REVL Training seizes gap in emerging market – landing its 50th studio opening
Six years after launching post-COVID lockdown with four studios in Australia, the boutique fitness franchise marks its continued global momentum with first location in Vietnam.
REVL has opened its 50th studio location in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, marking a major milestone in the brand’s global expansion. The opening brings REVL’s network to 50 operating studios across seven countries, with more than 70 territories sold worldwide.
The milestone highlights a six-year growth journey that began in June 2020, when REVL launched with four studios across New South Wales and South Australia in the wake of Australia’s first COVID-19 lockdowns.
“We launched in June 2020 coming out of lockdown. Everyone thought we were mad, but we had full belief in the product and the impact this brand could have. Fifty studios and seven countries later, that belief’s been everything – fuelled by our franchisees, our coaches, and most importantly our members.” – Josh Mildren, CEO, REVL Training
A Methodology Built to Scale
REVL’s founding strategy – ‘Define The Gap’ – centred on identifying a gap in the market between high-volume group fitness concepts and more specialised training models that often lacked accessibility or long-term progression.
That meant periodised 13-week training blocks with defined sets, reps, and RPE targets, and progressive overload integrated into every cycle. The model draws from sports science-informed programming and delivers it within a community studio format – a combination the brand credits for its strong retention metrics.
Across its global network, REVL reports a member attrition rate of less than 5%, against an industry average of 24%. Average studio membership across the network exceeds 200, with more than 10,000 members globally.
Industry Recognition and APAC Momentum
The Vietnam opening arrives during REVL’s strongest period of industry recognition. The brand was recently named Boutique of the Year at the 2026 Beyond Activ Asia-Pacific Awards, and is currently a finalist for both FCA Franchisor of the Year and FCA Franchisee of the Year – the latter for Bec Kirkup, owner of REVL Greenslopes. Co-founders Josh Mildren and Ben Woolford have both been nominated in the Top 30 Franchise Executives.
“When we started this, 50 felt like a dream. We were an early-stage business asking people to bet on a vision. We didn’t chase numbers, we focused on sustainable growth. Six years later, we’re now opening our 50th studio in a new market. We’ve never been more certain that we built this the right way – with patience, purpose, and the right people beside us. 50 isn’t the peak, it’s the launchpad.” – Ben Woolford, Chief Growth Officer, REVL Training
The franchise model has been deliberately designed to support scalable growth across diverse markets, with flexible studio formats ranging from compact urban footprints through to flagship locations.
Vietnam represents the latest step in REVL’s broader Asia-Pacific expansion strategy that includes Taiwan, opening in Q3 2026, and a new Area Development Agreement in Malaysia for four studios. REVL’s five-year plan targets 100+ open studios and 150+ territories sold by 2028, across 10 countries, with a membership base exceeding 20,000.
Learn more about owning a REVL studio.
