How Gyms Build a New Member Welcome Kit with Branded Cans
A gym welcome kit is the first thing a new member holds from the club. Here is what to pack in it, why a cold branded can is the item members actually use on their first workout, and how to time kit reorders around the January and summer sign-up rush.
A gym welcome kit is the first thing a new member holds from the club. Here is what to pack in it, why a cold branded can is the item members actually use on their first workout, and how to time kit reorders around the January and summer sign-up rush.
The first week decides a lot. A new member who comes back three times in their first two weeks is far more likely to stay. A new member who comes once, feels lost, and never returns is the most expensive customer a gym can have, because you paid to get them and they never found a routine.
A good welcome kit will not fix a bad onboarding process. But it does one important job well: it makes the first visit feel like the start of something, not a transaction. This guide is for gym owners, general managers, and membership sales teams who want to build a welcome kit members actually use, with a branded water can as the item that gets used on day one.
What is a new member welcome kit?
A welcome kit is a small package a new member receives when they join or on their first visit. It can be a bag, a box, or a simple bundle handed over at the front desk. The goal is to make the member feel welcome, give them something useful for their first workouts, and remind them of the gym when they are not there.
Why include a branded water can in a welcome kit?
Most welcome kits are full of items that get used once or never. A cold can of water gets used within minutes.
- Immediate use: members drink it during their first workout.
- Brand in hand: your logo is in their photos and on the gym floor.
- Simple and affordable compared with apparel in multiple sizes.
- No sizing problems, unlike t-shirts.
- A reason to smile at the end of a tough first session.
What should go in a gym welcome kit?
Keep the kit useful, light, and on brand. Five to seven items is plenty.
- Two branded cans of water, one for the first workout and one for later.
- A small towel in gym colors.
- A quick start card with the first-week plan and key class times.
- A guest pass so the new member can bring a friend.
- A coupon for a personal training session or the café.
- A simple branded item such as a keychain, lock, or sticker.
- A handwritten welcome note from a coach or the manager, if you can manage it.
How can the can help with onboarding?
Add a QR code to the can that opens something useful for a new member.
- The first-week plan with classes suited to beginners.
- A booking page for an orientation or first personal training session.
- The app download link for the gym's booking app.
- A referral page where new members can invite a friend.
The digital side of the can is explained on Technology · Digital experience.
How should the welcome kit be handed over?
The moment matters as much as the contents.
- Hand it over in person at the first visit, not in a mailed envelope.
- Chill the cans so the first one is cold.
- Walk the member to the floor and point out one or two first steps.
- Take a welcome photo if the member is happy to, with the kit in hand.
- Follow up with a message after the first workout.
How many kits and cans should a gym order?
Plan from your average monthly sign-ups.
- Monthly new members x 2 cans per kit = cans per month for kits.
- A gym with 150 new members a month needs about 300 cans a month for kits alone.
- Add cans for staff, events, and in-club sales if you sell water too.
At We Can It, the minimum order is 21 cases, which is 504 cans. For many gyms, that covers one to two months of welcome kits. Production takes about 2 to 3 weeks from artwork approval.
When should gyms reorder welcome kit cans?
Sign-ups are seasonal. January and the start of summer are usually the busiest months for new members, and late summer and December are often slower.
- Before January: place a larger order in November so kits are ready for the New Year rush.
- Before summer: reorder in April.
- Quiet months: order the minimum or use existing stock.
- Reorder point: when you have about four weeks of kits left.
Which can size and water type suit a welcome kit?
- 12oz Sleek: looks premium and fits most gym bags and cup holders.
- 16oz: a bigger pour for members going straight into a tough session.
- Still: the default for most people.
- Alkaline: a good fit for gyms with a strong wellness audience.
What should the can design say to a new member?
- Gym logo as the main mark.
- A welcome line such as "Day one starts here."
- Brand colors that match the gym floor and signage.
- Optional QR code to the first-week plan.
Our print options are described on Technology · Labels. Label print starts at 21 cases and digital print starts at 100 cases.
How do you know if the welcome kit is working?
Measure what you can, and keep it simple.
- Visits in the first 14 days for members who received a kit.
- QR scans on the welcome can.
- Orientation or personal training bookings from the QR page.
- Guest passes redeemed.
- Member feedback from a short survey after the first month.
Compare these numbers over a few months rather than a few days, and change one item in the kit at a time.
What mistakes do gyms make with welcome kits?
- Too much stuff that ends up in the trash.
- Warm water because cans were stored in the back.
- No next step, so the kit feels nice but does not lead anywhere.
- Running out during the January rush.
- Kits for some members but not others, which feels unfair.
How do welcome kits fit different types of gyms?
Not every gym welcomes members the same way, and the kit should match your model.
Big box and commercial gyms sign up many members each month, often online. Keep the kit compact and fast to hand over at the front desk: two cans, a towel, and a quick start card. The QR code on the can does a lot of the onboarding work by opening the app or a beginner class schedule.
Premium and luxury clubs can make the kit an experience. Present it in a branded box, add a personalized card, and hand it over during a club tour. A sparkling can for the lounge and a still can for the workout floor shows attention to detail.
CrossFit boxes and training studios run on community. Include a guest pass and invite the new member to the next community workout. A can with the box logo is something members are proud to post.
Corporate and residential gyms often onboard in waves when a building opens or a new team joins. Order a larger run timed to those dates and keep cans chilled for the first week of access.
Whatever the model, the principle is the same: the kit should make the first visit easier and lead to the second visit.
New member welcome kit checklist
- Choose five to seven useful items.
- Include two branded cans of water.
- Add a QR code to the first-week plan.
- Chill cans before first visits.
- Hand kits over in person.
- Follow up after the first workout.
- Reorder before January and before summer.
- Track first-14-day visits.
Frequently asked questions
What should be in a gym new member welcome kit?
Two branded cans of water, a small towel, a quick start card, a guest pass, a coupon for training or the café, and a simple branded item. Keep it useful and light.
Why put water in a welcome kit?
Because members use it right away during their first workout, and it keeps your brand in their hands and photos.
How many cans should a gym order for welcome kits?
Multiply monthly new members by two. A gym with 150 sign-ups a month needs about 300 cans for kits.
When should gyms reorder?
Before the New Year rush and before summer, and whenever you have about four weeks of kits left.
What is the minimum order for branded gym water?
We Can It starts at 21 cases, which is 504 cans, with about 2 to 3 weeks of production after artwork approval.
Should the welcome can have a QR code?
It helps. A QR code can open the first-week plan, an orientation booking, or the gym app, giving new members a clear next step.
Get a quote for branded water for your gym welcome kits
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