“They really do need to get it right the first time,” said Jeff Stoker, an experienced sales rep with SchoolLockers.com. “In my experience with gym owners, we usually go back and forth a few times to determine and verify what their needs are going to be and they might say; I better go back and re-measure that space so I can know exactly what can fit. So we try to hammer out some details and make changes before we finally get that order placed.”
If you‘re thinking about opening a gym, or re-doing the lockers in an existing gym, then it is true. You need to get it right the first time so you can save money, headaches and time. And to do that, odds are you’re going to need to contact a professional like Jeff Stoker who has spent years specifically in the locker industry.
“I usually ask them what their lockers are going to be used for," said Stoker. "Are they for employees, or patrons and what are they going to put in them? Just a handbag or a cell phone, or sports gear like a basketball or a football helmet, or are they going to be putting just a change of clothing in there or sports equipment, and then you can get an idea of what size a locker they need.”
This in-depth knowledge about lockers is something that our experienced staff at SchoolLockers.com can offer to our clients that most of our competitors cannot provide. Normally large companies that sell all sorts of Division 10 items (as well as lockers) don’t have that experience because simply put; they sell SO MANY items and don't focus solely on lockers. Here, we sell LOCKERS—that’s it. So we know what we’re talking about and can perhaps show you options you haven’t even considered before…
As you talk with your locker specialist, be sure to really ask probing questions about what other gyms or rec centers have ordered. Be sure to really be inquisitive about the model, the options and the construction of the lockers you are thinking about buying. For example a locker for gym-specific purposes is very different than what most people initially think they want...
“Well for a gym they tend to favor the heavy duty designs and thicker gauge steel because these lockers are probably going to take some abuse," advises Stoker. "People are going to be slamming some doors around. Also one of the next biggest options they want is ventilation with some extra perforations in the door so that airflow can go through."
By offering heavy-duty lockers, rather than fine wood lockers, you can extend the life of the lockers you choose. Heavy-duty ones also have more ventilation slots to dry those stinky socks and gym clothes.Next, smart shoppers will make sure the size of the locker will address their needs.
“This comes up all the time. The actual measurements most locker vendors will have on their websites are the external measurements of a locker. And the thickness of the steel is very nominal so when you say you have a 12” wide locker, you actually have about 12” wide on the inside. On the front door because the frame is just under an inch wide on each side of the opening, so your actual opening on a 12” wide locker is just a little over 10” so that is a good point to remember.”
…then make sure the size of the locker will address your client’s unique needs.
“I usually ask people if they will be putting sports equipment in there, and make sure they have a door wide enough to have the stuff be able to go in the door and into the locker,” adds Stoker.
By asking these relatively simple questions, a knowledgeable sales rep can get you the lockers that you truly need—not something they want to move.
It is crucial that when making an order, you need to remember what the lead time is for some lockers. Most are what is called “drop ship” and those are pretty much the most popular colors and styles and are set up to be sent out to vendors and buyers very, very quickly—but not everything you see in the catalog comes in a drop ship option! By planning well ahead you can ensure you get exactly what you want by the time you need it.
“Yes, this is an issue,” warns Stoker. “All because the locker in that particular color or style is in a catalog or website, doesn’t mean you can buy it and it will arrive in two days. Normally you can expect a six-to-eight-week lead time on production lockers.”
Planning ahead will guarantee you get the ones you want. Now what about locks?
“It is very, very dependent upon the buyer and how they want to manage their locker system. All lockers, whether they are plastic or metal or wood or plastic laminate—they’re all padlock ready. So a patron of a gym can just bring their own padlock, throw it on there, and be good,’ said Stoker. “And that is how a lot of gyms go. If they want, and they are a little more upscale, they can go with a key lock or an electronic lock.”
So again, consult and really utilize the experience of the sales rep when it comes to choosing which type of lock will suit your needs, as well as your client’s needs.
Ask yourself; "Why do people want to come to my gym?" Odds are the lockers fall low on that list, but the equipment you offer ranks high.Finally, and perhaps more importantly, remember that always having the best, top-of-the-line lockers and locks may be cool, but ask yourself a simple question and you may discover something. Lockers may not be where you want to spend the majority of your budget--?
“When I first start with clients, they’re kind of gung-ho and they want all the best equipment and they want their gym to look the best, so when they’re calling in for lockers, they want the best lockers they can find,” adds Stoker.
But finding something that works well, and isn't the top-of-the-one may give a gym owners that much more money to focus on why people would choose their gyms in the first place.
“Then we start going through the pricing and options and a lot of times they realize that they don’t need the most expensive locker out there," said Stoker. "They can go with something different and maybe even something used so they can save a lot of money overall with their lockers and put that money into their equipment that they need which is really the main part of a gym.”
