Club Business
May 2007
> > > The magazine of the
International Health, Racquet
& Sportsclub Association
www.ihrsa.org
International
David Schnabel,
Gold’s Gym
International’s
new CEO, is
prepared to
lead the worldfamous chain
into a new period
of progress ›35
Spa-Tacular!
›38
Long considered
a luxury, spa
services are quickly becoming
a necessity in clubs
Franchise
Frenzy
›50
Fitness-franchise
systems’ fiveyear growth has been
an impressive 144%!
$7
Mining
Gold’s Promise
www.startrac.com
Editor’s Welcome
Our ‘message’ is getting
out in an impressive way.
Clubs Approach
A Tipping Point
Club Business
International
The mission of IHRSA is to grow,
protect, and promote the industry, and
to provide its members with benefits that will
help them be more successful.
PUBLISHING
Editor-In-Chief: Craig R. Waters
Publisher: Jay M. Ablondi
Managing Editor: Rebecca K. Waters
S
Tracy Powell
4
ometimes, it seems, things appear to come together perfectly. Paths cross.
Stars align. Trends converge. And that certainly is the case today: I’ve
just returned, this morning, from IHRSA’s 26th Annual International
Convention and Trade Show, which brought nearly 13,000 fitness professionals together in San Francisco. A proof of the May issue of CBI—filled with
details about auspicious developments—sits on my desk. So, too, does a new
study from the Mercanti Group, a Minneapolis-based investment bank, that’s
titled “Health Clubs Flex Their Muscles.” And the cover story of the new
issue of Newsweek lying on a nearby table bears the headline “Exercise
and the Brain.”
The Newsweek article focuses specifically on the
link between cognition and physical activity—“We
know that working out is good for the body, but
now research says it also makes us smarter,” the
cover proclaims—but the special 23-page section
is a virtual compendium of the countless benefits
of exercise. The piece describes the positive effect
it can have on, among other things, Alzheimer’s,
cancer, heart disease, and, predictably, obesity.
Newsweek, I should point out, is a magazine that’s
read by more than 23 million people.
Our message is getting out!
That, in turn, is having a distinct, profitable, and
persistent impact on the industry, as the Mercanti
Group reports. It notes that the sector generated
$17.6 billion in revenue in 2006, a 10.7% increase
Craig R. Waters
over 2005, and has enjoyed an 8% compound
annual growth rate since 1993. The study acknowledges IHRSA’s pivotal role, and pays tribute to the
achievements of many of the club companies that appear regularly in these pages,
including Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM), Town Sports International Holdings, Inc.
(Nasdaq: CLUB), 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Gold’s Gym International, Inc. (GGI),
and Curves International, Inc.
“The U.S. health club industry has sustained annual growth in excess of
GDP (gross domestic product) growth for an extended period of time,” writes
Mercanti analyst Dave Remick, “and is expected to continue on that pace
for the foreseeable future.”
The flattering facts offered by Newsweek and Remick are, of course, ones
that are chronicled each month in CBI, and this issue is no exception. The
subject of our Q&A, David Schnabel, the new CEO of GGI, is the first with a
non-fitness background to head up that company. His impressive financial
and management-consulting credentials speak clearly and strongly about the
industry’s growing sophistication. Our fifth annual review of fitness franchises,
which encompasses many of the success stories cited by Mercanti, finds
that they’re growing faster than virtually any other franchise category…
There have never been so many great reasons for those of us in the health
and fitness club industry to get out of bed in the morning. n
Club Business International
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w w w. i h r s a . o r g
Editor: Jennifer H. McInerney
Associate Editor: Patricia Glynn
Contributing Editors:
Patricia Amend, Jon Feld, Julie M. King,
Catherine Larner, Lesley Mahoney, Jean Suffin,
Stephen Wallenfels, Kristen A. Walsh
Associate Director of Advertising: Michele Eynon
Advertising Account Executives:
Jessica Gutstein, Donna Garrity,
Christine Paterson
Advertising Business Development
William Finn
Advertising Assistant:
Katie Noonan
Art Direction, Design, Production:
tpgcreative, Boston, MA
CLUB BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES:
c/o IHRSA
263 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210
800-228-4772 USA & Canada
617-951-0055 • 617-951-0056 FAX
E-mail: cbi@ihrsa.org
www.ihrsa.org
To order reprints of articles:
Call (toll-free) 203-226-5780
or visit www.ihrsa.org/cbimagazine
Club Business International (ISSN 1043-9692,
USPS 766-570) is published monthly ©2006
by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub
Association, 263 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210. All
rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Boston,
Massachusetts, and additional mailing offices.
Canadian Sales Agreement #40767601.
Subscription rate for members is $48 per year,
which is included in the dues. Additional subscriptions $48 per year (USA) and $75 (International).
Nonmember subscription rates are $72 (USA) and
$120 (International).
POSTMASTER: Please send change of address
to Club Business International, c/o IHRSA,
263 Summer St., Boston, Massachusetts 02210
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 5
Club Business
The IHR
SA
International
Features
Report
17 Tennis scoring
growth points
35 Mining Gold’s Promise
18 Courting club members
David Schnabel, Gold’s Gym
International’s new CEO,
is prepared to lead the
world-famous chain into
a new period of progress
18 Exercise gets its due
Short Takes
38 Spa-Tacular!
29 Fit for Life Time
Long considered a luxury, spa
services are quickly becoming
a necessity in clubs
29 R-Gyms taking off?
page 17
45 A GAA! First
As part of this year’s Get Active
America! campaign, IHRSA is
partnering with the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
to promote health and fitness
50 Franchise Frenzy
Fitness-franchise systems’ five-year
growth has been an impressive 144%!
61 Compensation Counts
IHRSA’s annual Employee Compensation
and Benefits Survey helps operators
make sense of compensation
65 MultiFUNctional
Multistation strength-training
equipment meets clubs’, and
members’, many needs
News and Know How
The IHRSA Report page 85
30 Indian market activity
30 Girl from Ipanema
endangered
33 The power of Pilates
33 Belly blast
In Every Issue
4 Editor’s Welcome
The IHRSA Report
87 From the Desk
of the Chairperson
The association that you and I
belong to is a critical contributor to
industry growth. By Michael S. Levy
88 In Brief
8 This Month on www.ihrsa.org
IHRSA initiatives send healthy
message to Congress and public…
Tax exempt rulings strengthen unfair
competition precedent…
11 Letters
90 Inside IHRSA
23 On the Move
IdeaCast is Premier Sponsor of
Get Active America! 2007…
Announcing new ActiveCareers
Featured Employers
Editor-in-chief Craig R. Waters
on tipping points
Reader Services
114 Marketplace
92 IHRSA Spotlight
13 CBI’s book club pick
An update on people, companies,
and developments that CBI has
covered in the past. By Jon Feld
13 Anti-obesity incentives
95 What’s New
14 Online fitness infiltration
99 News from Associates
119 Advertisers’ Index
103 New IHRSA Associates
14 Ali’s one-two punch
17 Some exercisers
don’t ‘Keep Going’
page 29
107 New IHRSA Clubs
113 Calendar of Events
120 CEO Briefing
Triathlete feat
Hunter Kemper
Photography (cover):
Graham Hobart Photography
Photography (right):
© XsMP.com
Our ultimate aspiration is to position
our industry as an integral part of the
healthcare continuum. By Joe Moore
MAY 2007
ihrsa.org
This Month on
About the Industry
Running Your Business
Professional
Development
Marketplace
To Grow, Protect and Promote the Industry
News Room
Industry Calendar
Publications
Get Inspired at IHRSA’s Institute!
Second Annual IHRSA
University Convenes Next
Month The second annual
IHRSA University—which is
being sponsored this year by
Cybex, FIA (UK), Precor, Star
Trac, and Technogym—will
again be held at the prestigious IESE Business School
in Barcelona, Spain, June 4-8.
Designed to include plenty
of interaction and group work,
the week-long program is
limited to 40 participants
to ensure maximum benefit
for all. While no specific
education level is necessary,
participants should have at
least eight years of management experience, and either
already be general managers
or be on track for that position.
Spring Sale: 25% Off All
Make plans now to be
IHRSA Store Publications
among the industry leadNow on sale at IHRSA’s
ers who will be attending
redesigned and dramatically
the 19th Annual IHRSA
improved online store,
Institute for Professional
you’ll find reports on the
Club Management, which
industry, operations, and
takes place August 6-10.
Inspirational Institute
consumer research; publicaThe Institute returns to
tions about the benefits of
the Babson Executive Conference Center, a comprehensive
exercise; IHRSA magazines;
meetings facility on the campus of world-renowned Babson
and much more! Visit
College, located only 20 minutes from downtown Boston.
www.ihrsastore.com in
Its exceptional curriculum, graduate-level class sizes,
May or June and save at least
unparalleled peer networking and social opportunities,
25% on your purchases!
and expert faculty are second to none.
While you’re
“Whether we were learning from industry
browsing
the userS
SS BUSINES
OPEN A FITNE Y DOING IT
leaders, or sharing ideas with fellow attendees,
NE
friendly IHRSA
AND MAKE MO
the Institute was enjoyable from start to finish,”
store, don’t miss
reports Bill Craig, general manager at Colorado
these new spring
Athletic Club, in Denver, and a member of the
releases: Open
Class of 2006. “Highlights from my week in Boston
a Fitness Business
included listening to Rick Caro speak about financial
and Make
management; discussing practical club-management
Money Doing It!
issues in a roundtable session led by Julie Main; and
by Thomas
learning about strategic planning from Gerry Faust.
Plummer; and
In the weeks since the conference, I’ve already
The Health/Fitness Club
applied many of the ideas and concepts that I acquired
Operator’s Guide to Recruiting
there. Most importantly, the event reignited my passion
and Retaining GREAT
for this industry and increased my understanding of
EMPLOYEES, by Stephen
what we do and why we do it!”
Tharrett and James Peterson.
Find out more at www.ihrsa.org/institute. n
Also available are
DVDs and MP3s of select
IHRSA Road Show Seminar Series Continues…
sessions from IHRSA’s 2007
Coming to a City Near You!
International
Convention.
Independent club operators nationwide are invited
If you weren’t
to experience an IHRSA educational and networking
able to attend
event—without having to travel across the country. IHRSA
the convenhits the road with the legendary Thomas Plummer behind
tion in San
the wheel for a series of two-day seminars and trade shows,
Francisco,
presented by The National Fitness Business Alliance.
or if you
Upcoming dates include May 9-10 in Detroit, Michigan,
just couldn’t
and June 20-21 in Atlanta, Georgia. Seminar topics
make it to every session on
include “Competing in Tough Markets,” “Getting the
your wish list—check out
Most Out of Sales,” “Marketing That Works,” “Retention
is Your Financial Future,” “Profit Centers,” and “Why
www.ihrsastore.com today! n
the Next Five Years Will Be Your Best Five.” Learn more
at www.ihrsa.org/ontheroad. n
n With
In Cooperatio
mer
Thomas Plum
Erwin Korst, national
sales and marketing manager
for Health City in The
Netherlands, had this to say
about his experience at IHRSA
University 2006: “That week
was the best thing that ever
happened to me in the fitness
industry, in terms of learning
new things about the business
and about myself!”
Visit www.ihrsa.org/
university to register before
this event sells out! n
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Club Business International
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Membership
M AY 2 0 0 7
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Letters
“We need to come up with new and fresh approaches…
to breaking the seductive grip of a sedentary lifestyle.”
REQUIRED READING
© Thanks to IHRSA for the compilation,
Best of John McCarthy: Thoughts on
Industry Growth, Competition, and the
Club Business. This outstanding publication has become required reading for my
management team, and I’d recommend
it to anyone working in the club business.
Bob Shoulders
Owner
Fayetteville Athletic Club
Fayetteville, AR
[Editor’s note: The print and PDF version
of Best of John McCarthy: Thoughts
on Industry Growth, Competition, and
the Club Business can be ordered
at www.ihrsastore.com for $30.]
CREATIVE CONCEPT
© I’d like to concur with the ideas set
forth in the February installment of the
Editor’s Welcome (see “An Exercise in
seductive grip of a sedentary
lifestyle. As suggested in the
Editor’s Welcome, creativity is
the oxygen that breathes life into
what we do. Recognizing and
studying Cirque du Soleil and
other organizations like it, which
honor creativity as a precious
resource, are vital and necessary
steps in our battle against the formidable
forces of boredom and antipathy.
Creativity,” pg. 4) regarding
Cirque du Soleil. The author did
an excellent job of articulating
the importance of creativity,
both in the remarkable performances of Cirque du Soleil
and in relating it our industry.
Creativity is one of the cornerstones of the fitness business, seeing
as boredom is among—if not the—greatest
threat to a successful exercise outcome. We
need to institute some kind of law against
pairing the words “exercise” and “routine”
in the same sentence. In fact, even the term
“regular” exercise is pushing the tedium
envelope. Anything that implies “same old,
same old” might as well be considered an
invitation to quit.
As in any industry that’s maturing, we,
in the club business, are faced with a
population that’s increasingly difficult to
impress. We need to come up with new
and fresh approaches—performances
may be a better word—to breaking the
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
Stephen Wallenfels
Marketing Director
Tri-City Court Club
Kennewick, WA
Editor’s note: Letters may have been
edited for reasons of space or clarity.
HOW TO WRITE If you would like to submit
a letter for publication, please address it to
CBI c/o IHRSA, 263 Summer St., Boston,
MA 02210, or e-mail cbi@ihrsa.org.
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Club Business International
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News&KnowHow
Writing the Book on Men’s Fitness
Cuts produces guide to healthy lifestyles
> Just in time for Father’s
Day: Cuts Fitness for Men,
the dynamic fitness-franchise
company based in Clark, New
Jersey, has just published
a book about its express
workouts that encourages
men everywhere to embrace
exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
To produce the book—
The Cuts Fitness For Men
Guide to Exercise and
Healthy Lifestyles—John
Gennaro, the company’s
founder, and partner Steven
Haase, its managing director,
enlisted the help of Myatt
Murphy, a former editor of
Men’s Health magazine. The
foreword was authored by
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a surgeon
and educator affiliated with
Columbia University and New
York Presbyterian Hospital.
The entry-level guide,
priced at $17.95, is designed
for individuals who are new
to exercise or who haven’t
been exercising regularly.
“So many books are for hardcore workout enthusiasts,”
observes Haase. “When we
looked at the market, we
didn’t really see much for
the average guy.”
The Cuts book, he
explains, was created to fill the gap.
The book
encompasses the
Cuts franchise
workout, “Cuts
at Home,” “Cuts
on the Road,”
and stretching
regimens, as well as general
information about exercise,
nutrition, and other healthrelated topics. It will be sold at
Cuts clubs and through major
retail distribution outlets.
Founded in 2003, Cuts
Fitness for Men has about
75 franchise locations in
22 states and five countries. n
In Obesity Battle, Discounts Talk
Peer Ksmer/Deutsch Presse Agentur
States work with Weight Watchers to make low-cost services available
Broadening attack on obesity
>The possibilities inherent
in public/private initiatives
to combat obesity are now
being demonstrated, in a
dramatic way, in Tennessee
and West Virginia.
In Tennessee, TennCare,
the state’s Medicaid agency,
made it possible for 1,400
Medicaid recipients to take
advantage of low-cost Weight
Watchers classes. Over
a six-month period, the
participants lost a total of
8,000 pounds.
Recognizing that financial
incentives may be more
effective than medical
alarums in prompting people
to take responsibility for
their health, West Virginia
has since followed Tennessee’s
lead. Working with UniCare,
the state’s largest Medicare
provider, it’s offering free
Weight Watchers classes
to 75,000 people.
West Virginia has the
third-highest percentage of
obese residents in the U.S.,
and the new program, it’s
hoped, will minimize the
associated financial impact.
In fiscal 2002, the state
spent an estimated $140
million on obesity-related
medical costs.
“It’s not just a West
Virginia problem—it’s a
national problem,” noted
John Monahan, the president of state-sponsored
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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M AY 2 0 0 7
programs for Wellpoint, Inc.,
the corporate parent of
UniCare. “It’s (obesity is)
like smoking was years ago,”
he told the Associated
Press. “I think all states
are going to have to start
addressing this.”
Monahan said that, if
the West Virginia project
proves successful, Wellpoint
may consider launching
similar programs in the
14 other states where it
administers benefits. Those
are California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Georgia,
Indiana, Kentucky, Maine,
Missouri, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New York, Ohio,
Virginia, and Wisconsin. n
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Club Business International
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NEWS
Nickelodeon is challenging children to turn off the tube and
head outdoors for some good old-fashioned exercise.
continued
Clubs’ Online Competition Is Proliferating
> The number of business entities offering fitness advice and services continues
to grow, and, depending on one’s perspective, that’s either good—or bad—for
the health club industry. The category of
options that seems to be proliferating
most rapidly is that of Internet-based
programs, many of them launched by
established media operations.
Recently, Newsweek founded an interactive health and fitness community,
inviting its subscribers to assess their
fitness level via a special online feature.
And Nickelodeon, the children’s television network, challenged youngsters to
turn off the tube and head outdoors for
some good, old-fashioned exercise with
its Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge—an interactive program designed
to inspire healthy lifestyle changes. The
challenge is part of Nickelodeon’s Let’s
Just Play initiative, which promotes good
nutrition, physical activity, and other
healthy behaviors.
The network has
also entered intro
strategic partnerships
with food companies
and sporting-goods
manufacturers, lending
its signature television
characters for use on
their products.
“I think health and
wellness has come to
the forefront, and as
a company, that is a
focus,” Leigh Anne
Brodsky, the president
of Nickelodeon and
Viacom Consumer
Products, told Newsday.
“Where it makes sense,
we will do products
that give kids the
message to get up and
go and have fun with
the characters.” n
John Lee/Getty Images/Newscom
Newsweek and Nickelodeon introduce fitness-promotion programming
Game on! Nickelodeon challenges kids to get off the couch
Muhammad Ali is Latest Champion of Healthy Habits
Boxer’s new line of high-energy, reduced-calorie snacks packs a one-two punch
> Float like a butterfly…
Sting like a bee… And eat
like a champ!
Bigger-than-life boxing legend Muhammad Ali is back
in the ring, but this time he’s
swinging to help Americans
defeat obesity. The three-time
world heavyweight champion
recently introduced a new
line of reduced-calorie
snacks, branded G.O.A.T.—
an acronym for Ali’s designation of himself as the “Greatest Of All Time.”
College students got the
first taste of the product when
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Power-packed snacks from Ali
it was introduced at select
campuses last January 17,
on Ali’s 65th birthday. The
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snacks, which are produced
by Mars, Inc., the candy
giant, include fruit bars,
chips, and crunch mixes.
Packing a high-energy, lowcalorie (150 or less) punch,
the treats are loaded with
vitamins, minerals, calcium,
and protein.
Inspired by the foods that
Ali ate when training, the
items in the line are named
for his boxing moves and
packaged in packets shaped
like boxing gloves, speed
bags, and medicine balls.
Flavors include: Fruit
Fight, Slammin’ Salsa,
Holy Guacamole, Who’s
the Mango, and Thrilla-Dill-a.
The G.O.A.T. snacks
will arrive at 20 college
campuses this spring, and
are expected to land on
consumer store shelves
by the fall.
“This is an opportunity
for me to help everyone
better themselves, body
and soul… to empower
people to eat like champions,” Ali explained to the
Philadelphia Daily News. n
NEWS
continued
After only two weeks, 22% of the people faltered on their fitness
intentions, and, after one month, 33% called it quits.
Going, Going… Gone!
David Cooper/ZUMA Press/Newscom
Study uncovers weaknesses in exercisers’ best intentions
> “It keeps going, and going,
and going… ”
While that familiar phrase
is clearly appropriate as
Energizer’s slogan, the
battery manufacturer
recently discovered that
the opposite is true when
it comes to people’s New
Year’s fitness resolutions.
In short: when it comes to
workouts—they don’t keep
going and going.
The company, which
dubbed its alkaline offering
“the official battery of 2007
New Year’s fitness resolutions,” recently conducted
a “Keep Going” survey—an
online poll of 319 fitness
trainers, selected at random,
throughout the U.S. While
the principal goal of the survey was to find out how
trainers were using batteries, it also yielded a host of
information about people’s
fitness patterns, particularly,
their ability—or in most
cases, their inability—to
maintain their exerciserelated resolve.
The findings revealed
that, after only two weeks,
22% of the people faltered
on their fitness intentions.
After one month, 33% called
it quits. And after two
months, 32% abandoned
their quest for fitness.
But the survey’s
results weren’t all
discouraging.
When asked
to share their
suggestions about
achieving one’s
fitness goals, the
trainers offered
some helpful
ideas. Nearly
40% of them cited
the importance
of establishing a
routine, and close
to 35% noted how
important enjoyable
workouts are to success—
both of which are facilitated
by the health
club environment.
What about the
club members who are
keeping their New Year’s
resolutions? The trainers
reported that the
majority (58%)
are pursuing
weight-loss
goals, while
the rest are
hoping to
improve their
health and/
or improve
muscle tone. n
Tennis Scores Growth Industry-wide
TIA initiatives continue to drive financial and membership gains
> The tennis industry
continues to improve on
what’s already a great
game—attracting more and
more players to the court,
thanks, in large part, to
two innovative outreach
initiatives: Tennis Welcome Centers and
Cardio Tennis.
The Tennis Industry Association (TIA),
which created the
programs, recently
reported that the
clubs that made
use of them posted
positive growth figures
last year.
The Tennis Welcome
Centers, introduced in 2003
to attract new players to the
game, have performed as
planned—producing both
financial and membership
dividends. The TIA notes
that more than half of
the approximately 2,000
participating facilities
made progress on
both fronts in 2006,
averaging 31 new and
29 returning players.
Cardio Tennis, a
program of cardio
drills designed
to enhance
players’ workouts that was
launched in
2005, yielded
similar results. In
’06, 74% of the participating facilities
recorded an increase
in revenues, averaging
13%, and 64% reported
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M AY 2 0 0 7
an increase in membership,
averaging 31 new players.
The industry’s strength is
also attested to by strong
equipment sales and growing
interest in events, such as
the US Open. The Sporting
Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) notes that tennis
is the only traditional sport
that grew, in terms of participation—more than 10%—
between 2000 and 2005.
“All parts of our sport are
working together to grow
the game,” observes Jolyn de
Boer, the executive director
of the TIA. “Manufacturers,
organizations, and teaching
pros realize that, when we
grow participation, good
things happen. n
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Club Business International
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Programming
Their many virtues have earned court sports
a permanent and important club role.
Court Sports’ Renewed Promise
By John R. Birks
I
n the late ’80s, when, pressured by
clubs’ need to allocate more space
to aerobics and fitness, the number
of racquetball courts in the U.S. began
to fall, many court-sport enthusiasts
began to wring their hands, prematurely, in despair.
Since then, however, court sports
have demonstrated that they’re hardly
an endangered club species. Rather,
their many positive attributes have
earned them a permanent role as
an important part of many facilities’
programming—one that, given current
market conditions, holds fresh promise.
The number of racquetball players
has held steady, at about 5.6 million,
since the ’80s. Similarly, for the past
several years, the percentage of IHRSA
clubs offering racquetball (37%),
Wallyball (26%), and squash (17%) has
remained constant.
No, court sports aren’t going away.
In fact, they’re still successfully courting
club members. What special assets do
these sports possess? The list, already
long, continues to grow. They provide
excellent balance, flexibility, cardio,
strength, and core conditioning. They
burn calories like crazy. They’re both
social and competitive in nature, fostering member interaction and, therefore,
retention. They’re never boring—a grievance frequently leveled at other types
of exercise. They come in an increasing
number of interesting, innovative
forms. And each of them has an eager,
committed constituency.
At the moment, clubs can choose
from among:
• Racquetball: USA Racquetball, the
national governing body, actively
promotes collegiate and high school
programs, and recently introduced an
online member-management program
to improve communication.
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• Wallyball: This fast-paced sport,
which can be played by four, six, or
eight players at a time, helps maximize court usage. It has an estimated
base of more than 2 million registered
players worldwide.
