SINGAPORE – In a surprising turn of events, the home-grown CRU exercise business is set to close its last studio at Duxton Road on November 10. This closure marks the end of a decade-long journey for CRU, which also shuttered its branches in Orchard Road and Los Angeles, and abandoned plans to expand into Kuala Lumpur.

In a recent Instagram post on October 3, CRU announced its decision, stating, “The fitness landscape has evolved tremendously since we opened our doors in 2014, and in all transparency, so have we. After many years of navigating and pushing through market fluctuations, we feel it is time we take a step back to begin our own new chapters.” This heartfelt message, however, has left clients anxious, with numerous inquiries about refunds for their packages. Staff member Lina assured customers that details regarding compensation would be disclosed in November after the studio's final moving-out process.

The abrupt announcement caught many of the staff off-guard. According to Lina, employees were informed "just a few days before" the public announcement and were not provided with specific reasons for the closure. Despite the unexpected news, Lina noted that team members handled it well, with many understanding the decision given the competitive saturation in the fitness market.

Interestingly, CRU had previously set its sights on expanding to Kuala Lumpur, with recruitment efforts underway as of May 6. However, an unnamed staff member indicated that this plan faced unforeseen "hiccups," ultimately leading to its cancellation. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles branch struggled during the pandemic, contributing to the overall decline of CRU.

This trend of abrupt closures in the fitness sector is not isolated to CRU. The situation mirrors the fate of another local fitness chain, Ritual, which announced in February its intention to close all four of its Singapore locations. The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) has expressed concerns over the recent surge in gym closures, revealing that consumers lost a staggering $110,000 in advance payments for fitness packages in just 2023 alone.

As fitness studios grapple with heavy competition and the impact of public fitness facilities in Singapore, industry experts emphasize the challenges inherent in the gym business. Dr. Seshan Ramaswamy, an associate professor of marketing at Singapore Management University, highlighted, “The exercise, gym, and physical fitness business is highly competitive, as various kinds of studios, trainers, and gyms offer similar basic benefits: A combination of cardio workouts and strength training.”

With the impending closure of CRU, fitness enthusiasts in Singapore are left to navigate an evolving landscape of options. As the city-state's fitness scene faces growing pressures, one can’t help but wonder: What will the future hold for other local studios? Could we see more closures or a shift towards innovative fitness solutions? Only time will tell.