in various Russian regions, on a permanent basis experts provide consulting services to beginning entrepreneurs involved in the fitness industry.
In 2007, the Company launched the Studio Project, a new unique format of fitness services having no similar competitors. The given project was designed for devotees of healthy life style, who wish to develop themselves in the selected field of fitness but would not like to pay more for other programmes. At the present time, on the basis of multifunctional clubs of the Planet Fitness network, there are active Studios of Dances, Yoga, Box, Kids, and Stott Pilates.
With respect to the results of 2007, Planet Fitness was recognised as Superbrand 2007 by the independent board of experts at the Russian division of Superbrands International. Planet Fitness International Holding won this title for the "perfect reputation in the own field and both material and emotional advantages for clients as compared with other brands".
In 2008, Planet Fitness continued the own active development. New clubs were opened in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Moreover, the Company entered a new region of Belgorod.
In the seventh All-Russian Non-Profit Network Companies Competition (Golden Networks 2008), Planet Fitness was recognised as the best company among fitness centres. For several years already, Planet Fitness has been taking part in and winning the prizes of this competition that evidences a high level of development of this Company, and great professional acknowledgement.
IN BRIEF
- November 1990 – opening of the first fitness club in national history in Leningrad.
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December 1997 – creation of the new brand Planet Fitness, re-branding of the two operating World Class clubs in St. Petersburg.
February 1998 – opening a club of the chain on Malaya Dmitrovka Street (Moscow). -
1998 – creation of the Fitness Academy, a unique educational institution in charge of preparation of professional cadres.
1999 – The First International Congress of Planet Fitness. The mission of this annual event was to popularize mass physical education among the population, to demonstrate advanced experience and exchange it with other professionals involved in the “health” industry - May 2002 – start of the first international project of the chain – opening of the first Ukrainian club in Kiev, which also became the 12th club of the chain.
- September 2003 – launching of the first franchising project of Planet Fitness – in Samara.
- February 2003 – launching of the second franchising project of Planet Fitness – in Kazan (re-branding of the World Class club).
- November 2004 – “window” to Europe, opening of Planet Fitness in Stockholm (Sweden), the first Russian brand sports and recreational club in a foreign country.
- October 28-30, 2005 – festive events in St. Petersburg dedicated to the 15th anniversary of fitness in Russia.
- December 2006 – the 6th International Congress of Planet Fitness, which gathered over 4,000 admirers and professionals of the sports and health industry.
- October 26, 2006 – the Planet Fitness chain of sports and recreational clubs was called “Brand of the year/EFFIE 2006” in the “Services” category.
- February 2007 – starting of new unique service-fitness club - Studio
- February 7, 2008 – the network of sport and fitness clubs awarded the Planet Fitness chain with the “Super brand of year 2007” title.
- April, 2008 – launching of Planet Fitness in a new region – opening a club of the chain in Belgorod.
- May 2008 – “Planet Fitness” was called “The Golden Chain 2008” in the category “Fitness centers”
- November 2008 – “Planet Fitness” becomes the best company-employer of the year according to Rabota@Mail.ru in the nomination “Sport/Entertainment”
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December 2008 – “Planet Fitness” celebrates 10 years anniversary. In frames of the event two federal scale contests has been hold: dancing contest “Dancing Stars” and bodybuilding competition “Body Stars”. Famous cultural and sport workers, Olympic champions and Russian pop stars congratulated the Company.