• Squash: Once regarded as the most
“elite” of court sports, squash is now
one with universal appeal, played on
some 50,000 courts in 153 countries.
It’s governed and promoted, in the
U.S., by the United States Squash
Racquets Association.
• Handball: The US Handball Association,
anxious to expand the game’s impact,
has announced its intention to raise
$5 million—half to be invested in
communication, public-awareness, and
player-development initiatives, and half to
endow a fund to ensure handball’s future.
• Squish: Invented in 1999 by
CBI Contributing Editor Stephen
Wallenfels, Squish combines elements
of racquetball, squash, tennis, and,
even, ping pong, and has already
yielded leagues and tournaments.
• International Court Soccer: Combine
the appeal of soccer, which has more
than 20 million players in the U.S.
and Canada, with the ambience of a
racquetball or squash court, and you
have International Court Soccer, a
copyrighted game that I’ve been
closely involved with.
• And then there’s Tracketball, and
Pickleball, and Wallyminton…
Today, club operators, when they
consider the new upside of court
sports, are wringing their hands
with anticipation. n
J OHN R. B IRKS is the founder
and president of International
Court Soccer and can be reached
at jb@internationalcourtsoccer.com.
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
NEWS
continued
Exercise Gains
Ground in Fight
Against Pounds
> For decades, many dieters
have mistakenly believed
that eating less was the most
effective—in fact, only way—
to shed unwanted pounds.
Now, however, a new study
produced by the Pennington
Medical Research Center at
Louisiana State University, in
Baton Rouge, documents that
exercise is equally essential
to successful weight loss.
The study, described in a
recent issue of the Journal
of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism, tracked a group
of 24 volunteers over a
six-month period. Twelve
of the subjects ate a calorierestricted diet, while the other
12 dieted and exercised five
times a week. Those who
simply dieted ate 25% less than
normal; those who dieted and
exercised ate 12.5% less, and
increased their exercise levels to
burn an extra 12.5% in calories.
Each group lost approximately
the same amount of weight, fat
mass, and visceral fat.
Another new study, conducted by the Duke University
Medical Center, in Durham,
North Carolina, indicates
that a majority of Americans
support changes in public
policy to incentivize healthier
lifestyles: Some 85% endorse
tax breaks for companies that
provide exercise space for
their employees; 72% want
the government to require
insurers to cover obesity
prevention and treatment
programs; and 73% want
it to provide incentives
for companies that offer
lower health insurance
costs for employees with
healthy lifestyles. n
NEWS
continued
Late Breaking
Dream team Pausing for a photo op during the 26th Annual International Convention and
Trade Show, held in March in San Francisco, were members of IHRSA’s board of directors.
The impressive gathering included: back row, from l., Gene LaMott, Art Curtis, Mike Raymond,
Tony de Leede, David Patchell-Evans, Bob Shoulders, Frank Napolitano; middle row, from l.,
Susan Cooper, Lloyd Gainsboro, Cyrus Oskoui, Mike Motta, Lynne Brick; and front row, from l.,
Sandy Hoeffer, Ed Williams, Julie Main, Chairperson Michael Levy, Debra Siena, Rick Beusman,
and Laurie Smith. Not pictured: Phil Wendel and Harold Morgan.
Public Companies
Bally Confronts
Chapter 11,
NYSE Delisting
> In mid-March, Bally
Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT)
announced that it may file
to reorganize its operations
under Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection, and, a few weeks
later, on March 30, acknowledged that it may be delisted
from the New York Stock
Exchange—in part, because
of its failure to file its 2006
annual report on time. Trading in Bally’s shares had been
suspended on March 16
because the stock was set to
open at, or below, $1.05 per
share, the minimum bid
permitted by the NYSE.
Shares, which had traded at
a 52-week high of $9.92 in
March of 2006, were valued
at $0.68 on April 11.
In order to avoid
delisting, Bally must
promptly file a business
plan with the exchange
describing how the
company intends to
regain compliance with
respect to all regulatory
requirements within
18 months. If it is delisted,
Bally indicates, it will
arrange to be quoted
on the OTC Bulletin or
a similar system.
In unrelated news,
last month, the company
announced it had entered
into a partnership with
drugstore.com, a leading
online retailer, to distribute
Bally-branded products,
including energy, nutritional,
and performance supplements, as well as exercise
equipment.
Bally, based in Chicago,
operates nearly 390 clubs
in 26 states, Canada,
Mexico, China, Korea,
and the Caribbean. n
Breaking News
Technogym’s
Olympic Win
provided equipment for the
Games in Sydney, Australia,
in 2000; Athens, Greece, in
2004; and Turin, Italy, in 2006.
In Beijing, more than
12,000 athletes, from over
200 countries, competing in
28 sports categories, will
employ some 1,000 pieces of
Technogym cardiovascular and
strength-training equipment
distributed among 10 separate
facilities. The company will
also provide wellness centers
for members of the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the
Olympic Games (BOCOG) and
nearly 20,000 journalists.
The Chinese Olympic
Committee (COC) has also
selected Technogym as the
supplier for its own teams.
Liu Jun, the deputy director of marketing for BOCOG,
explains that the company
was chosen because of “the
quality of its vast and complete range of products and
services, as well as for the
experience it’s accumulated
in previous Olympic Games.”
Power pair Liu Jun, l., of BOCOG, and Alberto Pacchioni, the
public-relations director for Technogym, at signing ceremony
> In late March, Technogym,
one of the world’s premier
manufacturers of fitness
equipment, announced that
it had been named the exclusive official supplier of fitness
equipment for the next
Olympic Games, which
will take place in Beijing
August 8-24, 2008. It is
the fourth Olympic win
for Technogym, which also
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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M AY 2 0 0 7
“We’re very proud to
have been chosen, for the
fourth time, as the official
supplier of the Olympic
Games,” notes Nerio
Alessandri, the founder
and president of Technogym.
“The Games represent a
unique opportunity to promote a wellness lifestyle,
and to attract more people to
regular physical activity.” n
n
Club Business International
21
On The Move
Acquisitions
founder and CEO of
GoodLife. “We feel that
he’ll bring a keen insight
to the table in terms of the
fitness industry, the financial
industry, and his ability to
draw upon his experience
with large club operations.”
Smith, once a professional
squash player, joined Town
Sports International (TSI)
in 1985, and retired as
chairman in March 2006,
two months before the
chain went public.
GoodLife is Canada’s
largest privately held
chain, with 123 facilities
throughout the country.
Halabi Trust
Acquires Esporta
For $905 Million
> In what qualifies as a
true blockbuster deal, Duke
Street Capital (DSC), the
private-equity fund manager,
has sold the Berkshire,
U.K.-based Esporta chain
to the Halabi family trust for
an estimated $905 million.
DSC offered the 52-club
company for sale at auction
after having received several
unsolicited offers to purchase
it last summer. The Halabi
family trust, overseen by
property investor Simon
Halabi, was among 10 suitors
who entered bids: among the
others were the private-equity
firms Apax and Blackstone.
The Halabis currently own
a number of high-end properties in England, including
Aviva Tower in London,
and Mentmore Towers in
Buckinghamshire. During
the transaction, DSC was
advised by Citigroup, and the
Halabi family by Buckingham
Securities Holdings. n
Award Winning
Staples Named
USTA Trainer
Of the Year
> Chicago’s Midtown Tennis
Club has long been an industry
standard-bearer with respect
to both its amenities and its
people. Recently, it earned yet
another mark of distinction:
Butch Staples, its head tennis
pro, received the United
Tennis clout Midtown’s Butch Staples, USTA trainer of the year
States Tennis Association’s
(USTA’s) first-ever Recreational
Coaches Workshop (RCW)
“Trainer of the Year” award.
This honor recognizes tennis
pros for their extraordinary
contributions in training
new coaches and promoting
the sport.
“It seemed only fitting
that Staples be the first to win
this award,” observes Kirk
Anderson, USTA’s director
of recreational coaches and
programs. “He’s one of
10 master trainers in the
country, and has been with
us since the program began
in 2000. He’s been a big
proponent and supporter of
the RCW. Even with a busy
schedule, he always takes
time to give back, and works
with those who are just
starting out.”
Staples has taught 28
workshops over the past
six years, and helped train
many of the 23,000 coaches
who’ve gone through the
RCW program.
“The USTA award truly
exemplifies excellence in
the tennis industry, and
I’m pleased that he’s been
recognized in this way,”
says Steven Schwartz, the
president and CEO of the
Midtown Athletic Clubs
(MAC), which owns the
Chicago facility. “His ongoing
commitment to the sport
of tennis is exemplary, and
we’re privileged to have
him as a head pro.”
MAC—formerly the
Tennis Corporation of
America (TCA)—operates
12 facilities in Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, New York,
Georgia, and Florida. n
LVAC’s
FitzGerald Goes
Back to School
Career Moves
TSI’s Smith
Named to
GoodLife Board
Professor Bret FitzGerald
> Bret FitzGerald, the vice
president of communications
for the Las Vegas Athletic
Clubs (LVAC), has accepted
an offer to join the faculty
of his alma mater, the
University of Nevada, Las
Vegas (UNLV), as an adjunct
professor in its School of
Public Health. He earned
his master’s degree in health
promotion from UNLV in
2005. As an adjunct profes- ©
> Mark Smith, the former
chairman of Town Sports
International Holdings, Inc.
(NASDAQ: CLUB), has been
appointed to the board of
directors of GoodLife Fitness,
based in Ontario, Canada.
“GoodLife’s executive team
is looking forward to working
closely with Smith to build
more fitness options,” says
David Patchell-Evans, the
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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M AY 2 0 0 7
n
Club Business International
23
On The Move
Lifestyle Family Fitness now operates a total of
43 locations in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina.
continued
sor, FitzGerald, a 29-year
fitness industry veteran,
will teach undergraduate
health-education courses,
while maintaining his current
responsibilities at LVAC.
LVAC operates five clubs
throughout Las Vegas.
Lifestyle Names
Salemi and Busby
To SVP Posts
LFF real estate: Chris Salemi
technology, Busby was the
founder and chief information
officer of AdvanTech Solutions,
a human-resources management service provider. Before
starting AdvanTech, he
was a founding member
of the ADP TotalSource
management team.
Based in St. Petersburg,
Florida, LFF operates 43
locations in Florida, Ohio,
and North Carolina. n
> Developing senior
management from within,
Lifestyle Family Fitness
(LFF) has promoted Chris
Salemi to the position of
senior vice president of real
estate development, and
named Scott Busby senior
vice president and chief
information officer.
Club Openings
Gold’s Gym
Makes Its Debut
In the U.K.
LFF information: Scott Busby
Salemi, who joined LFF
in 2006 as vice president
of real estate, has worked in
the industry for 25 years.
A CPA, his prior experience
includes serving as a development officer for DeBartolo
Development and as vice
president of real estate for
the Eckerd Corporation.
Before coming to LFF
in 2005 as senior vice
president of information
24
Club Business International
n
> Gold’s Gym International,
Inc. (GGI), which has clubs
worldwide, recently opened
its first franchise in Great
Britain—a 30,000-squarefoot facility in Royal Park,
London. The new unit
boasts a wide range of
cardiovascular and resistance
equipment, as well as a 2,500square-foot free-weight
section and four groupexercise areas. The club
also offers amenities not
generally associated with
GGI, such as a wet room
with a 15-seat hydrotherapy
M AY 2 0 0 7
n
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
pool, steam rooms and
saunas, a foot spa, and a salt
cave (an enclosed “healing
area” popular in Eastern
and Central Europe).
The U.K. franchise was
launched by the ABM Group,
a consortium of West London
businesspeople. ABM, which
holds a master franchise,
plans to open 10 more Gold’s
Gyms in the London market
over the next 12-18 months.
Based in Dallas, GGI has
more than 600 locations in
41 states and 27 countries.
‘Hola!’ to
Holmes Place
Academy
> The Holmes PlaceEuropolis group (Iberia)
has extended its Holmes
Place Academy concept
to Spain, making it the first
chain to offer both internal
and external industryspecific training there.
The academy, which Holmes
Place first launched in Portugal
in 2002, offers fitness training;
personal-training courses;
Pilates, management and
leadership workshops; sales
training; and more.
All of the programs are
based on the company’s
internal training modules.
Once trainees have worked
their way through the
modules, they become
eligible to become Holmes
Place employees.
While it was originally
designed as an internal
project to develop employees
and ensure consistent
standards of professionalism
and customer service, the
academy is now open to
anyone involved in fitness.
“We want to encourage more
young people to become
educated in the area of
health and fitness,” explains
Josep Viladot, the group
manager of the Europolis
clubs and director of the
academy. “We’d like them
to receive our training ©
Fast track The Holmes Place Academy in Spain sources employees
175+ presenters
World-class presenters include Victor Brick • Mike Chaet • Colin
Milner • Maureen Hagan • Peggy Buchanan • Paul Chek • Len
Kravitz • David Patchell-Evans • Four-time Olympian Silken
Laumann and many more!
400+ sessions
Cutting-edge topics include: Fitness industry trends • Retention
strategies • Sales/closing techniques • Profitable programming
• Marketing strategies • Service and more
SIZE
MATTERS
6,000+ attendees
Network with top Club Owners • Managers • Program Directors
• Fitness Supervisors • Personal Trainers • Front Desk Staff
• Group Exercise Instructors and Allied Health Professionals!
200,000+ sq. ft.
Canada’s largest fitness trade show where you can shop for Cardio
and Strength equipment, Yoga and Pilates equipment • Software
solutions • Aquatic products • Sport-specific products • Spa products
• Music • Books • Clothing and more!
register today!
International Fitness and Club Business
Conference and Trade Show
August 16-19, 2007 Metro Toronto Convention Centre Toronto, Ontario Canada
www.canfitpro.com 1-800-667-5622
3 3
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On The Move
courses, and, if they’d like,
to stay with us, working
in one of our clubs.”
Based in the U.K., Holmes
Place operates nearly 70 clubs
in Great Britain, Austria, the
Czech Republic, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Israel,
Poland, Portugal, Spain,
Switzerland, and the U.S. n
Strategic
Strategic
Partnerships
Synergy Provides
Training for
Ela Soccer
> As the popularity of
soccer grows, and as the
sport becomes increasingly
competitive, players in the
U.S. are looking for an edge.
The Ela Soccer Club, based
in Lake Zurich, Illinois, has
found just that at a local club,
Synergy Fitness and Sports,
in nearby Lake Forest.
Ela, a leader in the
development of soccer
players ages 8-19 for the
past 20 years, is relying
on Synergy to help train
its young athletes. “We’re
very excited to partner
with Synergy Fitness and
Sports to add another level
of training to our program,
which will complement
the soccer training our
Room to grow Beautiful facilities helped fitness dk sell 4,200 memberships in a single day
professional staff currently
provides,” says Gin Sharma,
the director of training
and development for Ela.
Synergy will utilize the
UltraFit (or EvoSport)
Athletic Mastery Training
system, a licensed program
designed to improve overall
fitness and performance
training, in working with
the soccer club. “Forming
an alliance with Ela provides
an exciting opportunity for
both parties,” notes Synergy
CEO John McNulty. “We
feel strongly that the UltraFit
system will benefit Ela players, not just by improving
fitness and performance
levels, but also by educating
Linesmen Synergy Fitness and Sports helps train soccer stars
kids and parents about proper
human movement, while
reducing the risk of injury.” n
Promotions
fitness dk
Signs Up 4,200
In a Single Day
> It was a record-breaking
achievement for fitness dk,
Denmark’s largest club chain.
Thanks to a unique
promotion, it signed up
4,200 new members in a
single day. The impressive
numbers were the result
of a one-day-only initiative,
which offered prospective
members a discount based
on their body weight. To
make the deal appealing
to individuals at both ends
of the weight scale, the
minimum discount available
was $52, and the maximum,
$174—paid at $0.86 per kilo,
per member. For example:
a new member weighing
approximately 80 kilos,
or 176 pounds, received
a discount of about $69.
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
n
M AY 2 0 0 7
The promotion, held
on a Saturday in January,
attracted new members
weighing a total of 731,494
pounds, who received
an overall discount
of $284,187.
Record-breaker Ingerslev
“Very few initiatives
before this have been able
to succeed, to this extent,
in activating the Danish
population on a national
level,” observes Rasmus
Ingerslev, the cofounder and
CEO of fitness dk, which
operates 36 clubs throughout the country. n
n
Club Business International
27
ShortTakes
HUNTER KEMPER Comes on Strong!
LIFE TIME FITNESS TRIATHLON WINNER IS CBI’S FITNESS ROLE MODEL FOR MAY
A
© XsMP.com
3.1-mile swim, followed, first, by a
two-hour, 40-mile bike ride, and, then,
by an hour-long, nine-mile run. Sound
exhausting? Very nearly impossible?
Well, it’s just an average training day for Hunter Kemper, the
U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2006
Sportsman of the year, and the
first American male to
win the Life Time
Fitness Triathlon.
In addition to his grueling daily
schedule, this two-time Olympian also
spends 45 minutes, three times a
week, in the gym, engaged
in heavy-duty core
and weight work.
Kemper’s commitment to fitness
extends to nutrition: he dines, five
to six times a day,
on energy-boosting
carbs, such as waffles,
bagels, and bananas,
along with proteinrich foods, such as
eggs, peanut butter,
and nuts.
His intense dedication and unflinching
perseverance have helped him to rack
up some impressive achievements. He
competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic
triathlons, and, last year, came in first in the
Life Time event, which is sponsored by Life
Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM), the Eden Prairie,
Minnesota-based club chain. After completing the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer
bike ride, and 10-kilometer run, Kemper
emerged victorious, prevailing over 2,500
other competitors, including some of the
world’s finest elite athletes.
In honor of Kemper’s 31st birthday, on
the 4th of this month, CBI would like to
add yet another title to his ever-growing
list—that of fitness role model of the
month for May. n
Triple threat Hunter Kemper
‘Would You Like Some Exercise
With Those French Fries?’
MCDONALD’S CONTINUES
TESTING ITS KIDS’ GYM CONCEPT
The early reviews of McDonald’s new
R-Gyms—exercise-oriented activity centers that are intended to replace the
chain’s 20-year-old PlayPlace jungle
gyms—have been both positive and
negative. Parents and children who have
had the opportunity to experiment with
the concept at the seven McDonald’s sites
in California, Oklahoma, and Illinois
where it’s being tested have generally
been enthusiastic, but some educators
and other professionals are skeptical.
The R-Gyms feature age-specific activity
“zones” that facilitate such activities as
rope-climbing, stationary cycling, jumping,
dancing, and a slalom challenge.
Whether the R-Gyms take off, becoming
either a competitor or a feeder for health
clubs, remains to be seen. If it decides to
launch the mini-gyms chain-wide, it
could result in the conversion of as many
as 5,500 PlayPlaces at its more than
13,000 U.S. outlets.
While the R-Gym may seem promising
to some, Susan Linn, a psychologist
at Harvard Medical School, and the
cofounder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, predicts that the new
product will do little to curb childhood
obesity. “It takes hours to work off the
calories from a Big Mac,” she told the
Chicago Tribune. “What it does is make it
appear as if McDonald’s is addressing the
issue [of childhood obesity], but it is not.” n
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
n
M AY 2 0 0 7
n
Club Business International
29
ShortTakes
Sultry Brazilians
INDIAN FITNESS
Industry Poised
for Rapid Growth
an Endangered Species
Anorexia, liposuction, and diet pills threaten
full-figured aesthetic
Indigenous and international
firms tap one of world’s hottest
emerging markets
i
n Brazil, where curvaceous figures were once regarded as the epitome of beauty,
women are now embracing a sleeker, leaner, more European look—and, increasingly,
taking weight-loss efforts to an unhealthy extreme, reports The New York Times.
Inspired by outside influences—including, notes the Times, “the Barbie aesthetic,
celebrity models, satellite television, and medical makeovers”—Brazilians have fallen
victim to many of the evils associated with excessive weight-loss practices. Among the
disturbing results: a dramatic increase in anorexia (which has led to the death of several
Brazilian models); a proliferation of gastric bypass procedures;
and a rapid rise in the consumption of appetitesuppressant drugs (their use for aesthetic reasons more
than doubled between 2001 and 2005).
The most recent body-reshaping fad: the liposuction of one’s toes.
The “girl from Ipanema” ideal, which endorsed
a fuller, guitar-shaped body, has been replaced
by that of individuals such as super model Gisele
Bündchen, who, by comparison, seems nearly
emaciated. “Hers is a globalized beauty that
has nothing to do with the Brazilian biotype,”
psychologist Joana de Vilhena Novaes, the
author of The Intolerable Weight of Ugliness:
On Women and Their Bodies, observed of
Bündchen. “She has very little in the way of
hips, thighs, or fanny. She’s a Barbie.”
Historian Mary del Priore, the author of
The History of Private Life in Brazil, told
the Times that, by “upgrading to international standards of beauty,” Brazilians
were abandoning their long-held belief
that “plumpness is a sign of beauty, and
thinness is to be dreaded… Today, it’s the
rich in Brazil who are thin, and the poor
who are fat.” n
30
Club Business International
n
M AY 2 0 0 7
Bruno Domingos/Reuters Photo Archive/Newscom
Over the past two years, India’s
fitness industry has grown dramatically, with both local and international
companies jockeying for position in
this huge, dynamic, and increasingly
affluent emerging market.
In terms of indigenous operations,
Talwalkar Fitness Solutions Pvt., Ltd.,
profiled in the October issue of CBI
(see “No. 1 in India,” pg. 42), is the
country’s largest chain. It already has
40 facilities, and Rahul Talwalkar, the
company’s director, plans to have
100 open by 2010. Another local
venture, the Abs Fitness and Wellness Club, a relative newcomer, also
attests to the market’s promise. In
less than one year of operation, it’s
opened three locations in Pune, and
is on schedule to have 10 facilities
within the next three years.
In terms of multinationals: Gold’s
Gym International, Inc. (GGI), and
Powerhouse Gym International, LLC,
have both set up shop, and GGI’s master franchisor, Gold’s Gym India, is
now planning to develop 20 additional
sites. Meanwhile, representing the
U.K., Fitness First, the world’s largest
club chain, has also made its interest
and intentions clear: it plans to open
20 facilities throughout the country.
Abhimanyu Sable, the founder of
the Abs Fitness and Wellness Club,
tells CBI, “The Indian club industry
has evolved from local, hardcore, gym-centered facilities into
ones that are on par with Western
clubs in terms of size, equipment,
amenities, and services. Over the
next five years, the industry is going
to enjoy its very best time.” n
Downsized model Gisele Bündchen
n
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
ShortTakes
The Transforming POWER OF PILATES
An instructor-to-the-stars packages
services to serve low-income clients
Let’s face it—Pilates is an amazing,
transfiguring form of exercise that delivers mind/body benefits from head to toe,
but it can be expensive. And, because it’s
cost-prohibitive for many people, the
practice can become exclusive.
But, in South-Central Los Angeles, that’s
no longer the case. Pilates instructor Kim
Carruthers, who works with celebrity
clients such as model Tyra Banks and
actress Patricia Arquette, has taken
Pilates beyond her private studio, offering
free and reduced-price classes to lowincome clients.
It all started when a high school senior,
who couldn’t afford Pilates sessions,
sought her out, hoping to get into shape
so she could fit into her prom dress.
Carruthers offered the girl discounted
Soon thereafter, she came up with the
concept of Pilates in the ’Hood—a chain
of affordable Pilates studios where small
groups could take classes for a small
portion of her standard $80 fee. This
summer, Carruthers plans to open the
first of at least 10 such studios throughout California. She’s also exploring the
possibility of eventually franchising the
business model.
Pilates in the ’Hood facilities will
feature a fully-equipped Pilates studio,
plus a selection of cardiovascular equipment, and will offer mat classes.
“For me, it’s important that I’m
giving people the opportunity and the
chance to change their life through
Pilates,” Carruthers, a certified personal
trainer and a former Alvin Ailey
dancer, tells CBI. “It’s not only about
fitness, but about developing self-esteem
and self-respect.” n
Step forward Kim Carruthers cuts costs
classes and helped her reach her goal.
