Fitness Superstore x archfit
Case Study
archfit
Bermondsey, London
A premium, capped-membership boutique gym built around personalised training, coaches on the floor full time, and a space that makes people want to come back.
Type
Independent Gym
Project
Premium Boutique Gym Fitout
Scope
Equipment Planning | Flooring | Delivery & Installation
The Challenge
The railway arch is what gives archfit its character - high ceilings, exposed brickwork, a shape you wouldn't find in any standard commercial unit. But it's long and narrow, so the layout needed to make every square metre count.
And this wasn't a gym where the goal was to fit in as much equipment as possible. archfit runs on capped membership, personalised programming and full-time coaching, so the equipment needed to support that way of working rather than just fill the available space.
Site access was restricted to a single street-level entrance on a busy Bermondsey road. Equipment delivery and installation had to be coordinated within tight time-of-day windows, sequenced carefully so that nothing blocked the next stage, and aligned to a fixed opening date with no margin for slippage.
The location added another layer. A single street-level entrance on a busy Bermondsey road meant limited loading and unloading windows, and a multi-day sequenced installation where every delivery slot was pivotal to staying on programme and opening on time.
One supplier, one point of contact, one deadline. The project needed to stay joined up from start to finish.
The Solution
We worked with Rafael and Julio to understand the training model, the member journey and the outcome they wanted to achieve.
Rather than treating cardio, strength, free weights and flooring as separate purchases, we planned a complete training environment. Equipment positioning, member flow and the balance between training zones were considered together - so the finished gym would feel coherent rather than simply filled with equipment.
The specification was built to support the full member journey - from structured programmes and confidence-building to general fitness and higher-level training - with every piece of equipment earning its place on the floor.
Equipment Strategy
We recommended a combination of SHUA and Body Power to give archfit the right mix of durability, training variety, finish and space efficiency.
SHUA went in across cardio and selectorised strength. The build quality is commercial-grade, the compact footprint suited the arch, and the selectorised machines let trainers move members through personalised programmes smoothly without losing momentum mid-session.
Body Power was the right fit for the strength and functional training side - the free weight range is deep enough to support serious programming, the build quality is commercial-grade, and it delivers all of that at a price point that lets the budget go further. Dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, plates, benches, racks and accessories, with commercial rubber flooring laid throughout.
SHUA
BODY POWER
The Result
archfit opened in late June 2026, fully equipped and exactly as planned. Everything was handled through one point of contact - equipment, flooring, installation - from first conversation to handover. With 175,000 sq ft of UK-held stock behind the project, Rafael and Julio never had to worry about equipment arriving late or holding things up. The gym was ready for members from day one.
Members describe it as the best-equipped gym they've trained in - the equipment, the layout and the atmosphere all match the vision Rafael and Julio started with.
For a capped-membership gym built around retention, that early response says everything.
“
I'd recommend speaking to them early in your project. Their experience goes beyond equipment - they understand how everything comes together to create a successful gym.
Delivery & Installation
With a fixed opening date and restricted site access, delivery and installation were planned as carefully as the equipment specification itself. Equipment was sequenced through a single street-level entrance, with each delivery staged so that installation could follow without delay.
Fitness Superstore's 175,000 sq ft of UK-held stock gave the project real supply confidence, keeping equipment availability and installation aligned to the programme throughout.
A fully SHUA-trained installation team positioned and installed all equipment on site, ensuring the gym was handed over ready for opening - not left for archfit to coordinate separately.
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