New Image Gym, our story so far - 2007

 

I began training in 1988 at the age of 18, I'm 38 now and still in love with the iron.   When I started off training it was in my bosses cellar.  He told me that once I could bench a plate each side, he would take me down to a proper gym (that way I wouldn't shame him or myself!).  Two months later I was training at Arthur's Gym, Golden Hill Park, Urmston, Manchester.  Later on I trained at Cosmos Gym, Sale, then in a mates garage and after that at Renaissance in Salford, when it had the Phoenix Boxing camp downstairs.  My employment was mostly based around the building trade, but I still managed to fit a college course in to get my basic gym certificates.  From the start I always had one eye on becoming an instructor or gym owner!  Although being young and single, most of my money was quickly spent.

When I was in my 20s I spent a bit of time traveling the USA and Australia and I looked closely at the gym culture and the lifestyle making notes for future ideas.  Everything I did up to this point was ideas and dreams, nothing more.

Everything fell into place around 2000 when I finally married Helen.  You know that they say behind every successful business man there is a good woman, and this is true in my case!

When we married we relocated from Manchester to Sleaford, Lincs.  I had family here and thought it would be a good place to bring a young family up.

After a brief spell working for myself in the building trade, Helen completed her fitness training and did a fantastic job with our business plan.  Quite a feat as at this point we had two young pre-schoolers running around!  I would like to say at this point, that without Helen I wouldn't have got the gym off the ground.  Apart from being a supportive wife and business woman, Helen is a fantastic mother to our 3 children; Charlotte 8, Jakob 6 and Robert 2.  Helen is the rock our marriage and business is built on.

Setting up our gym wasn't without heart ache and red tape, but eventually with persistence and hard work, we pulled it off and proved all the doubters wrong and New Image Gym was launched in March 2004.   

Originally we set up in a small building with just the essential free weights and a scattering of cardio.  Over the next 12 months we became busy and as our prices are affordable and the service personal, the word soon got round. We were picking up new loyal members slowly but surely.  Inevitably with the business growing, in 2005 we secured and moved into a bigger premises and this is when New Image really took off.  We have constantly reinvested in equipment time and again and now in September 2007 we believe that we are about where we need to be on the equipment front.  Our gym has fast established itself as the serious, professional gym in Lincolnshire with many people driving up to 20 miles to come and workout, ignoring their local gyms.

The way I would describe our gym is, its 2 gyms within 1.  Firstly, there is a hardcore body building gym, with a huge selection of free weights and hammer equipment.  Secondly, in a separate room we have a huge cardio and resistance area, this is aimed at more your leisure trainers, ladies, and older members.  Hopefully there is something for everyone! 

We run a tight ship at the gym with myself working every day, my parents do an excellent job helping out, and Helen takes care of all the paperwork side of things and comes in when time allows.  With my life and passion revolving around bodybuilding, you are always welcome to sit and chat after you finish training whilst having a protein shake.  If making money was my main objective I would have never have made it this far, as I said earlier I'm in love with the iron!

Come and train at New Image Gym.  Transform your body, your mind, your life and meet new friends and gain more confidence.  We sincerely look forward to meeting you, Mark Dawson. 

THE END OF AN ERA by Mark Dawson

 

Back in the 90’s, not so long ago, I made my way to Arthur’s Gym in Manchester.  It was a cold January and the snow had frozen over into a grey ice.  I didn’t have a car then, so I slipped and crunched through the ice.  The gym had no heating and the dumbells and barbells were wet with condensation and stuck to your hands.  Members who were already working out had woolly hats and thick jumpers with hooded sweatshirts, steam coming from their hands and nostrils.  This was hardcore, you didn’t have to ask for a spot, hands just appeared on your elbows when you reached failure.  If you didn’t use good form you were criticised.  If you beat a personal best, you were congratulated.  On the walls were pictures of members who had won bodybuilding and strength shows.  What has happened to these gyms???  We have been infected by viruses.  In all major cities and towns big gyms have sprung up faster than the plague, they have 2,000-5,000 members and people join and leave constantly.  What it has resulted in, is that there is no longer the personal touch, and no community bond.

At New Image Gym, we are trying to offer a service and create a community, although we have over 1,100 members we try to remember our members names and take a bit of interest in their lives.  We care about peoples training.  We want people to achieve their goals and not just take their hard-earned money.  People are real, not just a number.  We try to keep our prices realistic and competitive as we understand the cost of living.  Helen and I are working class and we have worked hard to achieve our goals.  We are career driven, not money orientated.

We believe New Image Gym to be the best gym in Sleaford and perhaps Lincolnshire.  We will soon be adding more equipment and because we love training, you can rest assured that we will always have our fingers on the pulse and deliver the goods. 

New Image Gym will only get better and we will endeavour to help and support our members with all of their fitness goals.  When it comes to customer care, no other gym comes close – not even nearly!