Carruthers then began teaching free
weekly Pilates classes at a local school
and at a Boys & Girls Club.
Belly-Dancing Diva Shakes Up Workouts
BELLY BLAST BY SHARQUI OFFERS NEW TWISTS, AND TURNS, ON GROUP EXERCISE
CBI FREQUENTLY REPORTS on fitnessprofessionals-turned-entrepreneurs who
have identified, addressed, and mastered
yet another novel niche in the constantly
expanding world of group exercise.
This month, the innovation in our
spotlight is an advanced belly-dancing
workout, called Belly Blast by SharQui,
that incorporates weighted belts to add
resistance and make things more
challenging. The program is the latest
addition to a growing repertoire—
officially known as SharQui, the Bellydance Workout—that’s the brainchild of
Oreet Jehassi, a dancer, choreographer,
and certified aerobics instructor.
In 1996, Jehassi, who goes by the single name of Oreet, developed SharQui to
optimize the cardiovascular and toning
benefits of belly dancing in a fitnessclass format. The total-body workout
focuses on core strength, stamina, isola-
facilities as the New
York Health and Racquet Club, Gold’s
Gym, Bally Total
Fitness, and the Sports
Club LA. n
tion, and speed, and helps develop
a positive self-image on the part
of participants.
“I grew frustrated when I saw that
women—despite the fact that they
were exercising—were still
unhappy with their bodies,”
Oreet tells CBI. “ I decided to
incorporate belly dancing, a
cultural tradition I’d
studied as a hobby
for years.”
Oreet holds
the titles of Bellydance Entertainer
of the Year 2006, reigning Middle Eastern
Dance Champion of
North America, and
Champion Bellydance
Diva 2005. Her sold-out
classes are taught at such
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Belly beauty
Oreet Jehassi
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CBI Interview
“Gold’s Gym has a colorful history and a powerful brand
that no amount of marketing money can buy.”
David Schnabel
hopes to usher in a new era
of progress as the incoming CEO of Gold’s Gym International, Inc.
By Jon Feld
CBI: Gene LaMott, the former CEO of Gold’s Gym
International, Inc. (GGI), was perhaps the last vestige
of the “pre-TRT” era—the period before TRT Holdings
acquired the company. What does your appointment to
the position signal?
Graham Hobart Photography
DAVID SCHNABEL: First off, I’d like to say that, during
his time here, Gene accomplished some amazing things
and led the company through some of the biggest
transitions in its history to date. We’re grateful for
his contributions.
It was an incredible honor to take the helm of one
of the world’s greatest brands and be given a chance
to work with such a talented team. As we’ve filled key
roles in the company, we’ve
looked to find people who
could build off the accomplishIn CEO David Schnabel,
ments of their predecessor and
34, Gold’s Gym International,
help take Gold’s Gym to new
Inc. (GGI), has its first leader
heights. We’re committed to
from outside the fitness
combining the best minds from
industry. Schnabel, who holds
outside the industry with the
an undergraduate degree
most talented people from
from Stanford University and
within it. For example, our
a graduate degree from the
executive team encompasses a
Harvard Business School,
wealth of experience from a
has a solid history in the
variety of industries, including
financial sector. Previously,
fitness (Gold’s, Bally Total Fithe was vice president of
ness, and 24 Hour Fitness),
acquisitions at GGI’s parent
retail (CompUSA, Blockbuster),
company, TRT Holdings,
and multi-unit franchise modwhere he identified GGI as an
els (CiCi’s, Blimpie’s).
opportunity for acquisition.
He also served as a member
CBI: You’re the first person
of GGI’s board following
from outside the industry—and
the 2004 purchase. Before
the first non-franchise owner—
joining TRT, Schnabel held
to head Gold’s. What strengths
positions at Goldman Sachs
do you bring to the table?
and McKinsey, the financial
and management-consultDS: I’ve been fortunate to have
ing firms. Schnabel lives in
had the opportunity to work
Dallas with his wife, Paige. n
Q&A Highlights:
• Outsider at the helm
• International expansion
• More corporate clubs
• Working with franchisees
with and analyze some of the most interesting and
fastest-growing businesses in the world. I’ve seen
how different companies have met and tackled various challenges, whether they’re related to growth or
existing operations. I think I can apply some of the
lessons and best practices of those companies to what we’re doing here at Gold’s.
CBI: You were credited as “sourcing”
the Gold’s acquisition for TRT in 2004.
What did you see in the company that
made it attractive to you?
DS: There are a lot of things
about Gold’s Gym that made
it so attractive to TRT.
Gold’s Gym has a
colorful history and
a powerful brand
that no amount of
marketing money
can buy. It has an
international footprint that gives it
unique competitive advantages.
And we have
people, on both
the franchise
and corporate
sides, who are
incredibly pas- ©
Gold’s go-getter David Schnabel
Interview
“Today, Gold’s Gym is attracting men and women with a
real skill for making money by providing a sought-after service.”
grew up in the fitness industry to individuals
with MBAs?
sionate about what they do for a living. It
also happens to be a very profitable company in a rapidly growing industry. That’s
a pretty rare combination in business.
There’s another element that shouldn’t
be overlooked: The fact that we truly get
to change people’s lives every day. When
I hear about a member at one of our
gyms who was able to tackle a severe
weight problem, or who managed to control their diabetes through fitness, or who
simply thanked us for helping them get in
shape for their wedding—it puts everything into perspective.
DS: While the industry may be becoming
more sophisticated, I think it’s important
to retain a little bit of that “T-shirt”
mentality, because that’s what got us
here. And frankly, there are a lot of
people still wearing T-shirts who are
incredibly talented. This industry was
built on the great relationship between
a gym owner/manager and the member.
No matter how much we grow, or
how complex the business becomes, we
can’t lose sight of that. That’s why we
encourage our employees to spend time
at our gyms—so they can live and
breathe the member experience. At
CBI: What do you think about the trend, in this
industry, to move from T-shirts to “suits” in
terms of management—from people who
the end of the day, everything we do
should be done with the member
relationship in mind.
CBI: When TRT first took over, there was a
strong focus on international development
and master franchises. How has the company
fared with respect to those goals?
DS: The international market is one of
the most exciting areas of growth for
the company. We opened more than
30 international locations in 2006 and
are on pace to have 500 gyms outside
of the U.S. by 2010. Last year, we
celebrated 10 years in Japan and Russia,
and saw new Gold’s Gym locations open
in cities like São Paulo, Brazil; Jakarta,
Change in Perception, Change in Brand
C
hanging a brand that’s been a part of the public
consciousness for more than 40 years isn’t easy, but,
under the aegis of TRT Holdings, its parent company,
the Gold’s Gym International, Inc. (GGI), team seems ready to
tackle the task at hand. Given GGI’s increasing growth and
desire to stake out more global territory, updating the brand’s
perception represents an understandable, critical, step forward.
“Our own statistics tell us that 57% of our overall membership is in the 18-34-year-old demographic segment, and only
7% of our membership is 55-plus,” notes Joe Flanigan, GGI’s
chief marketing officer. “By comparison, IHRSA’s national
numbers are 29% and 25%, respectively, so we recognize that
we need more balance.”
Like any other industry player, GGI is acutely aware of the
fact that it needs to leverage the baby-boomer market. One
way it’s been addressing that challenge is by building more
40,000-50,000-square-foot clubs with much more than a lot of
free weights, adding pools, basketball courts, cardio theater
studios, and other more accessible amenities.
But Flanigan understands that creating these new facilities
is only part of the answer. GGI can’t back into brand evolution;
it must confront it proactively. To that end, it’s researched
its current brand perception, and developed an entirely new
“platform” that it intends to use to reach out to new audiences.
“Our research in several geographically diverse U.S. cities
painted a very clear and consistent picture of both the best and
worst aspects of our brand perception,” reports Flanigan. “It
currently places us somewhere between being known as a
place for ‘muscle-heads and body-building’ that some people
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are ‘too intimidated to go inside,’ and being known as, ‘the
experts on fitness, and the place for fitness results.’”
GGI’s revised brand-positioning strives to downplay the
latter, while actively promoting the former—a strategy embodied in its new tagline: “Gold’s Gym. Change Your Body. Change
Your Life.”
“It signifies our evolution from gym to fitness club,” explains
Flanigan. “It means that, regardless of your age, race, sex,
or stage of life, Gold’s expertise and experience can deliver
life-changing results.”
GGI has taken other steps to revamp its public persona, such
as entering into a number of new strategic alliances and retail
promotional partnerships to better leverage its national
advertising dollars. For example, it’s currently running a
national “Change Your Body, Change Your Life” sweepstakes
in two demographically targeted magazines, SELF and Men’s
Fitness. The campaign includes advertising, online sign-ups,
in-gym point-of-purchase displays, magazine subscriptions
with new memberships, over $10,000 in prizes, and ongoing
magazine coverage. GGI is also working with Verizon/Motorola
RAZR on a national phone membership incentive, and is
involved in several movie premiere promotions, including ones
for Blades of Glory and Fantastic Four II.
On the “life-changing” front, GGI recently became one of the
first national strategic partners of the American Diabetes
Association (ADA). Last year, it raised more than $600,000
for the ADA’s “Tour de Cure” event, with more than 300 clubs
and 1,600 cyclists taking part, and, this year, will expand the
program to include the Gold’s Gym national Spin-a-Thon.
Interview
“We’re committed to combining the best minds from outside
the industry with the most talented people from within it.”
Indonesia; Lima, Peru; and Manila,
Philippines. We also held our secondannual master franchisee summit in the
Dominican Republic.
CBI: GGI just opened its first club in the U.K.
What sort of ambitions does it have there?
What other countries does GGI regard as
being strong prospects for rapid expansion?
CBI: What do you think is the most significant
challenge now facing GGI?
DS: Finding great people. As we proceed
with implementing all the growth plans we
have in mind, we’re making it our mission
to attract, hire, and train the best and
brightest people in the business. To facilitate that, we’re investing heavily in training and development. We want Gold’s Gym
to be the best place in the industry to work,
and for it to be a career, not just a job.
CBI: A while ago, GGI announced its intention
to focus more intently on corporate-owned
clubs. Has that initiative been successful?
DS: We’re very committed to growing
both sides of our business—corporateowned clubs and franchised locations.
Our corporate growth has been strong. In
the first month of 2007, we opened four
new clubs and, currently, have a total of
52 corporate-owned locations. To give
you an idea of how quickly that side of
the business has ramped up: In 1999, we
had just one corporate site, in Venice,
California. We’re enthusiastic about our
corporate stores and expect significant
growth through both new club development and acquisitions.
Graham Hobart Photography
DS: The U.K. is a great market for fitness
and represents a substantial growth
opportunity for the Gold’s Gym brand.
We’re employing a direct franchise model,
rather than our traditional master-franchise model, and, last year, sent one of our
regional field managers there to manage
the growth. We currently have five clubs
open in the U.K., and have several more
under development. We believe there are
similar opportunities in other countries
around the globe.
Rebranding goal is reflected in new tagline ‘Change Your Body. Change Your Life.’
CBI: GGI is rather unique with respect to its
relationship with the Gold’s Gym Franchisee
Association (GGFA). How do you intend to
work with the GGFA?
coming to us from a wide range of industries, and many have both the desire and the
funds to open multiple units fairly quickly.
CBI: Does TRT have an exit strategy
for Gold’s?
DS: In fact, when I became CEO, the first
call I made was to the GGFA board.
They’re an invaluable partner and have
been tremendously supportive during the
transition. As we continue to grow this
brand and our franchise operations, it’s
critical to have their support and input. A
major example of our increased collaboration with the GGFA was the formation
of the National Franchise Council (NFC);
in addition to meeting to address matters
that affect the entire brand, the NFC will
serve as a forum to resolve issues among
Gold’s Gym franchisees.
DS: TRT is focusing its efforts on building a
company that will have great long-term
value. When you look at TRT’s other investments, you’ll see that it doesn’t subscribe
to a cookie-cutter, five- or seven-year plan
just to turn a profit. For example, it’s
owned the Omni Hotels since 1996 and is
still investing heavily to improve an already
great brand.
CBI: Which Gold’s Gym do you make use of?
What are your personal impressions of it?
CBI: How is the makeup of franchisees
changing?
DS: I work out at the Gold’s Gym in the
Uptown section of Dallas. It’s got a great
atmosphere, with tremendous energy,
and really represents where we’re going
as a brand. I have an incredible trainer
who takes a little too much pleasure in
putting me through the ringer, but there’s
nothing more gratifying than being sore
after a high-intensity workout. n
DS: Fifteen or twenty years ago, Gold’s Gym
facilities were typically opened by “gym
guys” who wanted to create a job for themselves doing something that they enjoyed.
Our franchisee profile has evolved in recent
years, just as it has for many franchised
brand names in other industries. Today,
Gold’s Gym is attracting men and women
with a real skill for making money by
providing a sought-after service. They’re
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J ON F ELD is a contributing editor
for CBI and can be reached at
jon@trendline-co.com.
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THE (MARKET)
Appeal of
Club-Based
Long considered a
luxury, SPA SERVICES
are quickly becoming
a necessity
SPAS
By Jean Suffin
AS OUR LIVES CONTINUE to accelerate toward a constantly busy, perpetually stressed-
out state, a growing number of people are coming to recognize—and appreciate—
the untold, as well as obvious, virtues of indulging in spa treatments.
Given the health and fitness industry’s expanding, evolving role in the pursuit of
health, wellness, balance, and serenity, club members across the country and around
the world are asking themselves an important, telling question: Is a massage a
luxury… or a necessity?
< Refreshing
The O Spa
at Franco’s
To help them decide, many clubs are now offering à la carte spa services, such as facials and
massages, to complement their lineups of personalized services. An equally popular trend is the emergence
of comprehensive in-club day spa operations offering a range of treatments, from massages and facials,
to more sophisticated medical applications, such as microdermabrasion, peels, and botox injections.
According to the International Spa Association’s (ISPA’s) 2006 Spa-goer Study, there were 13,757 spas
in the United States as of August 2006, representing an average annual growth of 16%. In 2005, spas
were a $9.7 billion business, with revenue growing by 18% annually. ©
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Club-Based SPAS continued
But perhaps the most enlightening statistic is that more than
one in 10 spa-goers treat their visits to spas as an integral, vital
part of their larger health and wellness regimen, according to
ISPA. And many of them are doing so at one of the more than
484 club-based spas throughout the country, accounting for
$209 million in revenue in 2006. In addition, 4% of IHRSA
member clubs offer some form of day spa services.
According to the association, club-based spas and day-spa
services fulfill a critical function in the overall spa industry:
5% of U.S. spa-goers visited a club spa as their first—
initiatory—experience.
Primary benefits
“A club spa offers guests the opportunity to focus on complete
health, wellness, and stress-reduction—all under one roof,”
Lynne Walker McNees, ISPA’s president, tells CBI. “It’s the
obvious complement to a healthy lifestyle.”
In addition to their profitability, club-based spas are effective
in both enlisting new members and increasing member
retention, according to operators. Nonmembers who visit the
spa get exposure to the club and often become members,
partially to take advantage of the discounts in spa services that
many clubs offer. Likewise, club members are apt to visit a spa
if it is part of the overall club facility.
Janice Nichols, vice president of the Sport & Health Company’s spa division, notes that, at each of its three Serenity Day Spa
locations in Virginia and Washington, D.C., a massage has become
a necessary part of many members’ workouts; the convenience of
an on-site spa makes it easy to integrate a massage, and other
services, into their routine, much like personal training.
Sales appeal Franco’s O Spa markets services and spa products
treatments to meet their needs, from a $15 brow wax, to a
$225 facial with microdermabrasion and peels.”
This variety of personalized services is exactly what spa-goers
are after, according to ISPA’s Walker McNees. “Consumers today
are busier than ever before,” she observes. “They are looking
to simplify their lives and create opportunities to recharge and
find balance. When someone visits a health club, a resort hotel,
or even a salon, they want a place where they can ‘get it all’—
and that usually includes having a spa treatment.”
This expectation is one that most clubs with spas have
anticipated. According to Brian Lynch, the director of sales
“
THE REVENUE
PER SQUARE FOOT IN THE
SPA IS DOUBLE THAT OF…
THE CLUB.
The metrics at Serenity support this notion. Nichols points
out: “The revenue per square foot in the spa ($310) is double
that of the revenue per square foot in the club.” The company’s
three spas boast a 15% profit margin, and generate more than
$4 million in annual revenues.
A similarly profitable scenario is playing out at Sanctuary
Spa, located at Western Athletic Club’s (WAC) San Francisco
Bay Club, in San Francisco. There, spa services and personal
training are the top profit centers in the club. “The day spa
industry has skyrocketed!” reports Gina Raiola, spa director.
“By visiting both the club and the spa, members can come
here to take care of their body inside and out, with a range of
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”
and marketing at the upscale Bosse Sports Club and its spa,
SOMA, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, the impetus behind adding
a day spa to the club was not to increase membership; it already
has a waiting list of prospective members, and limits its
membership to about 600. Rather, the goal was to increase the
exclusivity of the club while providing its members with a
one-stop shop. “It’s easy to get into the spa—and easy to get
addicted to it once you’ve experienced it,” Lynch asserts.
In addition, offering a spa element inside a fitness environment
allows club operators to take pampering to a new level. “It’s not
just about the body; it’s about the mind,” relates Sandy Franco,
co-owner of Franco’s Athletic Club in Mandeville, Louisiana,
which recently opened its O Spa. “Adding the spa component
completely changed our image from that of a fitness club to that
of a lifestyle club.”
During its first nine months of operation, the O Spa generated
$405,000 in revenues, and, as at Serenity, the spa significantly
outperformed the club component on a revenue-per-square
foot basis, this time by a factor of more than three; while the club
posted $58/square foot, the spa racked up $184.
Glam demand Services yield an attractive margin at O Spa
Secondary sales
Club-based spas have also found a way to “pamper” their bottom
lines with product sales, which create another successful revenue
stream by allowing patrons to bring a little bit of the spa home
with them. At Franco’s O Spa, for instance, Franco studied the
hotel industry as a model, and then began selling everything
that was offered in the spa, including robes, luxury linens,
and skin-care products. “The boutique sells everything that
contributes to that feel-good spa experience—anything that
smells good, feels good, or tastes good.” And sales have been “off
the charts!” she reports.
Similarly, at the Sanctuary Club, 25% of the revenue from the
spa derives from product sales.
At the O Spa, retail sales produced 24.7% of the total revenues
($100,000 for nine months) and spa gift cards, 23.5% ($95,000).
Franco estimates that the spa’s retail profit margin should
continue to run somewhere between 20% and 30%. “It’s a bit
too soon to pin it down more precisely,” she says.
Because spa services are so personal and tend to create
loyalty toward a particular service technician, clients return
regularly, and this becomes a strong pull for them to renew their
club memberships.
“We see them every week,” says Raiola, of WAC. “We know
their families, their jobs. We’ve become a part of their lives.”
Nichols, of Sport & Health, agrees. “The spa helps to build a
deeper bond with members. If they should lose their favorite
group-exercise instructor, they still have people they connect with
in the spa. People are very dedicated to an individual provider. It
makes them think twice about moving on to another health club.”
SPA SUCCESS
Fine Times at Wellbridge
W
hile the spa business can be a
lucrative one for clubs, opening
an onsite spa is not without its
challenges. Finding a professional, experienced staff to both manage the spa and
provide specialized services to clients
can be the most daunting one. Since the
spa and club have become formally
linked, the spa staff’s customer service
must reflect the club’s high standards.
But, as the Wellbridge Company
clearly demonstrates, it can be done. Of
the 20 clubs that Wellbridge owns and manages nationwide,
seven feature a full-service day spa. They are: Colorado Athletic
Club-DTC, Greenwood Village, Colorado; Honolulu Club,
Honolulu, Hawaii; Bel Air Athletic Club, Bel Air, Maryland;
Wellbridge Athletic Club and Spa, Clayton, Missouri; Wellbridge
Athletic Club and Spa, Town & Country, Missouri; Harbour
Island Athletic Club and Spa, Tampa, Florida; and Concord
Athletic Club and Spa, San Antonio, Texas. In addition, 90% of its
clubs provide massage services.
“A spa provides an added amenity to the overall experience, and
it attracts a higher-end market,” says John Satir, east regional
director and director of spa development for Wellbridge.
Wellbridge opted to open spas at these seven locations because
they had adequate space for the desired offerings. While all of
the locations encompass the same core elements, each spa is
customized to match its club’s décor, and offers a branded menu
with signature services particular to the club’s geographical region.
“In Florida, the spa may offer a mango facial, whereas, in the
northeast, it may offer a pumpkin-cranberry facial,” Satir says.
Ideally, club staff and spa technicians can work hand in hand to
promote business across both hemispheres of the facility.
“Our certified personal trainers can perform the function of
strength training and toning. However, to obtain maximum
results, the body must rest and rejuvenate post-workout through
massage,” notes Satir. “This full circle of wellness is exactly what
Wellbridge prides itself on providing to its members.”
Some 30% of the three spas’ clients are club members, while
the bulk of the remainder (64%) are nonmembers.
Similar figures prevail at the O Spa: 46% of its customers are
club members, while the remainder are nonmembers. Surprisingly, 35%-40% of them are men.
Based on these operators’ accounts, it’s clear that spa
services only add to a club’s profitability, prestige, prospects, and
promise, in terms of both revenue and membership growth. Even
better, they enhance the members’ experience as well. n
J EAN S UFFIN is a contributing editor for CBI and can be
reached at jsuffin@comcast.net.
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Club-Based SPAS continued
The Little Touches Make a Huge Difference to the Bottom Line
SUCCESSFUL OPERATORS will tell you that it’s the little touches—fresh towels,
attractively displayed soaps and shampoos, massage services, etc.—that make a big
impact in a club’s day spa or locker room environment. Give your members the
VIP treatment with the following IHRSA Associate Members’ products, and watch
those little touches generate big profits!
A-1 Textiles and Hospitality Products
Busy clubs need towels that
can withstand washing,
bleaching, and drying on a
daily basis, yet still remain
comfortable and soft to the
touch. A-1 manufactures its
towels on high-tech looms
and uses cotton that stays soft and durable despite constant usage.
The company offers towels for any budget; its lines include lowcost imports, mid-price premium house towels, high-quality
domestics, jogging towels, sensormatic tags, mesh laundry bags,
and more.
“Price shopping is important to all club owners, but if your
towels fall apart after a few washings, you’re clearly losing
money,” says Carol Moran, A-1’s president. “Our quality starts
high and runs through all six levels of our imported and domestic
towels. And with seven distribution points nationwide, we can
get our towels to any club quickly.”
Contact: www.a1athletictowels.com, 800-351-1819.
See our ad on page 67
HydroTher (Advanced Commercial Pool & Spa)
HydroTher Dry Therapy
Massage Beds incorporate
heat, massage, and full-body
floatation to relieve users’
pain and stress. Users float
on a bed of heated water—
dry and separated from the
water by a thin membrane—as
high-volume,
high-pressure therapy jets
massage away their soreness and stiffness. The beds have applications for chronic conditions, sports injuries, and wellness, and
benefit virtually every system in the body, including the skeletal,
muscular, nervous, and digestive systems.
“After just 20 minutes on a HydroTher bed, members feel like
they’ve had a full-body massage—without disrobing or getting
wet,” asserts Jennifer Mercieca, HydroTher’s marketing director. “A wellness program that includes regular massage can
improve your members’ long-term health and well-being.”
Contact: www.hydrother.com, 800-891-5811.
See our ad on page 68
42
Ready Care Industries
Ready Care Industries offers
premium locker room amenities,
along with a variety of massage
and manicure supplies, and private label retail products, to name
a few. The company manufactures
the Body Eclipse Professional
Spa line, a collection that includes
shampoos, conditioners, bath gels, and body lotions in a number
of luxurious fragrances. Ready Care’s dispensing systems can be
customized with silk-screened logos for use in shower, vanity, and
spa applications.
“We’re known for serving health clubs, and more of them are
offering spa treatment services,” states Gary Robie, Ready
Care’s CEO. “We offer solutions for them in that area, too.
