It took some time, but now the German Fitness and Health Industry Association (DIFG e.V.) has found an office manager. With Niels Nagel, an industry insider has been recruited who has already been working in and for the fitness industry for over 18 years. With him the DIFG e.V. would like to realize a qualitative and quantitative growth. F&G editor-in-chief Patrick Schlenz met the new man for an exclusive interview in Bonn.
F&G:Hello Niels, congratulations on your new position. Why did you want to change professionally?
Niels Nagel:Thank you very much for the congratulations and the opportunity for the interview. I had been working in the industry for many years in a consulting company and was looking for a new challenge where I could use the know-how I had gained.
F&G: What appeals to you about working for DIFG e.V.?
Niels Nagel: After some good discussions with Ralph Scholz, the 1st Chairman of DIFG e.V., I recognized the potential of the association. It appeals to me very much to expand the existing service portfolio of the association and thus also to generate new members for the association and thus to give the industry more weight.
F&G: Have you already spoken to all the member companies?
Niels Nagel: No, that was not possible in the short time available. But I am currently in the process of contacting all members to find out what their expectations of the association are. I will then present this important information to the DIFG board and include it in my work.
F&G: You have been on board since December. What specific projects are you currently working on?
Niels Nagel: We will offer our members even more benefits. That's why we are currently working on many really good projects that offer clear benefits for the companies and a unique selling point for the association. For example, during FIBO we will offer the "Lunch & Learn concept" together with interested companies. Between 12 and 3 p.m., the companies will provide information about their products and services in short impulse presentations in a relaxed atmosphere, after which they will be able to offer further advice at their exhibition stand. This service is for DIFG members, but can also be booked by other companies. The special feature of this new concept is that interested visitors can listen to the companies' new concepts in a relaxed atmosphere during their lunch. More information can also be found on the association's website
www.difg-verband.deAußerdem. We are currently working on a new study on the market potential of medical fitness.
With this study, which the consulting firm Deloitte is currently working on for us, we would like to show our members what opportunities there are in this market segment. In addition, the industry study with the financial key figures, which is prepared annually in cooperation with CREFO, will also be presented again at FIBO 2015. We will be very happy to keep you up to date on everything.
F&G: Which topics do you still want to tackle?
Niels Nagel: I will take care of the topics fitness & health! The topic of studies with proven and reliable statements on the sense and benefits of training in fitness and health studios is particularly close to my heart. From my point of view there is not enough valid data. With the help of such studies, we can present the industry in a positive light to the public, both in the media and vis-à-vis politicians and the health care system.
F&G: What affinity do you have for the subject of studies? They are usually only taken seriously if they are carried out by well-known companies, such as Deloitte, or by universities.
Niels Nagel: I still work to a certain extent as a research assistant at the Center for Health through Sport and Exercise, an institute of the German Sport University in Cologne, where I am currently writing my doctoral thesis. This makes the position of office manager the optimal opportunity for me to use my know-how from my work in sports science in cooperation with the member companies to develop the fitness and health industry. I also see the approach of conducting relevant studies as a way for the industry to learn from these studies and integrate results into their products.
F&G: What would you consider an important topic for a study?
Niels Nagel: In my view, we need longitudinal studies. For example, how do people who do regular and qualified supervised health training fare compared to people who don't do such training? Or: What core competencies can commercially managed fitness & health studios claim?
F&G: Where else would the DIFG like to position itself?
Niels Nagel: Of course, we have a great interest in seeing the fitness market experience healthy growth, especially in the quality segment. The topic of "health through muscle training" must be anchored in the minds of the population. For this reason, we should support nationwide initiatives such as a "National Fitness Day", provided it is supported by the entire industry. Good public relations work is the keyword here for me!
F&G: Finally, I would like to know how the DIFG will present itself at FIBO?
Niels Nagel: On the trade visitor days, we want to promote the fitness companies with the Lunch & Learn. We have decided to support Europe-Active, our European umbrella association, together with other national associations on a joint stand.
F&G: Dear Niels, thank you very much for the interview!
Short VITA of Niels NagelBirth
1970Marital status
:
Married, 2 childrenHobbies
: Triathlon, photographyEducation
: Dipl. sports teacherPrevious
employers: DSHS Cologne, INLINE
managementconsultancy (self-employed).
Industry experience: sports management, club management until 1997, since 1998 management consultant in the fitness industry, since 2011 research activities, speaker activitiesFor
more information on the work of DIFG e.V., Niels Nagel is available immediately at 0172-4423296 or Nagel@difg-verband.de.
Source: F&G
Image source: #109439683 SFIO CRACHO / stock.adobe.com
Published on: 27 March 2015