We use only the best ingredients, including botanical extracts,
vitamins, and minerals, to live up to our reputation for quality.
And our spa amenities, like our locker room amenities, are in
stock and ready to ship the same business day, eliminating the
hassle of back-ordered items.”
Contact: www.readycare.com, 800-477-4283.
See our ad on page 78
Sports Solutions, Inc.
Sports Solutions offers a range of
locker room, shower, and vanity
presentation amenities. The company has six different lines of aloe and
vitamin-enriched spa and sports
products. Its vanity containers are
available in marble, travertine, steel,
acrylic, metals, and Corian. In addition, Sports Solutions provides
robes, linens, and 600 more spa
and locker room essentials.
“A spa requires high-end accessories, and natural stone provides an upscale look,” says Laurie Schmidt, president of Sports
Solutions. “When you’re ready to update your locker rooms, you
can create a beautiful shower and vanity presentation, choosing
from six colors of natural stone, marble, and travertine dispensers and accessories. We offer bottle and bracket systems,
dispensers with metal pumps, multiple sizes and styles of storage
jars, trays, towel holders, and tissue covers.”
Contact: www.sportssolutionsinc.com, 800-969-8008.
See our ad on page 43
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It’s Time, Again, To…
Get Active America!
By Patricia Amend
IHRSA’s 2007
outreach
campaign
boasts exciting
new offerings
It’s a sure sign of spring: The Get Active America! campaign, IHRSA’s annual outreach
effort to help combat the colossal human and financial costs associated with sedentary
lifestyles and obesity, is upon us.
If this year’s campaign is anything like those of previous years, it will undoubtedly
make its share of headlines from coast to coast. In 2006, an estimated 70,600 consumers
visited some 1,200 participating clubs. Major media outlets as varied as Prevention,
Shape, Family Circle, and Diabetes Self Management magazines highlighted the event,
as did daily newspapers across the country, including The New York Times, Atlanta
Journal Constitution, and Rocky Mountain News. Forbes.com, About.com, Yahoo.com,
and broadcast news stations from Detroit to Raleigh covered GAA! Since the
program’s inception in 2004, Get Active America! has accounted for more than
143 million media impressions.
During Get Active America! Week 2007, which begins Monday, May 14, participating
clubs will open their doors, for free, encouraging members to “bring a friend”—
a child, spouse, parent, grandparent, coworker, neighbor. In doing so, clubs may also
help give their existing members a needed jumpstart for their own fitness programs.
By signing up, Get Active America! clubs also agree to participate in the campaign’s
industry-wide Open House, which takes place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 18-20.
During that event, operators are asked to schedule events that will attract uninitiated, inactive, and overweight or obese individuals to help them experience a health
club, and realize that clubs are for everyone—for people just like them—and not only
for people who are already fit.
“Get Active America! 2007 will carry the theme ‘Back to Basics,’ to encourage clubs
to focus on Americans who are new to exercise, or who have been away from it for
a long time,” says Sara Lehrhoff, IHRSA’s health promotion manager. “In addition,
to encourage more people to exercise, Get Active America! 2007 will focus on two main
groups, or tracks—the family and the corporation.”
The GAA! Family program is right for clubs looking to:
• Reach out to the entire family;
• Expand their youth programming;
• Introduce families to the health benefits of exercise;
• Offer family-focused programming. ©
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Get Active America! continued
The GAA! Corporate track will be helpful to clubs
seeking to:
• Reach out to working professionals and help them make
time in their busy lives for fitness;
• Break into the corporate market;
• Improve existing relations with existing corporate clients;
• Promote early-morning, lunchtime, and after-work
programming.
IHRSA will supplement these offerings with an outreach
campaign, the theme of which will be “Get Active America! Helping Americans create an exercise habit.”
“We need to keep trying, year after year, to help more
people in our local communities start a regular exercise
program to benefit their health and well-being and to
prevent a long list of diseases,” insists Joe Moore, IHRSA’s
president and CEO. “We have a unique opportunity to help
people discover the vast benefits of exercise in our clubs.
We can, and should, show them that it is fun.”
Also new this year is IHRSA’s partnership with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on
Women’s Health, which is promoting Women’s Health
Week (see sidebar). It kicks off on Mother’s Day, and runs
the same week as GAA!
“This partnership—a first in the four-year history of
GAA!—is bound to give IHRSA’s program more credibility
and visibility than ever before,” says Lerhoff. “It’s a boon
for all GAA! participants, but also for family-oriented and
women-only clubs, in particular.”
CBI checked in with two clubs that have experienced
phenomenal results with GAA! in the past, and have big
plans for 2007.
46
Healthy fare Visitor checks out Sportsclub’s options
The Corporate Option
For GAA! 2007, Provost plans to focus more on the
corporate market. She has hired a corporate salesperson
who has been doing onsite “lunch and learn” seminars.
“We want to show that we can support companies by
being their resource for health seminars, rather than them
having to do their own.”
She sees her GAA! Open House/Health Fair—which will
feature a local bloodmobile and screenings by local physicians and other healthcare providers—as an opportunity to
attract more corporations as well as the general population.
“With a third location opening up, we want to show our corporate clients that we now have locations that are ideally
situated where employees work and where they live. Our
goal this year is to increase traffic during GAA! Week.”
To gain even more visibility in the community and
further attract the attention of local companies, Provost
will ask the mayors of Greenville and Simpsonville to issue
Get Active America! proclamations. “It helps that we just
signed the City of Simpsonville as a corporate client. Local
firefighters and police officers make use of our club.”
Sportsclub
Greenville and Simpsonville, South Carolina
New Name/Approach
Sportsclub has been a proud participant in IHRSA’s Get
Active America! initiative since it began in 2004, says Mary
Beth Provost, vice president of operations. “IHRSA has done
a wonderful job of preparing programming and marketing
templates for us so that we have the tools to promote this
national program in our local community.”
She has leveraged those materials extremely well to
gain the attention of her local media. In addition to news
stories that appeared in print and on the radio in 2006,
Sportsclub had a radio station carry a live remote broadcast from each club during its GAA! Open House/Health
Fair. In addition, one TV station and two newspapers did
stories on the event. In 2005, a local TV weatherman did
his show live from the Greenville club during GAA! Week.
Established in 1986, the Eau Claire Athletic Club changed its
name to Unity Health & Fitness in January, 2006. “This allows
us to broaden and unify our approach to health and fitness for
everyone,” says manager Jeff Sauter. “Our vision is to encourage 100% of the population to be physically active.”
Rather than a sudden change, the transformation has
been an evolution, he points out. In October of 2005, the
club began offering a calendar of health and wellness
seminars every few months that are open to the public.
It now offers 10 to 12 such presentations each month.
For National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (also in
May), and for Get Active America! 2007, Unity will offer as
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Unity Health & Fitness
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
many as 30 seminars, which will be presented by local
physicians, chiropractors, nutritionists and other health
experts. These events will be conducted in partnership
with the Continuing Education Department of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where Sauter is a member
of a continuing education subcommittee.
“Through community partnerships with other health
professionals, Unity Health & Fitness goes beyond the traditional exercise approach by ‘unifying’ the services of dietitians, physicians, chiropractors, physical activity coaches,
nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. The
result is a whole-health approach targeted at improving
one’s physical condition, which in turn, will allow healthcare spending to be reallocated toward improving health
rather than merely sustaining it,” he says.
Community leaders also hope this approach will
encourage both businesses and individuals to relocate to
the area, Sauter explains.
“With employers and taxpayers bearing the brunt
of the cost of rising healthcare, we offer healthpromotion programs tailored to addressing the No. 1
driver of healthcare costs—the individual. Working in
concert with societal drivers, such as insurance
companies, health providers, and government agencies, we deliver programs that facilitate behavior
change. Individuals will achieve a healthier quality of
life, employers will achieve a healthier, more productive workforce, and the ‘commUnity’gains a vibrant,
dynamic nature. We all win.”
Indeed, GAA! is a winning proposition for all
IHRSA clubs that participate. To enroll, log on to
www.ihrsa.org/gaa. n
PATRICIA A MEND is a contributing editor to CBI, and can
be reached at pamend@aol.com.
A GAA! FIRST: PARTNERING WITH HHS
T
his year, Get Active America! is certain to generate even more buzz than in years past.
For the first time, IHRSA has partnered with a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), a move that is bound to increase both the visibility and credibility
of GAA! like never before.
The natural partnership will draw attention to the health fairs and open house that GAA! will
be offering. And the timing couldn’t be better: National Women’s Health Week (www.womens
health.gov/WHW), sponsored by the Office of Women’s Health at HHS, kicks off on Mother’s Day,
and runs concurrently with GAA! Week. Likewise, the goal of this event dovetails nicely with
GAA!’s mission.
“We want women to know that overall well-being includes physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual health,” says Sharon L. Ricks, M.A., senior public health advisor on regional women’s
health at the Office on Women’s Health at HHS. “This year’s theme is ‘It’s Your Time: Pamper
Your Mind, Body, and Spirit.’ We will encourage women to get regular check-ups, educate them
about the importance of physical fitness, and promote women’s health issues. The goal is to
encourage women to improve their health and become more active.”
Last year, Women’s Health Week was a tremendous success, reports Ricks. “We were able
to reach millions of women across the country and encourage them to ‘Reconnect to Your Connect! with GAA! and HHS
Health.’ The President and First Lady acknowledged the importance of the week, and the U.S.
Senate and the House of Representatives issued resolutions recognizing the week. In addition, thousands of women took
advantage of free or reduced-fee health screenings. More than 600 organizations joined forces to make this possible.”
In addition, Ricks and her staff are promoting the WOMAN Challenge, an eight-week physical fitness challenge that encourages women to take 10,000 steps or partake of 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day. It, too, kicks off on Mother’s Day, and
allows women to track their steps online (www.womenshealth.gov/whw/woman).
“This is a great opportunity to promote physical fitness and activity among women and their families,” Ricks says. “You can
register your events or activities online at www.womenshealth.gov/whw/participate/register. In 2006, 17,699 women and girls
participated in the WOMAN Challenge across the nation. With the help of IHRSA clubs, we will surpass this number in 2007.”
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Owners, operators and developers of independently-owned clubs • Franchise owners, operators of express workout >
Make plans now to attend the
3rd Annual IHRSA Club Business Entrepreneur Conference
September 4-7, 2007 • Rio All-Suite Hotel • Las Vegas, Nevada
Presented in conjunction with the
THREE YEARS AGO, the Club Business Entrepreneur Conference
26th Annual National
Fitness Trade Show and the
2nd Annual ACE International
Fitness Symposium
was created with one goal in mind: to provide industry
entrepreneurs and independent club operators with the
necessary resources, information, and motivation to jumpstart their businesses, increase sales and grow profits.
This year’s event features another powerful lineup of
presenters who will cut through to the core issues facing
today’s independent club operators. These are highly
successful entrepreneurs who are known for giving the
most useful and relevant operating information. ©
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“
Once again, IHRSA has given us,
as attendees, a comprehensive program and a very diverse speaker and
topic selection. The material was
usable the very first day back to work
at our fitness club. The conference
flavor, staff assistance, the city location
and the hotel were all ‘5 star!’ ”
Kevin Ward, President
Pinnacle Fitness & Performance Centers, Inc.
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GENERAL SESSION
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Failure is Not an Option:
What it takes to succeed as an
independent owner in today’s market
Featuring Thomas Plummer,
the Thomas Plummer Company
Skills, Tools & Systems
to Successfully Sell Health
Club Memberships
Casey Conrad,
Healthy Inspirations
Management Training &
Motivation for Independent
Club Success
Karen Woodard-Chavez,
Premium Performance Training
The future still belongs to the independent club owner, but what it
takes to be financially successful
has changed. Acclaimed speaker
and author Thomas Plummer—
undoubtedly one of the most influential people in the fitness industry
—will share his thoughts on what it
takes to make money over time, to
build a successful business and to
fight hard for your place in crowded
and changing markets. These lessons
of life and business reflect Plummer’s
30+ years of experience working
with club owners and staff from all
>over the world. This session will
help anyone who desires a long-term
career in the fitness industry become
more successful.
Never Ending Motivation:
Learn 7 Secrets to Ignite,
Achieve & Maintain Motivation
Donna Krech,
Thin & Healthy’s Total Solution
Marketing for Success!
Nicki Anderson,
Reality Fitness, Inc.
“
Working ON the Business
or IN the Business:
Selling Solutions That Make
a Bottom-Line Difference
Ed Tock, Sales Makers
Playing for Keeps
Paul Brown,
Face2Face Retention Systems
The conference was great! I had a great time and learned
a lot. The lunches were spectacular and a nice touch.”
Tony Dr. Lawrence Zeff, Operations Manager
Renaissance Health Club
Develop & Analyze the
Health Club Budget...
Where Should Your Money
be Spent and How Does it
Compare to Other Clubs?
Terry Vandermark,
HealthClubSupport.com
Luxury Cruise or Shipwreck—
A Bold New Approach to
Club Management for the
Independent Club Operator
Mike Chaet,
CMS International
Getting & Protecting
Your Competitive Edge
Through Technology
Michael Scott Scudder,
MMA FitBiz Connection™
< and/or single-sex facilities • Any club owners and operators who want to jump-start their businesses, increase sales and make more money!
“
I am in the process of opening
my own club, and I found the time
spent at the Conference to be
extremely helpful. I attended
several key seminars and was
impressed by the quality of each
speaker. I came home with a ton
of information and strategies
which I could immediately put to
use. I plan to attend this event
every year!”
Randy DeLue, Owner
Breathe Fitness for Women
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In addition to these valuable sessions, you’ll have several opportunities to meet and
network with other attendees—the independent operators of facilities like yours—who
are facing many of the same business challenges you deal with every day. Of course,
you’ll stay in top shape during the fun early morning workouts.
Conference attendees will enjoy free access to the 26th Annual National Fitness Trade
Show—it’s where the deals get done! Here, top industry manufacturers and suppliers
will provide you with the opportunity to see, try and buy the equipment and programs
that will keep your members coming back for more (and telling their friends).
In pursuit of growing the industry together, the American Council on Exercise will
again join IHRSA to offer its International Fitness Symposium for certified health and
fitness professionals. Symposium attendees can earn CECs, view the latest in fitness
equipment and network with IHRSA’s Club Business Entrepreneur Conference attendees through shared social events.
Also taking place that weekend at the Rio are the 2008 SupplementsToGo.com
Ms. Fitness USA and Ms. Fitness World contests.
Don’t delay—make your travel plans now! In just a few months, you will leave Las
Vegas with real tools and strategies that will have you making more money the very
next day. n
Log on to www.ihrsa.org/conference for the latest agenda or to register!
Registrations can also be taken over the phone at (800) 228-4772. Rates go up after June 15th!
SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO GROW UNABATED. THE REASON?
IT’S THE BUSINESS MODEL, OF COURSE!
FITNESS
FRANCHISES
Continue to Flourish
By Jon Feld
For the past four years, CBI has diligently reported on the persistent expansion
of fitness franchises. Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 500” list of franchises for
2007 now contains 15 different health club entries—second only to restaurants
in terms of industry representation.
To put the development in clearer focus, comparative figures from
FRANdata, an independent research firm, show that, while the average
annual growth for all franchise systems stands at 20%, the fitness sector’s
five-year growth has been an impressive 144% (see Charts 1 and 2).
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So what’s behind this seemingly unstoppable expansion? Well, one reason is middle-age spread.
“The key factor at play is related to—what else?—the aging baby-boomer generation,” explains Michael
J. McDermott, the editor of The Franchise Handbook. “This generation has sometimes been described as
‘the rat in the snake’ because of the tremendous influence it has as it passes through the successive stages
of life. Just as a swallowed rat is clearly discernible as it passes through a snake’s body, so, too, the boomers
have a visible, palpable, impact on everything around them. There’s a greater degree of segmentation in
this sector than ever before, and it’s due, at least in part, to businesses springing up to meet the needs of
aging, but fitness-minded, baby boomers.”
Boomers are better educated than ever before about the benefits of regular exercise and, increasingly,
inclined to purchase club memberships; their growing interest is fed, and fanned, by fitness services
tailored to their specific needs. The same holds true for other cohorts—e.g., children, women, seniors,
elite athletes, rehab patients—all of whom are attracted to franchise models designed with them in mind.
“In the mid-1980s, IHRSA’s figures indicated that about 2% of the population was making use of fitness
centers,” notes Jeff Klinger, the president of Anytime Fitness. “Currently, the number stands at about 16%,
and, by 2020, it will likely be in the 40s. Most of that growth has come from the boomers.” ©
TOTAL YEAR FITNESS FRANCHISE UNIT GROWTH
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
# Franchised
Units
2005
18,468
2004
15,668
2003
14,677
2002
11,494
2001
9,091
2000
7,572
2005
Note: yellow line reflects consistency of growth
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FITNESS FRANCHISES continued
Right model, right time
A Snap! Founder Peter Taunton’s fresh concept is succeeding
Industry veterans such as Klinger, who’s been involved with
clubs for more than two decades, and Peter Taunton, the
founder of Snap Fitness, who has an equally extensive background, have found the key to making fitness franchising
pay, and take, off. Both have owned “big-box” facilities
with all the amenities—cardiovascular and strength-training
areas, group-exercise studios, pools, racquet-sport courts, cafés,
etc.—and both have been able to devise a new approach with
distinct advantages.
Among the goals that Klinger and Taunton strove for were:
lower fees; greater convenience; increased access; ease of
use; maximum space utilization; and reduced overhead. Their
solution: express clubs.
“I owned six facilities, ranging in size from 15,000 to
45,000 square feet, and had about 350 employees,” recalls
Taunton. “In considering what I wanted in terms of a new busi-
According to FRANdata, an independent franchise research firm, the growth
in fitness franchising has been both vertical and horizontal. While there’s
been a 144% increase in the number of franchise concepts, in general, since
2000, there’s been a 187% uptick in the number of fitness-franchise concepts
during the same period. And, mirroring the fitness industry as a whole, the
franchise sector has experienced increased segmentation.
NUMBER AND TYPE OF HEALTH CENTER CLUBS AND SERVICES
25
20
FitnessRelated
Services
15
Health
Center
Clubs
Health
Center
Clubs
FitnessRelated
Services
Children Health Clubs
5
3
8
Female Health Clubs
19
4
23
8
0
8
23
1
24
3
0
3
58
8
64
Target
Male Health Clubs
10
Mixed
Sports-Related
5
Total
0
Children
Health
Clubs
Male
Health
Clubs
Female
Health
Clubs
Mixed
Sports
Related
Source for all charts: FRANdata, 2007
Notes:“Fitness-Related Services” are concepts that aren’t health clubs, but provide
fitness-related services
Two of the fitness-related services concepts targeting women are specifically focused
on mothers with babies and involve stroller activities
“Mixed” are concepts that target the general public, i.e. both men and women
Two of the mixed health clubs primarily target people over the age of 50
“Sports-Related” refers to health clubs focused on sports activities; two are focused
on boxing and one on yoga
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Supermodel
Snap floor plan
ness, I analyzed
every club area to
determine what members
really used and what clearly
drove revenue. Pools, for instance,
cost too much—for buildout and labor—to yield a decent return.
“At the end of the day,” he indicates, “it came down to two
things—convenience and well-appointed cardio and fitness
areas. Our Snap Fitness facilities are 2,000-3,000 square feet
in size, boast the latest cardio and weight equipment, and are
situated in large and small markets throughout the country.
Approximately 90% of our members live or work within two
miles of their club.”
Klinger’s research led him to much the same results. While, in
the past, he’d operated units averaging 40,000 square feet in
space, he concluded that he’d do better with clubs one-tenth
the size and a dramatically reduced labor overhead.
Anytime’s business model relies on a fool-proof access system
that permits members to work out safely, 24 hours a day,
without the need for staff; the same holds true for Snap
Fitness. The system is tied to the members’ payment history—
Cutting edge Anytime has sold some 1,108 franchises since 2002
if they’re not current on their dues,
they’re not admitted. The 24-hour,
employee-free process makes
absentee ownership common and,
even, preferable.
Next year, Anytime intends to
introduce the ultimate in memberaccess technology—a facial-recognition system.
“Because of the high level of
security we’re able to provide, our
insurance provider considers our
clubs a better risk than convenience
stores,” points out Klinger.
Automated member entry and
Web-based tracking and management systems make absentee
ownership both attractive and Anytime! Jeff Klinger
practical. “You can track virtually
everything you need to know, and
our online programs make it possible to operate without cash ever
changing hands,” says Taunton. Some 85% of his franchisees are
absentee operators, he reports, and, during the past three years
of operation, there’s never been an instance of violence or theft,
and none of Snap’s 269 units have gone out of business.
Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness personify the opportunity
and impressive upside posed by fitness franchises. Anytime,
launched in 2002, has already sold 1,108 franchises and
opened 410 centers, which, last year, generated revenues of
$10.5 million. Snap, which debuted two years later, in ’04, has
sold 630 franchises and brought 269 units on line, which
recorded sales of $5.4 million in ’06.
McDermott, of The Franchise Handbook, doesn’t see the
trend abating anytime soon. “Fitness-franchise providers,”
he observes, “have hit on the perfect solution—a relatively
modest upfront investment; a simple, easy-to-implement
business model; and the appeal of earning a living at the level
of involvement the franchisee chooses.” n
JON FELD is a contributing editor for CBI and can be reached
at jon@trendline-co.com.
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FITNESS FRANCHISES continued
FITNESS FRANCHISE
PREMIERES
traditional fitness regimens. Clients can
take classes, offered at 10 different levels,
that, while based on pole dancing, incorporate elements of yoga and Pilates. “The
physical benefits that can be obtained
from pole dancing are amazing,” attests
Tracy Gray, the cofounder of Aradia.
Among the benefits: increased strength;
a more toned physique; and improved
flexibility, balance, and rhythm. Aradia
also offers specialized workshops, dropin classes, and bachelorette parties. Gray
notes that fitness-pole-dancing is growing in popularity worldwide, and already
has a large celebrity following, including
such well-known sirens as Paris Hilton,
Lindsay Lohan, Terri Hatcher, Kate
Hudson, and Pamela Anderson.
The pace of fitness-franchise innovation
may have slowed, just a bit, last year, but
the rate of expansion seems, if anything,
to have accelerated. Last year, CBI introduced 14 fitness-franchise companies
that we’d heard about for the very first
time; this year, there are 12 more that are
new to these pages. Last year, the accompanying chart listed 48 distinct fitnessfranchise companies; this year, despite
the disappearance of a few, there are 55,
a 17% increase. And, if you study the
chart carefully, you’ll note that many of
the franchisers have managed doubledigit—or greater—growth in terms of
number of units. Anytime Fitness, for
example, has nearly tripled its presence
in one year, going from 335 to 996 units;
and Snap Fitness has more than tripled
in size, shooting from 64 to 202 sites. One
thing is unequivocally clear: Fitness franchising is not only here to stay. It is also
assuming a greater and greater role in
the industry each year.
BodyAccess Franchise
Organization, Inc.
BodyAccess offers “smart exercise to
an aging population,” explains founder
Dorianne Walkama Rosa. In addition to
providing cycling and Pilates programs,
BodyAccess attempts to educate its members about flexibility, proper nutrition,
and sensible training, all of which are
required to deal with busy lifestyles.
BodyAccess’ approach allows individuals
to either work out on their own or with
a supervised group. Its Circuit Access
Pilates (CAP) training offers fast, flexible
training options, and its Pedal On Demand
(POD) program permits members to cycle
on their own or in a group setting, making
use of an instructional video.
1-2-3 Fit Franchising, L.L.C.
1-2-3 Fit is a new fitness center concept
designed for individuals in search of an
enjoyable, fast, and effective exercise
experience. Recently recognized by
the American Council on Exercise (ACE),
1-2-3 Fit offers a proven, personalized,
30-minute workout. According to the
company, what makes 1-2-3 Fit different
is its Membership Promise, which
includes a free one-week trial program;
unique Simbio equipment, which utilizes
both positive and negative resistance,
minimizing the soreness that’s often
associated with traditional weight stacks;
neighborhood locations; and supportive
staff. 1-2-3 Fit claims its approach
makes it easier and more convenient
than ever for people to achieve the fitness
results they desire.
CATZ (Competitive Athlete
Training Zone)
Since opening its first training center in
Pasadena, California, in 1996, CATZ has
helped tens of thousands of athletes to
improve their athletic performance and
reduce the risk of injury. CATZ specializes
in serving the needs of athletes between
the ages of eight and 18. Its sport-specific training programs are designed by
certified strength and conditioning
specialists and physical therapists to
enhance each client’s speed, agility,
strength, power, and quickness, while
avoiding injuries. Each CATZ workout
Aradia Fitness, Inc.
Aradia Fitness is North America’s largest
pole-dancing-for-fitness company. Its
classes cater to women who are looking
for an exciting, entertaining alternative to
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was developed by studying the movement patterns, rest periods, reaction
needs, muscular power, endurance
requirements, and common sites of injury
specific to each sport.
Express Train
Fitness for Men
Express Train Fitness for Men utilizes a
30-minute program that’s designed to
help men achieve their fitness goals
systematically and effectively. “The sound
exercise, supervised motivation, and
nutritional information that we provide
helps our members make a positive
lifestyle change, embracing health and
wellness,” explains Scott Habraken, the
company’s founder and president. “We
offer a nonintimidating atmosphere
in which the nonathlete can pursue a
complete program.” Express Train makes
use of a 15-station hydraulic-resistance
circuit to enhance cardiovascular condition and build muscle strength. “Our
systems adapt to the member’s level of
fitness by allowing them to work at their
own level of performance and strength,”
notes Habraken. The company also provides nutritional planning based on such
risks as diabetes, heart disease, and
high cholesterol and blood pressure.
Fit Zone For Women
International, Inc.
The Fit Zone for Women concept was
developed by Gretchen Shannon, the
firm’s founder, and a team of experts with
more than 100 years of combined club
experience, much of it having to do with
the way that women work out. Fit Zone
clubs offer state-of-the-art equipment,
extensive exercise options, and personalized fitness counseling and workout
regimens. The facilities’ unique layout
creates a “synergistic momentum,”
according to Shannon. Members who are
using the Nautilus For Women strength
circuit, guided by Fit Zone’s patented
CircuitLight timing system, can view
other members working out on the
aerobics/group-exercise floor. That,
says Shannon, creates excitement and
encourages participation. The clubs’
cardiovascular equipment is complemented with television screens.
Jump ’n Play Gym (registered
as JNPG Corporation)
Jump ’n Play Gym is a parent/child learning program that’s been specifically
designed to stimulate development in
infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The
years from birth to age five are regarded
as the “early development years” and considered the most important period of
growth and learning in a person’s entire
life. Recognizing the importance of this
time, and understanding that children
learn through play, the company offers
structured play classes that emphasize
self-confidence, and social, cognitive, and
motor skills. Sessions take place in a clean,
safe, and inviting 1,900-square-foot play
area complete with gymnastic flooring,
soft gym pieces, and other equipment. The
program has been endorsed by doctors
and childhood experts, as well as parents
and their children, says Tracey Howard,
the founder of Jump ’n Play Gym.
Mavericks Franchise
Group, L.L.C.
Building on its success as the operator of
eight West Coast Mavericks clubs, this company has recently introduced a franchised
version of its concept, which, it explains, is
“designed for people who are serious about
their workouts and equally serious about
their fun.” Founded by industry veterans
Gene Campbell and Jerry Cunningham, the
firm offers franchisees sophisticated “bigbox” operating systems; Thomas Plummer’s
proven training programs; best-in-industry
vendor programs; significant marketing
muscle; and a close “mentoring” relationship.
The resulting product, Mavericks says, is
a strong brand, at an attractive price,
that delivers high prospect appeal and
member satisfaction.
Personal Training Institute
The Personal Training Institute (PTI) was
founded in 1987 and began franchising
in 2005. Because PTI specializes in providing personalized, one-on-one training
services, the facilities require only 10%
of the space demanded by a standard
fitness center. The units average 2,0002,500 square feet in size, and are often
located in retail strip centers in upscale
neighborhoods, but are appropriate for
either suburban or urban locations.
They’re equipped with 19 Nautilus
strength machines, as well as treadmills,
elliptical trainers, and both upright and
recumbent exercise bikes. PTI’s modest
capital-expenditure requirements, lower
client-acquisition costs, and higher
revenue per square foot support rapid
growth and sustained profitability, claims
President Evan Kaplan.
of-the-art equipment, can operate with
only one part-time employee, and can be
profitable with less than 220 members.
Snap Fitness helps franchisees manage
the start-up process, assisting with site
selection, lease negotiation, build-out,
training, and the grand opening.
SuperSlow Zone, LLC
SuperSlow Zone (SSZ) opened its first
facility in 2005 and, that same year,
managed to bring 42 locations on line in the
U.S., Canada, the Bahamas, and Puerto
Rico. SSZ positions itself as a “health and
exercise franchise—not a gym,” explains
CEO Madeline Ross. SuperSlow strength
training—a high-intensity, low-forceexercise strengthening protocol—is offered
by appointment only, with a SuperSlow
Instructor accredited by the International
Association for Continuing Education
Training. Sessions consist of an approximately 20-minute-long strength-training
workout, which is performed 1-2 times a
week. Ross reports that one-third of SSZ
owner/operators are medical professionals
(MDs, physical therapists, chiropractors,
etc.), while two-thirds are general entrepreneurs. She notes that SSZ franchises average
a 75%-80% customer-retention rate.
RetroFitness Corp.
Eric Casaburi, the founder of Retro
Fitness, describes his concept as being all
about “more, but less expensive, fitness.”
Each facility features 50-60 pieces of
cardiovascular equipment, each with its
own LCD screen; a Retro Movie Theatre,
where members can watch their favorite
1980s flicks; three different types of
circuit-training equipment; free weights;
locker rooms; tanning; and RetroBlends
Juice bars. “We’re actively looking for
qualified entrepreneurs with the motivation and determination to build a
successful business,” says Casaburi.
“A qualified RetroFitness franchise
candidate would appreciate and understand excellent customer service, enjoy
interacting with the general public, have
a general understanding of management/
budgets, have significant financial
resources, and be comfortable operating
within established business parameters.”
VERT Fitness
VERT—an acronym for Velocity
Enhanced Resistance Training—is a system that combines computer-controlled
isokinetic exercise and trainer-supervised
instruction to offer athletic and fitness
programs designed to enhance human
performance. “Utilizing technology to
deliver streamlined workouts and obtain
immediate feedback on clients’ efforts
helps us to meet their needs consistently,” says cofounder Walter Theis, MD.
VERT Fitness originally concentrated on
working with athletes, but now focuses,
equally, on a general fitness population.
“The VERT equipment offers a distinct
advantage for individuals who want to
increase their speed and power,” Theis
explains. “Because bidirectional (double
concentric) isokinetics is such a safe and
effective way to exercise more intensely,
clients like it because they can get more
accomplished in less time.” n
Snap Fitness 24/7, Inc.
Snap Fitness opened its first franchise
club in 2004. Today, it has more than 230
locations nationwide and expects to open
another 260 over the next six months.
Founder Peter Taunton describes Snap
Fitness as “an alternative to the ‘big box’
facilities characterized by crowded parking lots, long waiting lines, and high
turnover rates.” Snap facilities, he
explains, offer convenient locations,
affordable pricing, 24-hour access, state-
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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55
FITNESS FRANCHISES continued
FITNESS FRANCHISES
Franchise Company
Year
Founded
Start-up Costs/Annual Royalties or Fees
1-2-3 Fit
2005
$20,000/ weeks 1-52, royalty fee is $95, and weeks 53 and
on is the greater of $115 per week or 5% of gross revenue
21 Minute Fitness
2003
365 Fitness
Number of Units
in 2005
Number of
Units in 2006
12
27
N/A
N/A
N/A
2006
$375,000 to $725,000/ annual royalties or fees: $8,OOO per year+C13
N/A
4
2002
$ 8 ,999/$ 4,788
335
996
Aradia Fitness, Inc.
2004
monthly royalties
Bally Total Fitness
1962
$40,000 for 10-year term/3% of gross revenues
The Blitz
2002
$39,500/$4,740
BodyAccess Franchise Organization, Inc.
2005
Anytime Fitness
See our ad on page 76
CATZ
(Competitive Athlete Training Zone)
1996 (began
franchising
in 2004)
0
10
28
35
211
305
initial franchise fee: $25,000; 6% royalty
1
1
$40,000 for first franchise, $25,000 for each additional unit; 8% of the first
$1 million of gross revenues, 7% of the second $1 million of gross revenues, and
6% of all gross revenues thereafter
2
5
Club 50 Fitness
2003
$24,900/$395 month
Contours Express
1998
$18,000/$4,740
23
29
475
650
Curves International, Inc.
1992
$39,900/5% capped at $795 a month
9,500
10,038
Cuts Fitness for Men
2003
$39,950/$4,800
105
81
elements for women
2003
$175,000+/$15,000+
12
41
EncouraGym
2001
N/A
Express Train Fitness for Men
2005
$37,950/283% monthly royalty
N/A
N/A
0
1
It Figures
1997
Fit After 50
2003
$23,000 (includes equipment)
900
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Fitness Together
1996
$34,000 franchise fee / 6% royalty
210
301
Fitniks (Moore-Lange, Inc.)
2004
N/A
N/A
N/A
Fitwize 4 Kids
2004
set-up costs $30,000- $40,000/franchise fee $39,000/ royalty, $495 per month
5
13
Fit Zone For Women International, Inc.
2003
$25,000; monthly royalty fee is $395 or 5% of the previous month’s installment
10
membership payments.
(10 licensed)
Fun Bus Fitness on Wheels
2003
$30,000
Gold's Gym International, Inc.
1965
Head Over Heels
See our ad on page 64
49 (14 licensed/
35 franchised)
9
25
$25,000/3%
640
N/A
1990
N/A
N/A
N/A
Healthy Inspirations
2000
$15,000/$5,940
78
135
HIT Centers, Inc.
2003
$40,000
6
N/A
IM=X Pilates Studios
(Xercize Studio, LLC)
2004
$24,000/$18,000 or 6% of gross revenues
8
8
6,300
6,800
16
24
0
0
Jazzercise, Inc.
1969
$3,000-$33,100/ 20%
JumpBunch, Inc.
2002
$30,000/8% royalty
Jump 'n Play Gym
(registered as JNPG Corporation)
2005
initial franchise fee: $34,200; royalties to be paid on gross sales. Graduated
scale. Years 1-2: 2% of gross sales; years 3-4: 4% of gross sales; years 5 and
on: 6% of gross sales
Support Legend:
R=Real estate selection; M=Marketing/advertising; E=Equipment purchasing; T=Training
Membership
in 2005
Current
Membership
2005
Revenues
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
100,000
2006
Revenues
Support
Offered*
Contact
N/A
R, M, E, T
Franchising Department, contactus@123fit.com, 888-OUT-IN-30, www.123fit.com
N/A
N/A
M,T
gregt@21minutefitness.com, 925-280-8211, 800-997-0096, www.21minutefitness.com
21,000
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Paul Grymkowski, 365 Fitness Licensing, P.O. Box 281, Topanga, CA 90290,
800-955-4365, paul@365fitnesscenter.com, www.365fitnesscenter.com
315,000
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Debra Griffith, 800-704-5004, info@anytimefitness.com, www.anytimefitness.com
900
1,500
120,000
N/A
M, E, T
Tracy Gray, tracy@aradiafitness.com, 866-833-2550, www.aradiafitness.com
4 million+
4 million
$1 billion+
$1 billion
R, M, E, T
800-410-2582, www.ballyfitness.com/franchising
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Blitz Sales, 866-968-2548, blitzinfo@timetoblitz.com, www.timetoblitz.com
400
600
N/A
240,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T Dorianne Walkama Rosa, walkama@bodyaccess.com, 781-454-8153,
(third party)
www.bodyaccess.com
R, M, E, T
franchise@catzsports.com, 888-664-2289, www.catzsports.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
877-425-8250, info@club50fitness.com, www.club50fitness.com
187,000
209,000
$4.8 million
$6.3 million
R, M, E, T
Bill Helton, 877-227-2282, bill@contoursexpress.com
4 million+
$1 billion+
$1.48 million
M, E, T
800-Curves-30, www.buycurves.com
16,000
17,000
$3.5 million
$2 million
M, E, T
Steven Haase, Managing Director, 732-381-9300, steven.haase@cutsfitness.com
www.cutsfitness.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Christopher Palumbo, 866-893-9603, 305-531-0580, chris@elementsforwomen.com,
www.elementsforwomen.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
licensing@encouragym.com, 317-334-1966, www.encouragym.com
0
50
N/A
N/A
R , M, E, T
Scott Habraken, shabraken@expresstrainonline.com, 407-327-3012,
www.expresstrainonline.com
4 million+
Equipment is
included in
franchise fee
225,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
fitafter50@se.rr.com, 877-305-0899, www.fitafterfiftyinc.com
13,650
19,565
$43.4 million
$62.2 million
R, M, E, T
Rick Sikorski, 877-663-0880, ext. 11, ricksikorski@fitnesstogether.com,
www.fitnesstogether.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Donna Moore, donna@donnamoore.com
396
1274
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
877-348-9493, 415-883-1798, info@fitwize4kids.com, www.fitwize4kids.com
N/A
35,000
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Rick Romeo, Rick@FitZoneForWomen.com, 866-615-6600, www.FitZoneForWomen.com,
www.FitZoneFranchising.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
funbus@funbuses.com, 732-578-1287, www.funbuses.com
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Courtney Minor, 214-296-5035, 125 E. John Carpenter Fwy., Ste. 1300,
Irving, TX 75305, cminor@goldsgym.com, www.goldsgym.com
3 million+
3 million+
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
205-940-3547, 800-850-3547, www.headoverheelsgyms.com
27,000
N/A
$1.8 million
N/A
R, M, E, T
800-725-6147, casey@healthyinspirations.us, www.healthyinspirations.us
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Mike Berridge, 614-793-8065, ext. 101, info@hitcentersinc.com, www.hitcentersinc.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
800-469-1336, franchise@xercizestudio.com, www.imxpilatesstudio.com
N/A
N/A
$19.3 million
$20.4 million
M, T
800-348-4748, 760-476-1750, info@jazzercise.com, www.jazzercise.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
Thomas Bunchman, tbunchman@jumpbunch.com, 410-703-2300, 866-826-5645,
www.jumpbunch.com
190
250
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
Tracey L. Howard, jumpnplaygym@sbcglobal.net, 810-714-4202, www.jumpnplaygym.com
(will provide
assistance with
real estate
selection if
desired)
FITNESS FRANCHISES continued
FITNESS FRANCHISES
Franchise Company
J.W. Tumbles
Year
Founded
Start-up Costs/Annual Royalties or Fees
1994
$42,850/5%
Ladies Workout Express/Lady of
America/Workout Express/Health
Clubs of America/ LOA Fitness
for Women
Number of Units
in 2005
Number
of Units
in 2006
19
30
1984
Ladies Workout Express, $20,000 franchise fee and 5% or $500 (whichever greater)
monthly royalty; LOA Fitness For Women, $30,000 franchisee fee and 8% monthly
royalty of member dues; Workout Express, $20,000 Franchise fee and 5% or $500
(whichever greater)+C42
650
485
Liberty Fitness
2002
$180,000-$225,000, including franchise fee of $30,600/6% of revenues
N/A
30 open and
over 200 committed to area
developer deals
The Little Gym International
1992
N/A
194
N/A
Mavericks Franchise Group LLC
2007
$10,000 franchise fee / $500 monthly recurring
0
0
My Gym Enterprises
1983
$49,500/ 6% royalty, plus 1% advertising fund
Nitro Fitness
2004
$9,750 franchise fee $5,976/ year royalties
2005
model A: initial fee $29,900/ $1,000 per month flat fee;
model B: initial fee $15,000 / $400 per month flat fee
Pee Wee Workout
1986
Personal Training Institute
See our ad on page 97
Parisi Speed School
145
23/units sold, 11
open franchises
160
N/A
8
16
$2,000/ 10% monthly
11
N/A
1987
$19,500/5% royalties
7 company,
4 franchises
Planet Fitness
1992
$25,000 franchise fee, due at signing and $25,000 performance fee, due when EFT
at $50,000/royalties are paid monthly, on a sliding scale (starting at $500), based
on EFT
Powerhouse Gym International, Inc.
1974
start-up varies from $175,000 to $2.4 million, depending on size, amenities, and
compensation from landlord if any/$16,000 initial fee/$6,000 annual renewal
RetroFitness Corp. See our ad on page 91
2005
Shapeup Sisters, Inc.
See our ad on page 105
7 company,
6 franchises
75
135
315
330
$35,000; 5% of gross monthly revenues
2
8
2003
$24,900/$4,500
2
4
Slim and Tone, LLC.
2002
$34,500
140
101
Snap Fitness 24/7, Inc.
2004
$15,000 for a single, $40,000 for a 3-pack / $399 monthly
64
269
StrollerFit
1997
$3,500 franchisee fee/15% royalties on class revenue, no royalties on product
sales/start-up fees vary from franchise to franchise
70
100
SuperSlow Zone, LLC
2004
$30,000/monthly royalty (flat fee, not a percentage of gross);
royalty is based on the size of the net training area
27
15
Ultimate Woman 20 Minute Fitness
2004
$39,500/$4,740
N/A
N/A
Velocity Sports Performance
1999
$30,000 initial franchise fee/6%-8% of annual gross revenues
45
78
1998
$12,500-$30,000/royalties of 6%
1
3
N/A
240
40
46
2
2
See our ad on page 106
See our ad on page 94
VERT Fitness See our ad on page 60
World Gym International, Inc.
1976,
$25,000 franchise fee, due at signing and $25,000 performance fee,
acquired in due when EFT at $50,000/royalties are paid monthly, on a sliding scale
November, (starting at $500), based on EFT
2006
WoW! Work Out World
1991
$6,500-$10,000
Your Time Fitness
2006
$35,000-$189,000 /$399 flat monthly fee
Membership
in 2005
Current
Membership
2005
Revenues
2006
Revenues
Support
Offered*
Contact
$7.5 million
R, M, E, T
Ash Robinson, ash@jwtumbles.com, 858-794-0484, www.jwtumbles.com
10,000
16,000
$4.5 million
350,000
300,000
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
Gerry Weber, President/CEO, gweber@ladyofamerica.com, www.ladyofamerica.com,
www.ladiesworkoutexpress.com, www.workoutexpress.com, www.healthclubsofamerica.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Larry Lerner, 512-623-3660, ext. 12, Larry@libertyfitness.com, www.libertyfitness.com
65,000+
100,000
$60.1 million
$72 million
R, M, E, T
Ruk Adams, 1-888-228-2878, ruk@thelittlegym.com, www.thelittlegym.com
0
8,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1,349
4,103
$592,000
10,000
20,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
800-4MYGYMS, 800-469-4967, 818-907-0735 (FAX), info@my-gym.com, www.my-gym.com
$725,000
R, M, E, T
Larry Bedell or Chuck Rappe, 913-495-5550, larrybedell@aol.com, chuckrappe@msn.com,
www.nitrofitnessformen.com
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
info@parisischool.com, 201-847-1939, www.parisischool.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, T
Margaret J. Carr, peeweework@aol.com, 800-356-6261, www.peeweeworkout.com
1,500
2,000
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Evan A. Kaplan, ekaplan@personaltraininginstitute.com 516-342-9064, ext. 12,
www.personaltraininginstitute.com
305,762
556,176
$11.1 million
843,000
1.02 million
$244 million
4,800
32,000
500
Planet Fitness R, M, E, T
and World Gym
combined,
$33.6 million
603-750-0001, ext. 2, info@planetfitness.com, www.planetfitness.com/ownagym
$265 million
R, M, E, T
CEO, 248-476-2888, ext. 14, Henry@powerhousegym.com , www.powerhousegym.com
Jim Pullman, Licensing Director, 248-476-2888, ext. 12, jpullman@powerhousegym.com,
www.powerhousegym.com
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
franchising@retrofitness.net, 800-738-7604, www.retrofitness.net
1100
N/A
N/A
M, E, T
John C. Crowley or Maria I. Rodriguez, 866-774-2738, john@shapeupsisters.com,
maria@shapeupsisters.com, www.shapeupsisters.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Betsy Ludlow, 215-346-8111, betsy@slimandtone.com, www.slimandtone.com
35,000
105,000
945,000
$ 5.4 million
R, M, E, T
Snap Fitness 24/7, info@snapfitness.com, www.snapfitness.com, 877-474-5422,
Peter Taunton, President/CEO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M, T
Mary Beth Knight, service@strollerfit.com, 513-489-2920, 866-222-9348, www.strollerfit.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M,E,T
Madeline Ross, mross@superslowzone.com, 407-740-8779, www.superslowzone.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Neysa Smith, neysa24@aol.com, www.ulitmatewomanfitness.com
66,000
78,000
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Russell Stinnett, 972-839-9741, russell.stinnett@velocitysp.com, www.velocitysp.com
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R, M, E, T
Chad Emerson, chade@vertinc.com, 888-460-VERT, www.vertinc.com
N/A
600,000
N/A
96,000
110,400
$29.1 million
N/A
N/A
N/A
Planet Fitness R, M, E, T
and World Gym
combined,
$33.6 million
$32.7 million
N/A
603-742-4443, ext. 2, info@worldgym.com, www.worldgym.com/ownagym
R, M, E, T
Stephen P. Roma, 732-477-5400, ext. 11,
sproma@workoutworld.com, www.workoutworld.com
R, T
info@yourtimefitness.com, 800-975-6955, www.yourtimefitness.com
Making $ense of Compensation
The right rewards attract and motivate talented club employees
By Jennifer H. McInerney
F
or many club owners and operators, one of
the most difficult—yet critical—aspects of
their jobs is figuring out how much to pay
their employees, and how to structure their
remuneration, in terms of commission, bonuses,
and other benefits.
“We get several calls a week on this issue!” reports Suzanne Berthay, the president of HR
Pro Shop, a Burke, Virginia-based consulting firm that provides human-resources services to the
fitness industry. “Finding an employee compensation plan that works for their company is often
the single-most confusing and frustrating part of a club owner’s job.”
And it’s no wonder! Payroll is one of the largest expenses an operator can have (40%-50% of
total revenues, according to IHRSA statistics), and there are so many factors—and so many
questions—involved in developing compensation packages that are fair, and attractive, to employees, particularly in such a competitive industry. Some of the questions club owners typically
ask include: Am I paying employees too much? Too little? Can I withhold commission for
inadequate performance? Should I set monthly quotas or goals? What are acceptable bonuses?
That’s why, each year, IHRSA publishes its annual Employee Compensation & Benefits
Survey Results for the Commercial Health & Fitness Industry. This report strives to clarify, and
simplify, the issues, and help club companies of all types and sizes determine whether or
not they’re in line with current compensation standards and trends, both industry-wide and in
their own markets. (To order the report, call 800-228-4772 or log on to www.ihrsastore.com.
Orders placed during the association’s annual sale, which ends in June, enjoy a 25% discount on
all IHRSA publications.)
One of the most important considerations, notes Berthay—whose experience includes five
years as the human-resources director for Gold’s Gym International, Inc. (GGI)—is to avoid a
cookie-cutter approach when addressing compensation.
“Each department within a club’s organization is staffed with people of different skill sets
and mind sets, and, therefore, they’ll respond differently to incentives,” she says. ©
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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Club Business International
61
Making $ense of Compensation continued
Berthay suggests evaluating each department individually to
ascertain the most practical, and productive, compensation options.
“For example, if your sales team is focusing on member sales
by getting out into the community and generating leads and
developing relationships with a wide audience of prospects,
their compensation should be designed to promote and reward
this behavior with commissions,” she explains. “On the other
hand, for personal trainers, who need to foster one-on-one
relationships with new and existing members, perhaps their
compensation should focus on customer-satisfaction ratings or
training-renewal percentages.”
To help put all of the possibilities into perspective, the
association’s compensation report offers a breakdown of how
IHRSA club companies pay their employees by total annual
sales, geographic region, type of operation, and number of clubs
(owned or managed). It provides the most accurate, up-to-date
compensation data for 50 common job titles in the industry,
including senior management, salaried club-level employees, and
hourly club-level staff. The report represents salary figures on
nearly 31,000 employees from more than 1,000 clubs, as well
as information on benefits offerings, health insurance practices,
retirement plans, and vacation and sick leave policies.
In this year’s report, several interesting trends have emerged,
Berthay observes.
• The largest wage increases, over the previous year, occurred
in specialty-area positions, such as yoga instructors (20%),
Pilates instructors (20%), group cycling instructors (10%), and
spa directors (54%). “These areas are very popular and
growing rapidly,” Berthay acknowledges. “The need to recruit
and hire experienced staff in these areas is driving salaries
up quickly.” According to the report, which reflects responses
from different companies year to year, pay scales for seniorlevel management positions are also on the rise. CEOs earned
36.8% more, year over year; regional club managers’ stock
rose 42.9%; and sales and marketing salaries increased by
32.9%. The category of “Development” saw the largest
increase, 112%.
“As club companies expand and open new locations, owners
are seeking talented people with valuable industry experience
to oversee, and ensure the success of, multiple operations,”
she observes.
Berthay recommends reviewing the report’s results and measuring one’s own compensation data against that of comparable club
companies to gauge conformity with industry standards.
A final bit of advice from the HR expert? “Check out the
competition in your area—and not just fitness facilities,”
she advises. “Clubs compete against all sorts of retail and
service establishments for many of their hourly positions.
Offering competitive compensation will give clubs the edge.” n
• In terms of sales commissions, the majority of survey
respondents (45.5%) indicated that they base commission on a J ENNIFER M C I NERNEY is the editor of CBI and can be reached
set fee per contract sold. “This approach is straight-forward, easy at j.mcinerney@fit-etc.com.
to explain and understand, and generates a high motivation level,” she says.
Compensation Trends for Hourly Club Level Employees (Full Time)
Berthay attributes this trend, in part,
to the influx, over the last five years, of
% Change
% Change
2004
2005
2006
2004 to 2005
2005 to 2006
people entering the fitness industry
from other professions. Particularly in
$13.44
$14.00
$14.00
4.20%
0.00%
Aquatics Instructor
the case of newcomers to the business, it’s especially important for
$20.00
$24.00
$23.50
20.00%
-2.10
Personal Trainer
employers to present a simple, clear
$10.00
$10.00
$10.08
0.00%
0.80%
Fitness Center
compensation arrangement.
Personnel/Instructor
• With respect to personal-trainer
$25.00
$25.00
$30.00
0.00%
20.00%
Tennis Instructor
commissions, survey participants were
essentially split between a percentage*
*
*
*
Racquetball Instructor $15.00
of-revenue (46.2%) and flat-fee-persession (41.5%) payout. Among the 75
Group Exercise/
$21.83
$22.00
$23.76
0.80%
8.00%
clients her firm serves, Berthay has
Aerobic Instructor
observed a move toward percentage$26.00
$25.00
$30.00
-3.80%
20.00%
Pilates Instructor
of-revenue compensation. “With the
recent boom in personal training,
$25.00
$25.00
$30.00
0.00%
20.00%
Yoga Instructor
we’re seeing more and more excellent
trainers pulling in very high revenue
$24.00
$25.00
14.30%
4.20%
Martial Arts Instructor $21.00
numbers. As a result, the trainers want
$20.00
$22.00
0.00%
10.00%
Group Cycling Instructor $20.00
to be rewarded for producing a continual revenue stream, and owners are
happy to accommodate because it benefits their business as well.” She also
points out that, in the case of trainers
working strictly for commission, clubs
should pay careful attention to wage/
hour law violations to avoid liability.
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Front-Desk Personnel
$9.00
$9.00
$10.00
0.00%
11.10%
Bookkeeper
$15.00
$14.00
$15.87
-6.70%
13.40%
Office Staff (Admin.
or Clerical)
$12.00
$12.65
$13.00
5.40%
2.80%
* Insufficient data
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F I T
Fitness Industry Technology May 2007
Photo sponsored by Fitness Equipment Source
INSIDE
> Social strengths
> Maximizing efficiencies
> Multistation multitasking
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EXTRA
Multifunctional FUN!
Multistation STRENGTH-TRAINING equipment
MEETS clubs’, and members’, MANY NEEDS
w
WALK into any IHRSA facility during prime time, and
you’ll find a fitness floor that’s literally humming with
all sorts of activity. While many members work out,
solo, on impressive rows of stand-alone machines,
others take advantage of a type of strength-training
equipment that creates a sense of community.
Two, three, four, or as many as eight users
congregate on or around these units, adjusting
weight stacks, extending cables, exercising their
bodies by defying gravity—rep, after rep, after rep.
The overall effect is reminiscent of a big multifeature jungle gym on a school playground during
recess, but, in this case, we’re talking about
multipurpose resistance training via multistations
(or multigyms).
At a time when studies show that Americans feel
lonelier and more isolated than ever, fitness
equipment that complements clubs’ social role has
special value, but that’s just one of the many
attractive attributes of multistations.
> At a time when Americans feel
lonelier than ever, equipment that
complements clubs’ social role has
special value, and that’s just one of
multistations’ many virtues.
Greg Highsmith, the vice president of strength
and product management for Life Fitness, regards
its two Multi-Jungles (MJ 4 and 8) as a club gathering
point. “The multigym category,” he explains, “is very
approachable and tends to draw people together.”
Highsmith points out that, depending on a unit’s
configuration, up to eight people can exercise
simultaneously. That not only increases personal
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interaction, but also makes for efficient use both of the
club’s floor space and the members’ training time.
Multistations are also effective in minimizing the
intimidation effect that other types of strength-training
equipment may inspire. Many exercisers—particularly
beginners—find resistance-training machines
complex and, therefore, unapproachable. “We
recognize that intimidation is a concern for club
operators,” acknowledges Steve Suchanek, the
director of product management for CYBEX
International, Inc. “Our modular systems enclose the
weight stack, producing a more aesthetic appearance,
while increasing safety.” CYBEX’s systems can be
arranged to provide up to eight stations in a
workout area measuring less than 14' x 14'.
Michael Benso, the strength-product manager for
Matrix Fitness Systems, which sells multistations in
4-, 5- and 8-stack configurations, notes that flexibility
is another key selling point for this category of
equipment. “Club operators like to be able to tailor
machines to their needs—both in terms of number
of stations and available exercises. One club, for
example, might want a four-station unit with all the
stations being lat pull-downs, while another might
prefer a six-station unit with three lat pull-downs,
two low rows, and one triceps press.”
Multistations are also popular with trainers,
particular when their client’s goals include increased
power and functional strength, points out Darrin
Pelkey, the vice president of sales and marketing for
Keiser. The company’s Infinity Series caters to this
trend by providing additional feedback, i.e., on
power output. “Extra information,” he says,
“enhances the overall impact of the workout.”
Sociability, flexibility, approachability, utility—
when it comes to strength training, multistations are
clearly master multitaskers. n
S TEPHEN WALLENFELS is a contributing editor for
CBI and can be reached at stevewall@charter.net.
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MULTISTATIONS
AMERICAN TOTAL FITNESS
The Circuit Master
Multistation 8 XT 476
The Multistation 8 XT 476, from
American Total Fitness (ATF), makes
use of eight separate weight stacks to
accommodate the same number of
users—simultaneously. The comprehensive unit includes two lat-pulldown
stations, two adjustable low-row stations,
two triceps-pushdown stations (with
upholstered, back-stabilizing, support
cushions), and one adjustable, multiangle cable crossover, with a choice
of handles. This space-efficient gym
measures 90" H x 101" L x 77" W.
ATF also offers multistation equipment
with four and six stations.
The Circuit Master allows club owners
to select from 20 different exercise
stations, and create a circuit configuration
that meets their own specific requirements and objectives; virtually any
configuration is possible, from circuits
with leg stations only, to ones with
upper-body stations only, to complete
total-body circuits. Among the stations
recently added to the circuit are the
abductor, adductor, lateral raise, prone
leg curl, and seated lever arm curl.
Each of the available stations features
radial modular construction, its own
weight stack, and a compact, spaceefficient design.
BODY-SOLID, INC.
BODY MASTERS SPORTS
INDUSTRIES, INC.
NEW
Pro Dual Line
MT8 Multi-Trainer
The Body Masters MT8 Multi-Trainer
utilizes eight independent weight stacks
to allow eight users to exercise simultaneously, and permits them to choose
from conventional (single- pulley) or
functional (dual-pulley) setups. Multiple
tower configurations offer a dual hi/lo
pulley, dual lat pulldown, dual low row,
conventional hi/lo pulley, lat pulldown,
low row, and triceps pushdown. Constructed from oval tubing, the MT8
maintains a uniform look with the
company’s Premier and FW Series.
Body-Solid provides a modular approach
to multistation training, with its Pro
Dual Line of 10 dual-function stations
that can be used in single or multiple
stack arrangements. The combinations
are endless, allowing health clubs to
customize the equipment to best suit
members’ training needs. The anchor
of the multi-station system is the 4
Stack Weight Tower. With positions for
two, three, or four stations, the spacesaving 4 Stack Tower provides a solid
foundation for any of the 10 different
Pro Dual stations. It includes four independent weight stations; four universal
upper- and lower-station mounts; four
universal upper- and lower-pulley
stations; four easy-mount chrome
guide rods; and weight-stack options
of 210 and 310 pounds.
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BRUDDEN TECHNOLOGY
Movement Multimotion
The Multimotion from Movement offers
more than 60 exercises, making use of
a modular concept that allows club
operators to create a variety of customized configurations in small areas.
The unit comes as either one module
with four selected stations, or two
modules with eight stations; each
station includes multiple adjustments
to suit every exerciser. Developed with
the assistance of the biomechanical
department at the University of São
Paulo in Brazil, the Movement Multimotion is ideal for studios, small gyms,
fitness centers, clinics, spas, and even
residences. Movement strives for
quality and cutting-edge technology
in all of the equipment’s details.
CYBEX INTERNATIONAL
SEE OUR AD ON THE INSIDE FRONT COVER
AND ON PAGE 5
MG 500 Multi Gym
Designed to be versatile, space-efficient,
and safe, this three-station multigym
facilitates over 30 biomechanically
correct and ergonomically precise
exercises. Among its various features:
a versatile, user-defined fly apparatus;
a horizontal pressing arm with a 10position, detachable bench; and an
optional, adjustable cable column to
permit the addition of a fourth weight
stack. Complying with all EN 957
requirements and backed by one of
the industry’s most comprehensive
warranties, the MG 500 is a cost-effective
multistation unit that promises a
memorable exercise experience.
Manufacturer’s list price: $6,820-$7,030
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shoulder presses. A traditional pressing
arm provides a fixed path of motion
and permits users to adjust their range
for beginning stretch preference. Proper
body positioning is facilitated by the
dual-adjusting back pad and patented
adjustable rollers.
SIZE
MATTERS
Modular Strength System
The CYBEX Modular Strength System
is a highly flexible, space-efficient
multistation unit that delivers many
of the benefits offered by variableresistance single stations without
sacrificing quality, presentation, or
performance. Easily configured to
provide total-body conditioning within
a compact footprint, the Modular
Strength System affords significant
versatility. With more than 20 exercise
stations, some utilizing weight stacks and
some using the exerciser’s body weight
as resistance, it permits facilities to
custom-design the equipment layout
that best meets their particular needs.
HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS
H-4400 Multi-Gym
The H-4400 Multi-Gym allows as
many as four people to work out in just
68 square feet of space. The rigid arm
pull down makes use of self-aligning
handles that automatically adjust to the
size and movement of users, and a 2:1
cable ratio on the leg press provides
up to 400 pounds of resistance. An
adjustable cable column affords exercise
variety, and split-weight cabling permits
users to reduce resistance to one-half of
the elected weight; this facilitates smaller
weight increments and a smoother feel.
The H-4400’s pressing station utilizes a
traditional fixed arc and a patented,
three-dimensional articulating pressing
arm, which provides greater control and
a free-weight feel. Telescoping back pads
stabilize the torso, and a self-aligning
roller on the leg extension automatically
adjusts to the user’s leg length.
GROWTH
PERFORMANCE
TRENDS
EQUIPMENT
H-2200 Multi-Gym
With its L-shaped design and two weight
stacks, the H-2200 makes it possible for
two club members to perform all major
upper- and lower-body exercises with
ease, making minimal adjustments. The
exercise possibilities include a rigid
arm pull down, leg press, chest press,
mid row, leg extension, and standing
leg curl; a high pulley allows for triceps
pressdowns, and mid and low pulleys
accommodate rows, abduction, and
adduction. A patented, articulating
pressing arm allows three-dimensional
movement, so users can control both
the arc and the angle of the exercise
path—creating a free-weight feel for
flies or bench, decline, incline, and
3 3
%
) .
3
" 5
HD-1900 Dual Function Crossover
!$
The HD-1900 Dual Function Crossover
features dual graduated Silent Steel
weight stacks and 28 pulley positions at
2" increments to facilitate both unilateral
and bilateral exercises. The machine
comes with strap handles, an ankle
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strap, an integrated accessory rack,
and instructional exercise placards.
Options include a biceps-triceps
bar, an aluminum straight bar, and
an aluminum long bar. The spaceefficient HD-1900 is fully shielded,
ensuring safety, and fits conveniently
into a corner.
the company’s HD and HS strength
machines, the HMG-4000 creates a
modular system that can be tailored to
current and future needs. The system
includes a main frame that allows clubs
to choose any HMD and HMS stations
for a customized gym, which can start
as a three-station module and be
expanded up to a 12-station gym.
INFLIGHT FITNESS
lat pulldown, low row, chest press,
shoulder press, biceps curl, overhead
extension, leg extension, supine leg
curl, and abdominal crunch. The unit
ensures safe, smooth, quiet, and reliable
operation by utilizing 4,000-pound
cables, 6" and 4.5" pulleys, bearings at
every pivot point, and an open-yoke lat
station. The space-efficient, three-stack
gym requires less than 48 square feet of
floor space; an optional fourth stack, for
the leg press, takes it to 61 square feet.
The Liberator’s stylish colors complement today’s cardiovascular equipment.
LIFE FITNESS
SEE OUR AD ON THE BACK COVER
NEW
HMG-4000 Modular Multi-Stack
The Liberator
The HMG-4000 can be configured to
meet the space and fitness requirements of virtually any health club.
Using the same technology found on
The Liberator is a compact and rugged
gym that allows members to perform a
wide range of exercises, including the
Cable Motion Multi-Jungles
Life Fitness’ Cable Motion Multi-Jungles permit club owners and operators
to configure strength-training units to
accommodate their members’ needs
while conforming to space constraints.
Unlimited tower configurations with up
to four customizable stations per tower
allow for eight different exercises:
adjustable crossover, adjustable pulley,
dual-pulley row, dual-pulley pulldown,
fixed crossover, lat pulldown, low row,
and triceps pushdown. An independent
weight stack for each exercise makes
it possible for users to work out independently, but simultaneously. The
Multi-Jungles feature a contemporary
design that complements other Life
Fitness strength lines.
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M103 AdvAntage Trainer
MAGNUM FITNESS SYSTEMS
The four-stack, commercial-quality
AdvAntage Trainer is fully wheelchairaccessible, and allows four people to
train simultaneously, while making use
of wheelchairs or seats on wheels. All
adjustments can be made conveniently
from a seated position. The stations
include pec deck, lat pulldown with
Expandable Tower System
Magnum Fitness’ Expandable Tower
System is one of the most versatile
cable jungle systems available. It
allows club operators to customdesign a multistation tower (jungle)
system that meets their specific space
and budget restrictions. Magnum also
offers single-cable machines, such as
the lat pulldown, low row, triceps
pushdown, adjustable pulley, and
adjustable cable crossover that can
be utilized to construct a multistation,
over time, by adding up to three other
stations to any one of these machines.
A four-station pod can be linked together for a custom multistation.
MST 500
Total-body strength training in a limited
space is what the MST 500 does best.
This compact unit incorporates four
work stations and three weight stacks
to facilitate more than 30 different
exercises. Magnum’s patented Biangular
converging axis technology offers two
chest movement patterns, three back
patterns, and one shoulder pattern;
the pressing station for chest and
shoulders converts into a pulling
station that accommodates three
different back exercises. The dualhandle adjustable pulley system
allows users to define their own
path of motion for many exercises,
and, on the pec deck/ rear deltoid
station, the free-arm design provides
resistance in only one path, while also
allowing users to select their own
motion. Patented seat adjustments
provide precise biomechanics. The
MST 500 is backed by Magnum’s
standard commercial warranty.
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arm curl, pressing with a back row,
and an adjustable cable/pulley system,
permitting users to perform more than
20 different exercises, utilizing a variety
of movement patterns, for the chest,
back, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and
abdominals. Multiple-grip handles on
the pressing station accommodate
wide, narrow, neutral, high, and lower
barbell positions, while the cable/pulley
station boasts 16 positions for maximum
customization and exercise variety.
The AdvAntage measures just 5' x 7',
and meets the requirements of the
Americans with Disabilities Act for
equal program access.
MATRIX FITNESS SYSTEMS
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 10
Multistations
Matrix Fitness System’s Multistations
consist of four configurations: 4-stack,
5-stack, 8-stack, and an adjustable
cable crossover. The unique method
of attaching the stations together facilitates the ultimate interchangeability of
any exercise. Stations are designed to
accommodate the most popular gym
exercises, including the low row, lat
pulldown, adjustable cable column,
and triceps pressdown. The low row
and lat pulldown use dual-pulley
configurations to enable user-defined
paths of motion, and a pull-up bar is
integrated into the 5-stack, 8-stack,
and cable-crossover models.
MULTISPORTS, INC.
MS-2000 (optional leg press)
The versatile, space-efficient MS-2000
puts a lot of power in a club member’s
hands. The unit’s reinforced nylon
pulleys, with sealed, steel ball bearings,
provide smooth, quiet operation. Nyloncoated, 2,000-pound test aircraft cables
guarantee long-lasting performance,
and high-density, stitched-seam, foam
upholstery offers support, comfort,
and durability. The MS-2000 has an
extra-heavy-gauge steel frame with a
spider-white, wrinkle-coat finish that
resists rust and scratches. An optional
leg-press attachment is also available.
Manufacturer’s list price: $1,700
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roller pad ensures proper knee positioning during leg curls and extensions.
On the pressing and pec stations, rangeof-motion adjustments and adjustable
back pads provide variable starting
positions. The MS-5000 makes use of
reinforced nylon pulleys with sealed
steel bearings along with Americanmade nylon-coated 2,000-pound test
aircraft cables for an extended life
of the unit.
tion; and high-density, stitched-seam,
foam upholstery offers support,
comfort, and durability.
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,450
MS-3200
The heavy-duty Muscle System 3200
has three workout stations and a unique
leg-press attachment that offers up to
400 pounds of resistance. A movable
pressing arm with an adjustable, tilting
back pad accommodates a variety of
positions for chest, back, and shoulder
exercises; the pec deck boasts an
adjustable range of motion that facilitates maximum concentration during
pectoral and rear-deltoid exercises.
Extra-heavy-gauge steel, reinforced,
nylon pulleys and sealed, steel ball
bearings ensure smooth, quiet opera-
Manufacturer’s list price: $3,950
MS-5000
Designed for light-commercial use,
the MS-5000 affords multi-possibilities,
including a pressing station, pec deck,
leg press, leg extension, leg curl,
preacher curl, mid-row, abdominal
crunch, and back hyperextension. High
and low pulleys and dual 200-pound
weight stacks also facilitate a number
of other exercises. The unit’s unique
leg press design offers more than 400
pounds of resistance, and an adjustable
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MX-500 (with optional leg press)
The MX-500 is designed both to satisfy
and to last. The unit is constructed from
2" x 3" 11-gauge steel tubing, and has
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solid steel guide rods, 4.5" diameter,
heavy-duty, reinforced, fiberglassimpregnated nylon pulleys, with sealed
steel roller ball bearings, and premiumgrade vinyl upholstery with a protective
finish. It utilizes a 200-pound weight
stack, in increments of five, 10, and 15
pounds. Among its many other features
are: a swivel seat that can be adjusted
to a variety of positions; a contoured
back pad that provides solid lumbar
support; multi-angled, self-leveling
footplates; an abdominal crunch cable;
and a press arm and pec deck that
include a range-of-motion adjuster.
MUSCLE DYNAMICS
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,450
Dynamax Pro
The Dynamax Pro multistations, the
DX-3 and DX-4LP, come with three and
four steel weight stacks, respectively.
Both units boast a host of professional
features, including: a solid 11-gauge
steel frame; standard weight shrouds;
pre-stretch range adjusters; user- friendly
EZ Glide seat posts; anatomically
designed steel cams to provide precise
biomechanics; and comprehensive
instructional placards.
Manufacturer’s list price: $3,995-$5,795
Maxicam
The Maxicam Crossover/Jungle Gyms
come in 10 different configurations,
making it possible to customize them
to meet the needs of any facility. The
units have 11-gauge steel frames, are
constructed from durable 2" x 2"square
tubing, and boast steel weight stacks
with a special pin-retaining system.
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,590-$10,990
Multi-Max Compact Trainer
The Multi-Max is a versatile, spaceefficient, 13-station machine that
boasts biomechanically precise,
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variable-resistance cams; a unique
4-in-1 multi-press station for flat,
incline, and shoulder presses; and
an optional squat bar attachment.
Constructed from 11-gauge steel and
rugged 2" x 2" square tubing, it comes
with either three or four steel weight
stacks that make use of a special
pin-retaining system.
Manufacturer’s list price: $3,980-$5,480
NAUTILUS, INC.
and Steel commercial strength lines. All
of the exercises facilitated are based on
traditional movements, and, as a result,
require few adjustments and minimal
set-up to move from one exercise to the
next, which makes for time-efficient
workouts. The S912’s new CX Elite
press arm makes use of an advanced,
patented press arm technology, which
matches the movement pattern of the
Nitro line, but can be adjusted for
multiple users.
all-inclusive strength system. Equipped
with four, fully shrouded, 200-pound
weight stacks, it permits four users to
exercise simultaneously. All adjustments
are color-coded to facilitate ease of use.
Each exercise station includes instructional placards that illustrate machine
set-up, proper form, and muscle
group(s) targeted.
Manufacturer’s list price: $6,999
PARAMOUNT FITNESS
CORPORATION
Manufacturer’s list price: $5,499
S912 Strength System
NS4000
Paramount Modular System
This two-stack strength system is ideal
for light commercial settings, and its
design, biomechanics, and construction
are all based on the company’s Nitro
This Nautilus four-stack commercial
weight machine combines all of the
features and technology of the company’s
new single-station Nitro line in one
To meet the needs of different fitness
facilities, the new Modular System,
from Paramount, offers a wide
selection of possible configurations.
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In addition to the Cable Crossover
station, the line consists of five
machines—the single cable column,
biceps curl, triceps extension, lat
pulldown, and seated low row—that
fit onto a four-sided modular frame.
Each of the Modular System units is
designed to provide optimal training
results, occupy minimal floor space,
and meet the ASTM guidelines for
fitness equipment safety standards.
attractive weight-stack enclosures,
quick adjustments, and large color-coded
instruction labels. With commercialquality construction and proper
biomechanics, MP is ideally suited
for corporate fitness centers, hotels
and resorts, police and fire agencies,
apartment and condominium complexes,
and the residential market.
POWER SYSTEMS
SEE OUR OUTSERT
NEW
Muscle Maxx—7-Station
NEW
MP Series
Paramount offers modern styling and
optimum function in its new MP Series.
These value-priced, two-, three-, and
four-stack multi-purpose units feature
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downs, two high/low pulleys, a low
row, triceps extension, and chinning
station. The three 220-pound and three
170-pound cast iron weight stacks
come fully assembled, and the seat
bolts on. The powder-coated, 11-gauge
steel gym is fully welded for durability
in commercial settings. Six frame colors
and four upholstery colors are available. The 7-Station gym is backed by
a lifetime warranty on the frame, four
years on moving parts, and 90 days
on cables, upholstery, handgrips,
and weight stacks.
n
This multi-station gym from Power
Systems maximizes training space
while allowing multiple users to simultaneously perform lat pull-downs, seated
rows, curls, extensions, chin-ups, and
more. The unit includes two lat pull-
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NEW
Pro Power Pro Trainer—6-Station
The 6-Station gym from Power Systems
offers countless exercise options to club
members in one space-efficient com-
F I T
Fitness Industry Technology May 2007
continued
EXTRA
mercial unit. It includes a cable crossover,
two lat pulls with adjustable knee roller
pads, two low rows with a 12" x 32"
elevated seat, and a chin-up bar. The
cable crossover has two fully assembled
200-pound weight stacks, and the lat
pull and low row each use a 225pound, fully assembled weight stack.
The gym comes equipped with two 48"
lat bars, two low row double handles,
two single handles, and two ankle straps.
The 11-gauge steel tubing frames
have a baked-on, powder-coated finish
for maximum durability. The unit is
available in two frame colors and
25 upholstery colors, as well as a
custom-embroidered upholstery option.
stations via a wide variety of configurations. The modular stations include an
adjustable cable column, lat pull-down,
seated cable row, triceps press, leg
curl/leg extension, and seated leg press.
Combining a compact, modern appearance with superior biomechanics,
the Multi Training System is designed
to complement the company’s new
Raptor Line.
Missed an Issue?
Did you know you can access
the full text of CBI articles
from as early as 2001 on
IHRSA’s Website?
You can also download
entire past issues, and
purchase reprints!
To learn more, visit www.ihrsa.org/cbi.
PRECOR, INC.
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 19
Precor Icarian Modular System
Precor Icarian’s Modular System multistack unit can be customized to meet
space and budget requirements. It
offers more than 100 possible configurations, ranging from two stacks to 12
or more, and one or more Cable
Crossover stations can be incorporated
into the design. The modular stations
include pulldown, longpull, pushdown, adjustable high/ low pulley,
and assisted dip/chin. The Modular
System is constructed of 2" x 4" bent
steel frames and high-quality pulleys
and cables.
PROMAXIMA FITNESS
NEW
Modular Multi Training System
The Promaxima Modular Multi Training System is a space-efficient gym
that can be customized with two to eight
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continued
EXTRA
STAR TRAC
FOR MORE INFORMATION
SEE OUR PAGE ON PAGE 1
See the advertisers’ index on pg. 119
or search at www.ihrsa.org/buyersmart
NEW
Multistation Configurations
Star Trac multistations are available in
a variety of configurations to meet the
needs of any commercial fitness facility.
For larger health clubs, the 14-station
and the 9-station options, which include
adjustable cable crossovers, provide
maximum utilization and exercise
variety in a space-saving, cost-efficient
package. For smaller facilities,
the Fitness Center Multi-Station
delivers a commercial-quality workout
with premium aesthetics in a spaceefficient configuration.
TECHNOGYM
SEE OUR AD ON THE FRENCH COVER
Radiant
With a minimal footprint, the Radiant,
by TECHNOGYM, provides the ultimate
in free movement and core training for
versatile, effective workouts. A virtually
unlimited number of exercises can be
performed with this machine—by itself,
or using numerous accessories and the
folding bench that come with it. The
Radiant is ideal for personal training
with its enormous range of movements
and corresponding exercise progressions.
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Fitness Industry Technology May 2007
continued
EXTRA
TUFF STUFF FITNESS
EQUIPMENT, INC.
the safety and control of a machine for
the precise, smooth, safe training
results. Turbo’s affordable equipment
features a sleek structural design and
high-quality workmanship, and it is
virtually maintenance free because it
does not utilize any cables or pulleys.
tion to help users to adjust and properly
use the equipment. The Apollo 4500
series features steel weight enclosures,
steel weight stacks, and premium
Boltaflex upholstery. Polished solid
aluminum pulleys and wear covers
are available with deluxe versions
of the Apollo.
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,495
TURBO STRENGTH
VECTRA FITNESS, INC.
NEW
Multi Gym
Series VX
Turbo Strength recently introduced
plate-loaded leverage machines for
commercial fitness centers, including
a Multi Gym. Leverage machines combine
the natural feel and resistance of a barbell or dumbbells, while also providing
Vectra’s Series VX is a modular line
of multi-gyms consisting of five sleek
models: the VX-11, VX-18, VX-28,
VX-38, and VX-48. Each features an
attractive design, exceptional biomechanics, intelligent engineering, and
high-quality parts and materials. Made
Apollo Modular Gym System
The Apollo Gym System is a unique
modular gym that facilitates threeweight-stack or four-weight-stack gyms
within the same modular system. The
Apollo also features the option of either
a vertical press system or a horizontal
press system and four other modular
exercise stations to suit clubs’ floor
plans and equipment needs. A special
option that’s available for unsupervised
environments is the new Apollo 5.1
Personal Trainer. This TV/DVD system
employs videos and on-screen instruc-
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continued
EXTRA
VORTEX FITNESS
EQUIPMENT
in the U.S.A., the units combine heavyduty, welded-steel construction with
seamless upholstery to ensure full
support and long life. Adjustments are
simple, convenient, and made in the
exercise position. Features such as
linear polished stainless steel guide
rods and high-quality ball bearings—
up to 71 per machine—make for
smooth operation.
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,895 (VX-11);
$4,995 (VX-18); $7,890 (VX-28);
$6,995 (VX-38); $9,595 (VX-48
Pro-Trainer System II
The Pro-Trainer System II utilizes two
independent, 235-pound steel weight
stacks, set at a standard 2:1 ratio, to
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facilitate a variety of exercises, while
minimizing inertia and maximizing
the possibilities for high-speed training.
The longer cable stroke length permits
virtually unlimited multiplanar movements; and a starting weight of 6.5
pounds, which can be increased in
increments of 2.5-10 pounds, accommodates exercisers of every fitness level.
The Pro-Trainer System II has a built-in
chinning station and accessory rack, is
wheelchair-accessible and ADA-compliant,
requires little maintenance, and is easy
to learn how to use
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The IHRSA Report
INSIDE
387 From the Desk
of the Chairperson
388 In Brief
390 Inside IHRSA
392 IHRSA Spotlight
395 What’s New
399 News From Associates
103 New IHRSA Associates
107 New IHRSA Clubs
113 Calendar of Events
120 CEO Briefing
From the Desk of
the Chairperson
The International Health, Racquet &
Sportsclub Association is a not-for-profit
trade association open to investor-owned and
member-owned fitness, racquet and athletic
facilities. Associate memberships are available
to manufacturers or suppliers of products
and services of use to IHRSA members.
IHRSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Levy: Chairperson
Casaral Inc.
416-961-5556, ext. 242
Debra Siena: TCA
773-463-1234, ext. 249
Cy Oskoui
Columbia Athletic Clubs
425-814-5300
Tony de Leede: Fitness First Australia
(61) 2-9387-5266
Lloyd Gainsboro: Dedham Health & Athletic Complex
781-326-2900
Mike Motta: Plus One Fitness
646-312-6200
Ed Williams: The Wellbridge Company
303-866-0800
Laurie Smith: Leisure Sports
925-600-1966
Gene LaMott: The Lamott Companies
360-877-3915
Phil Wendel: ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers
434-978-3800
Harold Morgan: Bally Total Fitness
773-380-3000
Lynne Brick
Brick Bodies Fitness
410-252-8058
David Patchell-Evans
Goodlife Fitness Clubs
519-661-0190 ext. 238
Rick Beusman
Saw Mill Club
914-241-0797
Bob Shoulders
Fayetteville Athletic Club
479-587-0500
Frank Napolitano
GlobalFit Fitness Solutions
215-751-1992
Julie Main: Ex-officio
Santa Barbara Athletic Club
805-966-6147
One Source:
Many Successes
G
rowth is an illusory concept and means
many different things to different people.
New business models, proven approaches,
expansion, added services, untapped markets—
IHRSA operators are capitalizing on all of these, and
other, opportunities.
Jeff Klinger and Chuck Runyon, the visionaries
behind Anytime Fitness, have created a club concept
that blazes a new path for industry growth—
facilities that can be accessed 24 hours a day via a
keycard. By doing so, they’ve made it possible for
people with unusual work habits and hours to
exercise whenever it’s convenient for them. Anytime
has already sold more than 1,000 franchises!
Up “north” where I live, David Patchell-Evans is
now utilizing his established GoodLife model—good
facilities, great service, and affordable prices—to
Michael S. Levy
bring fitness to small and midsize communities across
IHRSA Chairperson
Canada that, in the past, have had no clubs at all.
And these restless entrepreneurs aren’t alone:
Last year, Greg Lappin, the co-owner and general manager of the Rochester Athletic
Club (RAC), in Rochester, Minnesota, completed a major innovative addition, known
as “The Neighborhood,” that’s made RAC virtually irresistible to families in the area.
Julie Main, the creator of the groundbreaking Cancer WellFit Program, has finalized
the purchase of four Santa Barbara, California-area clubs, and is now upscaling their
member services. Phil Wendel, a principal at Legacy Management, which owns the
Atlantic Coast Athletic Clubs, has introduced separate “youth” facilities and partnered
with medical groups to provide patients with more “comfortable” club access and use.
Geoffrey Dyer’s Lifestyle Family Fitness, formerly a Florida-only success story, is
moving into Ohio and other markets aggressively. Similarly, Don Morrissey’s X Sport
Fitness is venturing beyond its Chicago base.
Ambition, invention, testing, development, nurturing, efficiencies, diversity—an
eclectic, exciting mix of qualities and contributions fire our business. But what is the
thread common to all of these examples, and so many others, of industry growth? I’m
proud to suggest that it’s IHRSA. The association that you, and I, and all of the clubs
mentioned belong to offers a long menu of services, providing, among other things,
motivation, education, publications, original research, networking opportunities, and
public- and government-relations initiatives.
IHRSA is the industry driver in the U.S., and, increasingly, worldwide.
The Photo Group
800-228-4772 USA & Canada
617-951-0055 International
617-951-0056 FAX
www.ihrsa.org
www.healthclubs.com
E-mail: info@ihrsa.org
A single critical factor contributes
to all industry growth.
Yours in good health,
SPECIAL ADVISORS
Michael Lamb
Fitness First - Asia
603-2093 7980
Harm Tegelaars
Cannons Health & Fitness Ltd
(44) 208-336-2288
Michael S. Levy
Executive Director, Spa Chakra Fitness
President, Casaral, Inc.
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In Brief
Legal and Legislative Update
Leading America to Healthy Lifestyles
IHRSA initiatives send the message of regular exercise
to pols and the public
> Since 1983, May has been
observed as National Physical
Fitness and Sports Month in
the United States. The intention
of this month-long celebration
is to promote awareness of
the value of physical activity in
the pursuit of happier, healthier,
more productive lives.
In the last few years,
IHRSA has fully embraced
the idea through its annual
Legislative Summit and
Get Active America! events,
which are also conducted in
May, coinciding with National
Physical Fitness and Sports
Month. Both initiatives help
to solidify the health club
industry’s growing reputation
as an instrument of positive
change for the health and
well-being of Americans and
as the solution to the nation’s
obesity and healthcare crises.
These efforts represent not
only a large but also an
important undertaking for the
industry. While IHRSA clubs
do an excellent job of serving
the members that come
through their doors, the
industry, as a whole, has
not yet reached a critical
penetration rate that would
allow clubs to make a major
impact on the health of the
nation. For the last few years,
even with skyrocketing obesity
rates, club memberships
have hovered at around 17%
of the total U.S. population.
Though this is a significant number—one
that allows thousands
of clubs across the
country to prosper—there is a
much bigger pool of potential
members waiting to be tapped.
One of the most effective
ways to capitalize on that
untapped potential is to reach
out to the community and
to Congress. By working
together to educate decisionmakers and the public about
the positive health benefits of
regular exercise in a health
club, IHRSA clubs can grow
the industry and ultimately
become the ones Americans
rely on to fulfill their health
and wellness needs.
To help make a difference,
both locally and globally,
join IHRSA staff, lobbyists,
industry leaders, and fitness
professionals from across the
country in supporting the
Personal Health Investment
Today (PHIT) Bill and the
Workforce Health Improvement
Program (WHIP) Act during
the upcoming Legislative
Summit on May 16-17. Visit
www.ihrsa.org/summit for
more information. To involve
your club in Get Active
America!, visit www.ihrsa.org/
gaa or call 800-228-4772. n
Tax-Exempt Rulings Strengthen Unfair Competition Precedent
Examples build case for leveling playing field
> Two recent rulings pertaining
to the abuse of tax-exempt
status outside of the health
club industry are strengthening
the body of legal precedents
that support IHRSA clubs’
longstanding grievance relating
to the operation of taxexempt health clubs. Taken
together, these two rulings
also offer insight for crafting
compelling arguments that
will persuade both a judicial
court and the court of public
opinion to reject tax-exempt
fitness centers that fail to pursue
and fulfill a charitable mission.
In Miriam Osborn Memorial
Home Association v. Assessor
of the City of Rye, the New
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n
York Supreme Court of
Westchester County ruled
that a retirement community,
originally established to
mitigate “the tragedy of the
destitute single woman and
the widow of the 1880s when
there were no pensions or
organized support whatever
except for the few voluntary
homes for the aging,” is not
entitled to a charitable use tax
exemption for property the
court described as an
“extraordinary, state-of-theart [continuing care retirement
community] serving the
needs of health and wealthy
senior citizens.” The case
may be found at N.Y. Sup. Ct.,
2006 Slip Op. 52461.
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More recently, the Colorado
State Board of Assessment
Appeals ruled that the YMCA
of the Rockies could not claim
a tax exemption on religious
grounds for two recreational
camps set high in the mountains. While describing a
scenario that undoubtedly
sounds familiar to most club
operators, the board’s ruling
notes that “both facilities offer
a wide variety of recreational
activities, including… volleyball… basketball… swimming…
and fitness rooms.”
The Board also pointed out
that the “YMCA program
materials list Bible studies
and worship services among
the many activities offered
at the facilities. However,
guests are not required to
participate in any of the
activities or religious services.”
In addition to fighting
unfair competition, such as
that threatened by non-profit
organizations seeking taxexemptions on for-profit
fitness centers, the fitness
club business must also
consider how it can attract a
broad range of audiences—
through extensive programming, and other appealing
amenities—to clubs via financial
incentives that encourage
healthy lifestyles. n
Inside IHRSA
IdeaCast is Premier Sponsor of Get Active America! 2007
> IdeaCast, Inc., which provides free satellite programming
exclusively to IHRSA member
health clubs, is this year’s
premier industry sponsor of
Get Active America! (GAA!).
GAA! is a national fitness
industry initiative coordinated
by IHRSA to combat chronic
lifestyle diseases and make it
easier for all Americans to
make exercise a part of their
lives. GAA! 2007 takes place
this month, May 14-20, at
clubs across the country.
“IHRSA is very pleased to
have IdeaCast on board for
this year’s Get Active America!
Careers
Announcing New
ActiveCareers
Featured Employers
> Three more prestigious
companies have signed on
as ActiveCareers Featured
Employers. They are:
Club Business International
clubs will host an “Open House”
event. For three days, clubs
will open their doors to their
communities, free of charge,
to educate Americans about
the health benefits that regular
exercise confers.
During “Bring a Friend”
and “Open House” days,
guests can take exercise
classes, make use of the
equipment, and work with
professional trainers free of
charge.“IdeaCast is excited
to support this important
and timely health initiative,”
said Fred Smith, founder
and CEO of IdeaCast.
“Through our network, we
can reach a wide audience
with news about Get Active
America! and help ensure
that as many Americans as
possible benefit from this
year’s program.”
As part of its sponsorship
of Get Active America!, IdeaCast will promote the campaign
through its media network,
which is viewed by thousands
of health club members in
facilities nationwide. Headquartered in Chicago, IdeaCast
delivers to its clients some
of television’s most popular
national programming, cuttingedge local content distribution
solutions, and an innovative
out-of-home advertising
platform. IdeaCast provides
free satellite programming
to health clubs, and offers
cash toward their existing
cable bills. With IdeaCast’s
National HealthClub Network,
clubs can get the nation’s
most popular programming—
including CNN, MSNBC, and
CNBC—free of charge! There’s
no cost for programming,
equipment, or installation.
For more information, visit
www.ideacast.net.
To learn more about
this year’s GAA! event,
log on to www.ihrsa.org/
getactiveamerica. n
• Crunch Fitness, which
bills itself as a “tasty blend
of fitness, fashion, music,
entertainment, and style,”
is based in New York City,
with 32 state-of-the-art
gyms in New York, Atlanta,
Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, and more
to come.
impressive list of long-term
clients; the newest technology;
and established worldwide
networks. JLR Associates
places both nationally and
internationally.
Featured Employers enjoy
unlimited job postings,
unlimited access to the
ActiveCareers résumé bank,
additional exposure online
and in print, and much more.
Visit www.ActiveCareers.com/
employer for more information
or to sign up! While there,
sign up for ActiveCareers
Digest, a free monthly
e-newsletter offering
HR assistance to fitness
industry employers.
ActiveCareers is the
premier resource for fitness
industry professionals. In
addition to job postings and
more than 1,200 résumés,
the site contains sample job
descriptions, compensation
data, IHRSA Tips on HR
topics, guest articles, fitness
industry employee testimonials, and much more. n
• JLR Associates is an executive search and recruitment
company exclusively serving
the health, fitness, and wellness industry. The company
offers expedited searches
by accessing its extensive
database of candidates; an
• Wellbridge, based in
Denver, Colorado, owns
and manages 20 upscale
athletic clubs and spas in
11 markets across the
United States.
90
campaign,” said Joe Moore,
president and CEO of IHRSA.
“Get Active America! is a
great example of the kinds
of programs the health and
fitness industry is initiating
to help address our country’s
current health crisis. Exercise
is a readily available preventive
healthcare tool that can help
millions of Americans. We
are heartened that IdeaCast is
working with us to encourage
more Americans to engage
in physical activity as part
of a healthy lifestyle that
can help reduce the risk
of chronic disease.”
From May 14 through
May 17, health clubs participating in GAA! will host
“Bring a Friend” days.
Current club members can
bring in their friends, family
members, neighbors, and
co-workers—free of charge—
to help them embark on an
exercise regimen.
From May 18 through
May 20, participating health
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IHRSA Spotlight
“We had 60 employees who lost everything,
and now they’re working all over the U.S.”
Déjà Vu: Some
Updates For You
By Jon Feld
O
ccasionally, we like to update our readers
about some of the people, companies, or
developments that we’ve covered in past
issues of CBI. Over time, both the protagonists and
plot lines change. Things work out better or worse
than expected or not at all; plans are executed or
revised; goals are achieved or abandoned.
June 2006: “A Job Extremely Well Done: John
McCarthy, IHRSA’s executive director emeritus, sits
down with CBI on the eve of his retirement”
Since leaving office last year, John McCarthy has
discovered that he’s rather adept at the retirement
thing. “I do a lot of reading and a great deal of
exercise now,” he says, “and, because I’m traveling
much less, I’m able to spend more time at home
with my family. At some point, I plan to take a
transatlantic cruise.” McCarthy also spends one day
a week volunteering at the Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston, and sits on the board of directors
of a Chicago bank and CYBEX International, Inc.
“The thing I truly miss about my job is the
people I worked with, and worked for, on a daily
basis,” he reflects. “They were, and are, very close
to my heart.”
June 2006: “After the Storm: A post-Katrina
report on the recovery efforts of Gulf Coast clubs”
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated a number
of IHRSA facilities, including the Franco’s Athletic
Clubs in Lakeview and Mandeville, Louisiana. As it
turns out, the Lakeview club, which was just two
miles from the breached levee, will never reopen.
“The town was very nearly destroyed, and the
money promised by the federal government hasn’t
begun to flow into the community,” reports Larry
Connor, the club’s general manager. “Today, Lakeview simply isn’t strong enough to support a club.”
Connor is quick to credit others who came to the
club’s aid. “We got help from operators throughout
the country,” he says. “We had 60 employees who
lost everything, and now they’re working all over the
U.S.—thanks to those other clubs.”
Ironically, because of the storms, the Mandeville
facility has experienced a surge—possibly temporary—
in business. While it suffered about $500,000 in
damages, mostly from high winds, reconstruction
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was fairly straightforward,
and the reopened club has
attracted new residents
driven out of their own
towns. “Right after the
hurricane, 100,000 people
moved into Mandeville—
literally overnight,” explains
owner Sandy Franco. “For
the first seven months after
Katrina, our sales were
running 150% above what
they’d averaged for the past
few years. New memberships
were going through the roof.
“Now,” she adds, “things
are beginning to settle down.
People who came here from Fine again at Franco’s
St. Bernard Parish, for example, are going back, so we’re losing them.”
Recently, the club opened a new O Spa and
Lifestyle Boutique (see “The [Market] Appeal of
Club-Based Spas, pg. 38).
September 2004: “Bahram Akradi: He has
succeeded, dramatically, at taking his club company,
Life Time Fitness, public. Now comes the hard part!”
When Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) went public,
Akradi identified a simple, three-pronged growth
strategy for his company: (1) open more units in the
continental U.S.; (2) ramp up membership and
maximize dues-structure results; and (3) increase
in-club businesses. Ken Cooper, the chain’s senior
director of finance, brings things up to date:
1. Open more units: In July 2004, the company
had 34 clubs in eight states. At the end of 2006, it
had 60 centers operating in 13 states. “We’ve done
it through a combination of organic growth and
opportunistic acquisition via assumption of leases,”
explains Cooper.
2. Ramp up membership: At the end of the
second quarter of 2004, Life Time had a total of
278,000 memberships (including family, couples,
and singles memberships). That number now
stands at 428,000.
3. Increase in-center business: Two-and-a-half
years ago, in-center revenue per member (from
personal training, spa, café, and other member
activities) was $68, compared to the present figure
of $91. “And we’ve recently introduced tennis,”
notes Cooper.
When Life Time went public, shares began
trading at $21.75, and revenues were $76.6 million.
Recently, a single share was worth nearly $55,
giving the company a market cap of nearly $2 billion;
the company’s gross revenues for 2006 eclipsed
$140 million. n
Products
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Healthcare International
provides a functional, lowimpact, full-body cardiovascular
workout that eliminates
jarring on the feet, knees, and
hips. The user-friendly design
features a control panel that
prompts exercisers through
every program. An electroProStep by
magnetic resistance system
Healthcare
acts as a braking mechanism
to slow the rpm rate, which controls the
speed of the machine. The weight of the
user automatically activates and powers
the ProStep 6000. For more information,
contact the company at 1723 West
Nickerson St., Seattle, WA 98119;
206-285-5219; 206-285-3628 (FAX);
www.hcifitness.com.
© The second edition of Resistance
Training Instruction, now available from
Human Kinetics, gives personal trainers
© PumpOne, LLC, now offers health clubs and fitness professionals
access to its extensive exercise image library, where they can drag
and drop color images into a digital workout routine that can be
downloaded to exercisers’ iPods, MP3 players, and other personal
digital assistants (PDAs). Health clubs and personal trainers can sell
the programs to create an additional revenue source, to recruit new
clients, and to help keep clients on track between sessions. Clients
can follow the workouts while listening to their own music playlists.
PumpOne is the creator of the first image-based personal training
programs for handheld devices. For more information, contact the
company at 34 West Ninth St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011;
212-982-5050; www.pumpone.com.
the tools they need to help improve their
clients’ performance and appearance.
Detailed illustrations, combined with
expert technical guidance, demonstrate
how to target specific muscles, using the
most efficient alignment, positioning, and lifting
techniques. Exercises are organized by movement
function, and each includes instructions for set-up
and guidance on monitoring, cueing, spotting,
and coaching clients. Also included are sample
periodized programs, along with information on
when and how to vary intensity, volume, recovery,
and exercise sequencing. The 264-page book is
written by Everett Aaberg, a personal trainer
and international presenter and consultant.
For more information, contact the company at
1607 North Market St., Champaign, IL 61820;
800-747-4457; 217-351-5076; 217-351-2674 (FAX);
www.humankinetics.com.
© With lower back pain increasingly common in the
United States, the latest version of Treat Your Own
Back—8th Edition, available exclusively from
OPTP, is a must-have reference for fitness
professionals and club members. This international
best-seller, written by Robin McKenzie, includes
revised and updated content; new and additional
research studies; many new photos; and a simplified
layout. For more information, contact the company
at 3800 Annapolis Lane, Ste.165, Minneapolis,
MN 55447-0009; 800-367-7393; 763-553-0452;
763-553-9355 (FAX); www.optp.com.
© The new heavy-duty 12-gauge steel Drive Sled
from Perform Better is ideal for pushing and
pulling exercises. A rear handle lets trainers drive
the sled from two different heights, and multiple
plate-storage stations facilitate overload strength
training while keeping the sled evenly balanced. Its
durable harness enables elite athletes and inexperienced exercisers alike to comfortably and safely
handle heavy loads for challenging training. For
more information, contact the company at P.O. Box
8090, Cranston, RI 02920-0090; 800-556-7464;
800-682-6950 (FAX); www.performbetter.com.
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Products
What’s New
continued
©
Power Systems now carries
top-of-the-line aquatic exercise
equipment, including premium
water dumbbells, water flotation
belts, and water cuffs. The dumbbells are triangular-shaped for
Body buoy
variable resistance in shallow or
by Power Systems
deep water; they also feature
textured grips, and end caps that can be removed to
add water for additional resistance. The flotation
belt is designed to comfortably contour to the body
to ensure buoyancy, support, and resistance; it
adjusts to fit exercisers from 120-220 pounds. And
the water cuffs are non-abrasive, closed-cell EVA
foam cuffs that can be worn on the ankles or wrists
to add buoyancy without bulk. For more information,
contact the company at 2527 Westcott Blvd.,
Knoxville, TN 37931; 800-321-6975; 865-769-8223;
865-769-3034 (FAX); www.power-systems.com.
© To encourage fitness among
adults and children, Quantum
Fitness has introduced a new
Adult Circuit and a new Kids
Circuit, which deliver fast, effective
workouts to the entire family. The
circuit programs are comprised of
hydraulic resistance machines that
are easy to use and non-intimidating,
and each works two opposing
Sized circuits
muscle groups simultaneously with
via Quantam
minimal delayed muscle soreness.
Adjustable resistance enables exercisers to progress
according to their own ability, and each circuit
comes with a thorough, interactive program
to maximize the benefits for all participants.
The compact units are portable as well. For
more information, contact the company at
10245 West Airport Blvd., Stafford, TX 77477; 800937-2282; 281-495-3003; 282-495-7542 (FAX);
www.quantumfitness.com.
Stagestep/Aeson Flooring has simplified
installations of floating wood sub floors with the
introduction of the 3" foam block. This peel-andstick block, which measures 3/4" thick, lowers the
overall height of the sub floor to facilitate easier
transitions. It can be used with the company’s
©
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Springstep II and Springstep IV sub floors, and
offers the same absorbency and resiliency as the
company’s traditional 2" x 2" x 2" cubed blocks.
For more information, contact the company at
4701 Bath St., #46, Philadelphia, PA 19137;
800-523-0960; 215-636-9000; 267-672-2912 (FAX);
www.stagestep.com.
© The Sunburst from Sunlight Saunas is the first
stand-alone Solocarbon far infrared heater that can
transform virtually any space into a Sunlight Sauna.
Designed for use in saunas that seat five to 10 people,
Sunburst generates therapeutic warmth using
infrared light—without the maintenance issues
associated with a steam or hot rock heating source.
Sunburst comes in multiple sizes that revitalize an
existing hot rock or steam sauna, or can be built into
a custom cabin. Far infrared light has been shown
to boost circulation; promote weight loss; and lower
blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and
triglycerides. For more information, contact the
company at 14119 Marshall Drive, Lenexa, KS
66215; 877-292-0020; 913-754-0831; 775-5144314 (FAX); www.sunlightsaunas.com.
Taraflex Sports Flooring by
Gerflor now offers Taraflex Locker
©
and Taraflex Fitness Tile. Taraflex
Locker is 2.2 mm thick with a grained
surface that incorporates slip-resistant
particles that make it safe for barefoot
traffic. It is treated to resist stains, and
prevent bacteria and fungus growth,
and it comes in seven Appearance
Enhancement Designs (AED) from
neutral to vibrant colors. Taraflex
Fitness Tile, which measures 5 mm
thick and comes in eight AED vivid
and earth tones, is semi-flexible with
a calf texture and resistant to Tara-flexing
scratches and indentation. The on Gerflor tile
anti-static tile’s dovetail joint design
connects tiles tightly so they will not move. For
more information, contact the company at
3715 Northcrest Road, Ste. 23, Atlanta, GA 30340-2830;
800-727-7505; 770-455-7072; 770-455-4577 (FAX);
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Companies
News from Associates
es
Helping Hand
© After nine years serving the fitness
industry in other capacities, Gary McCoy
is returning to CYBEX International,
Inc., as territory manager for the Rocky
Mountain region. McCoy is credited with
background development of the CYBEX
brand in the mid-1990s, and with the
establishment of The CYBEX Institute.
Following the Trotter-CYBEX merger in
1998, McCoy became the vice president
of education, sales, and marketing at
IDEA. From 2000 to 2006, McCoy developed
the award-winning gravity training
system for Total Gym, launched New Leaf
Health and Fitness Products, and developed
three training programs for the Free
Motion Fitness circuit. “While some of the
faces and products have changed at
CYBEX, the brand promise remains the
same…that’s why I’m here, and that’s
what ignites me every day,” notes McCoy.
© Stephanie Maio has
ASF International, the Denver-based billing and software
company, demonstrated its charitable spirit with a donation drive
during the 2006 holiday season to benefit a local charity called
Family Tree. Each year, Family Tree, which assists the homeless and
women in crisis and runs House of Hope shelters, helps more than
25,000 people overcome abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness
to become safe, strong, and self-reliant. The ASF staff generously
donated hundreds of dollars’ worth of household items, toys,
clothing, and other supplies, and the company also made a sizable
cash donation to help the organization purchase washing machines
and dryers, among other much-needed expensive items.
©
joined efi Sports
Medicine as part of its
event marketing team, where she
acts as a consultant to plan and
develop sales and marketing
strategies for efi corporate events
and trade shows. Maio selects
venues, negotiates sponsorship
efi’s Stephanie Maio
contracts, drives educational
programming, and recommends
independent contractors. Previously, Maio spent six
years as the event marketing manager for STOTT
Pilates and worked with TRC Fitness, a Canadian
distributor of fitness equipment, as a trade show and
sales and marketing coordinator. Maio is currently
finalizing her Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM)
certificate. She has a bachelor’s degree in physical
education from York University in Ontario, Canada,
and earned a Provincial silver medal in women’s
beach volleyball.
© Iron Grip Barbell Company has been named
to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Association’s
Continental Preferred Vendors program, which
includes a select group of suppliers whose products
meet the needs of JCC health, fitness, and athletic
facilities. As a Preferred Vendor, Iron Grip is
recommended to the JCC’s network of more than 275
facilities, and the company will also sponsor the JCC
Professional and Biennial Conferences. “After having
worked with so many great JCC customers over the
years, we’re happy to solidify our partnership and
continue to work together toward the success of
current and future JCC facilities,” notes Donna
McCallum, the vice president of sales for Iron Grip.
Nautilus, Inc., has partnered with the
National Academy of Sports Medicine
©
(NASM) to provide research and training support for
new fitness products and to introduce new education
programs for fitness professionals. According to Tim
Hawkins, the president of the Nautilus Fitness
Equipment Business, the partnership will accelerate
offerings from the Nautilus Institute, a research,
education, and training resource that the company
founded two years ago. “By collaborating with
NASM, our equipment innovations will emerge from
a significant collection of evidence-based research
and will be complemented by educational materials
and support,” Hawkins adds. Dr. Michael Clark, the
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Companies
News from Associates
continued
president and CEO of NASM, explains, “We will
open new gateways to engage many more people
and provide them with the tools and knowledge to
live healthier lives.”
© The
National Federation of Professional
Trainers (NFPT) is providing its certified personal
trainers full access to all listing services offered
through the online Personal Trainer Listing
Service (www.personaltrainer.cc). Ron Clark, the
president of the NFPT, recognizes the value of this
independent service that rates trainers on a scale of
1-5 based on combined certifications, education,
and experience. According to Dan Gaita, the
president of the Personal Trainer Listing Service, the
company’s goal is to create a single location for people to
seek and contact qualified personal trainers. Trainers
who are listed on the site can continually update
their information, including Website links and photos.
Octane Fitness,
which recently earned Best Buy
designations from Consumers
Digest for its new Q37e and
Q37ce elliptical cross trainers for
home use. According to the
review, “The Q37e couples a solid
feel and heft with more comfort,
performance, and style than
costlier brands.” In addition, the
Best buy from Octane
magazine highlights the “smooth,
long-stride pedal motion (20.5")
and the unprecedented Converging Path handlebars
that mimic the arms’ natural motion. Plus, “The
Q37e has an excellent control panel/display screen,
heart-rate control (via a chest strap) and a unique
ArmBlaster mode that emphasizes the upper body.”
Dennis Lee, the president of Octane Fitness, notes,
“Being named a Best Buy underscores the innovation,
performance, and quality of these machines, which
are loaded with unprecedented features.”
© Kudos to
Power-Plate International is
now offering personal trainers 10
Continuing Personal Development (CPD)
points for completing the Register of
Exercise Professionals (REPS) accredited
Power-Plate Academy Training (Level 1)
course. The Power-Plate is a vibration
training unit that delivers the equivalent
©
Date with
Power Plate
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of a one-hour low-impact workout in a fraction
of the time, and is suitable for all ages and
fitness levels. The daylong course covers the
fundamental principles in vibration; human
physiology; exercise prescription; and physiological
adaptations. It also includes a practical workshop
that reviews safety of the Power-Plate; demonstrates
basic exercises; and highlights exercise variations.
Evaluation is by practical assessment and a
multiple-choice written examination, and the course
is licensed and verified by Performance Training
Solutions, Ltd., an independent training provider.
The training is conducted at the Power-Plate
headquarters in London or at a client’s site.
United
States Professional Tennis
Association, Inc. (USPTA), which
© Congratulations to the
is celebrating its 80th anniversary
of serving tennis professionals
with certifications and education.
In 1970, the USPTA was the first to
administer a tennis-teacher certification exam; the
organization currently has 14,500 members worldwide, and offers more than 300 days of educational
opportunities each year. The multimedia department
at USPTA has produced approximately 100 educational DVDs, and the association began producing
the On Court with USPTA series for The Tennis
Channel in 2003. In addition, beginning in 2004,
USPTA was the first tennis organization to form
player-development programs and to provide free
education tools on modern tennis through inserts in
its ADDvantage magazine for members.
© Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. (TSI),
has selected IdeaCast, Inc., to deliver CNN, CNBC,
and MSNBC to all 144 TSI locations via IdeaCast’s
place-based National HealthClub Network (NHN).
IdeaCast is a satellite provider of entertainment and
business services, and its NHN is currently operating
in numerous health clubs throughout North America.
“TSI is always looking for new, innovative ways to
enhance our members’ in-club experience, and
IdeaCast will help us do this with its suite of quality
products,” explains Bob Giardina, the CEO of TSI.
Adds Fred Smith, the founder and CEO of IdeaCast,
“IdeaCast is excited to offer TSI and its members the
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Companies
New IHRSA Associates
Raising the Bar
© Elite Performance
Management, Inc.,
offers consulting services
to elite and professional athletes who are
interested in performance enhancement and
injury reduction. Through the coordinated efforts of a team of highly skilled
professionals offering functional training,
physical therapy, nutrition, and sports
performance psychology, the company is
singularly focused on elevating and
lengthening its clients’ careers while
increasing their value in the sports
marketplace. For more information,
contact the company at 1467 East 1300
South, Unit B, Salt Lake City, CA 80541;
801-953-0751; 310-356-3648 (FAX);
www.performancemgmt.org.
© Known for its specialization and
© ExtendBar is a long-acting, low glycemic index snack bar that
has been clinically proven to stabilize blood sugar for up to nine
hours. The bar was invented by Dr. Francine Kaufman, an endocrinologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the recent president of
the American Diabetes Association, and the author of Diabesity. By
helping stabilize blood sugar levels, ExtendBar can increase energy,
control hunger, burn excess fat, and manage diabetes/pre-diabetes.
When eaten as a snack between meals, the 150-calorie ExtendBar
can reduce the calories consumed at meals by 21%. The ExtendBar,
which comes in five flavors, has a 40/30/30 nutrient ratio of protein,
carbohydrates, and fats, respectively. For more information, contact
the company at 2200 Westport Plaza Dr., Ste. 316, St. Louis, MO
63146; 314-336-0588; 314-453-0300 (FAX); www.extendbar.com.
high-quality products for the fitness
industry, Fitness Audio Scandinavia
offers total audiovisual solutions for
commercial clubs. Among these products
are wireless microphone systems,
Aeromix (voice-over music mixers),
Cardio Theater entertainment systems,
Numark CD players and amplifiers, Ecler
speakers and line systems, Martin lights, pouch
belts, earphones, and various products from Sony
and SoundEar 2000. For more information, contact
the company at v/Knud Danielsen A/S, Bybjergvej 8,
DK-3060 Espergærde; 45-4913-0120; 45-49130125 (FAX); www.fitnessaudio.net.
© With more than 20 years of
experience as an American manufacturer, HardKore, Inc., designs
and produces ergonomic, visually
appealing, extreme-grade strength
and fitness equipment. To deliver
a smooth range of movement,
HardKore equipment has highspeed precision roller bearings at pivot points, and
high-end, industrial linear bearings on shafts.
Special bushings in the selectorized stack plates
produce a quiet, smooth motion even with minimal
weight. The drive system cables are extrude-coated
to minimize friction and wear. The pads on
HardKore equipment are made out of HyperCell
rubber and covered with Mellohide to provide
superior support and comfort to the body under
pressure and to withstand extreme use without
breaking down. The space-saving HardKore
Maximizer offers a small footprint with multiple
configuration options. For more information, contact
the company at P.O. Box 20828, Cheyenne, WY
82003; 630-882-6277; 630-882-6255 (FAX);
www.HKgear.com.
IntelliFITNESS, an
integrated management
solution, offers Healthy
Business, a program that
enables club owners to
track prospects and members from initial contact
through payment processing and fitness and
diet progress. Healthy Business also includes
©
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Companies
New IHRSA Associates
continued
membership management; front desk and check-in;
POS and inventory control; employee and facility
scheduling and rostering; sales and prospecting;
management scorecard; notifications; and payment
processing. IntelliFITNESS Personal enables fitness
professionals, members, and administration to
communicate, create, and track personal fitness and
diet history, manage schedules, and publish events
and news. And IntelliFITNESS Web lets members
communicate with their facility or trainer from existing
Websites or from one custom-created by the company.
For more information, contact the company at 2550
Haas St., Escondido, CA 92025; 760-742-5158;
760-781-3767 (FAX); www.intellifitness.com.
Since 1978, Thomas J. Klc
(pronounced kelch) & Associates
has been the principal legal counsel for
many health and fitness industry
leaders. Klc’s expertise includes
reviewing and setting up business
organizations; creating, negotiating, and reviewing
fitness center leases; preparing and reviewing
business documents, membership contracts, and
consulting agreements; and serving as lead attorney
for business reorganizations and fitness company
acquisitions. Klc has been an expert witness and
served as special counsel in many jurisdictions
with respect to standards of the fitness industry,
specialized valuation, and legal strategies. He has
experience dealing with governmental regulatory
agencies, state attorneys general, departments of
consumer affairs, and legislative committees. For
more information, contact the firm at 4725 South
Holladay Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT, 84117; 801-2773033; 801-424-0258 (FAX); www.fitness-law.com.
©
© New Lifestyles, Inc.,
strives to motivate more
people to be more active,
more often. To that end, the
company offers individuals,
schools, worksites, and other
organizations affordable stepcounters and activity monitors (pedometers and
accelerometers), along with materials to launch a
complete walking wellness or pedometer program.
Its line of NL-series products range from simple to
sophisticated, but not complicated, such as its
accelerometer line (NL-2200, NL-2000, NL-1000,
and NL-800), which takes monitoring of daily
physical activity to the next level, measuring
intensity and, in the case of the NL-1000, recording
minutes spent engaging in moderate-to-vigorous
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physical activity. And its accelerometers are
value-priced at $40-$60. For more information,
contact the company at 5201 NE Maybrook Road,
Lee’s Summit, MO 64064; 816-373-9969;
816-373-9929 (FAX); www.new-lifestyles.com.
© With more than 20 years of
experience in the frozen beverage
industry, the Royale Interna-
tional Beverage Company
now offers health clubs real fruit,
shelf-stable concentrates made
with crystalline fructose, which is a natural sugar.
The company’s high-quality products do not contain
high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, or beet sugar.
Royale Smoothie Company also provides nutritional
additive formulas to blend into beverages. This efficient
turnkey solution has no marketing or franchise fees
and no hidden costs; health clubs keep 100% of their
revenues. For more information, contact the company
at 5315 Tremont Ave., Davenport, IA 52807;
888-426-9222; 563-386-5222; 563-386-1352 (FAX);
www.royalebrands.com.
©
Established
in
1936,
Salsbury Industries is an
experienced manufacturer
and distributor of lockers and
mailboxes. The company’s
products include standard,
designer, wood grain designer, plastic, vented,
extra-wide, extra-wide vented, open-access, and
storage lockers; aluminum and wood benches;
commercial and residential mailboxes; and custom
signage. Salsbury Industries’ products are premium
quality and can be found in schools, universities,
private gyms, government agencies, businesses,
apartments, mailrooms, and homes throughout the
world. Knowledgeable customer service representatives
can offer expert guidance when ordering, and most
products are in stock and ship within 24 hours. For
more information, contact the company at 1010 East
62nd St., Los Angeles, CA 90001; 800-562-5377;
323-846-6700; 800-562-5399 (FAX); www.lockers.com.
© SpeedFIT, the innovative
adaptation of track-and-field
techniques for the fitness
industry, produces a natural
way to burn fat and lose weight. The SpeedFIT
routine is based on a single, simple idea:
de-emphasizing distance in exercise and, instead,
promoting speed via low-impact running on the
balls of the feet. The company measures each
Companies
continued
New IHRSA Associates
individual’s fitness level to create customized
programs that change frequently and workouts that
are short and effective. Following the program can
lead to fat-burning and weight loss, along with
enhanced cardiovascular conditioning, and participants
can chart their progress along the way. For more
information, contact the company at 323 Georgica Road,
East Hampton, NY 11937; 866-577-3331; 631-3249152; 631-324-9148 (FAX); www.speedfit.com.
©
[TC]2 develops 3-D body-scanning
equipment, shape analysis, and measurement extraction software. Its scanners are used in the health and fitness
industry, medical applications, and the
creation of an anthropometric database for military
clothing and equipment. Major apparel companies
use the equipment for custom-fit/made-to-measure
clothing. The low-cast [TC]2 scanner is an easy-touse, safe, white light, 3-D body-scanning system.
[TC]2 software automatically extracts hundreds of
body measurements, and users can customize
measurement definitions to match their application
needs through a simple wizard interface. The 3-D
Body Tracker program tracks body changes—
including body fat and muscularity index—during
exercise programs. For more information, contact
the company at 211 Gregson Drive, Cary, NC 27511;
800-786-9889; 919-380-2156; 919-380-2181 (FAX);
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Members
Alabama
Anytime Fitness
2501 Oakwood Ave.
Stes. 1 & 2
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-489-4348
Mr. Robert McAdory
Anytime Fitness
4955 McAdory School Road
Ste. 101
Mccalla, AL 35111
205-428-9115
Anytime Fitness
15041 Hwy. 43
Florence, AL 35633
888-572-2847
Riviera Fitness Center
for Women
161 Bessemer Super Hwy.
Midfield, AL 35228
205-788-2345
Mr. Tracy Childress
Snap Fitness
2401 Stemley Bridge Road
Pell City, AL 35125
205-338-7666
Snap Fitness
300 Springville Blvd.
Ste. 100
Springville, AL 35146
205-467-0303
Arkansas
Fuse Wellness
1400 S.E. Walton Blvd.
Bentonville, AR 72712
479-273-7583
Ms. Brenda Spencer
Snap Fitness
2113 E. Prkwy.
Russellville, AR 72801
479-890-7627
Arizona
Anytime Fitness
6715 E. 2nd St.
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-443-5701
Mr. Steve Beach
New IHRSA Clubs
Anytime Fitness
20924 N. John Wayne
Prkwy.
Maricopa, AZ 85239
520-568-5226
Mr. Brian Mullins
Anytime Fitness
9649 E. Navarro Ave.
Mesa, AZ 85209
480-332-9713
Mr. Dan Briggs
Snap Fitness
4705 E. Carefree Hwy.
Ste. 131
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
480-710-7893
Snap Fitness
8816 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85710
520-546-1114
Snap Fitness
2025 S. Alma School Road
Mesa, AZ 85210
602-315-0781
Tumbleweed
Tennis Complex
2250 S. McQueen Road
Chandler, AZ 85244
480-782-2650
Ms. Sara Rathsack
California
Anytime Fitness
883D Island Drive
Alameda, CA 94502
510-864-2030
Mr. Milt Fulas
Anytime Fitness
2600 Plaza Court
Ste. D
Dixon, CA 95620
707-693-9500
Anytime Fitness
153 S. Auburn St.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
530-477-2946
Mr. Stephen Matthews
IHRSA Membership Eligibility Standards
Members of the association must comply with IHRSA’s
baseline health, safety, and ethical standards.
1. The club will open its membership to persons of all races, creeds, places of
national origin, and physical abilities.
2. The club will respond to and endeavor to resolve, within 60 days, any consumer
complaints made to the Better Business Bureau or to state or local consumer
protection agencies (or other such agencies).
3. The club will comply with all relevant laws concerning pre-sell membership fees.
4. The club will not sell prepaid, lifetime memberships, and will not guarantee
membership or renewal fees beyond a three-year period or the period permitted
by applicable law.
5. The club will not engage in illegal membership sales tactics.
6. The club will conform to all relevant laws, regulations, and published standards.
7. The club will respond in a timely manner to any reasonably foreseeable
emergency event that threatens the health and safety of the club users. Toward
this end, the club will have an appropriate emergency plan that can be executed
by qualified personnel in a timely manner.
8. The club will offer each adult member a pre-activity screening appropriate to
the physical activities to be performed by the member.
9. Each person who has supervisory responsibility for a physical activity program
or area at the club will have demonstrable professional competence in that physical
activity program or area.
10. The club will post appropriate signage alerting users to risks involved in their
use of those areas of the club that present potential increased risk(s).
11. A club that offers youth services or programs will provide appropriate supervision.
12. The club will be kept clean and equipment will be maintained in working order.
If any club has evidence that a member club is not abiding by the IHRSA Membership Standards, contact IHRSA at pod@ihrsa.org or write to: IHRSA, 263 Summer
Street, Boston, MA 02210.
*Indicates clubs participating in the IHRSA Passport program.
Hiltons Hotel
Corporation
Marketing Department
9336 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
310-205-4347
Ms. Jodi Sullivan
L.A. Fitness *
39716 Winchester Road
Temecula, CA 92589
951-296-9200
Club One at
Embarcadero Center
Mission Cliffs
Climbing Center
2 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-788-1010
Ms. Louise Howard
2295 Harrison St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-550-0515
Ms. Donna Dunlap
No Xcuses Training
Snap Fitness
905 Middlefield Road
Ste. A
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-325-1273
Mr. Dave DeGeronimo
621 Alhambra Ave.
Martinez, CA 94553
925-370-0700
Snap Fitness
PowerZone Fitness
7648 E. Hollow Oak Road
Anaheim, CA 92808
905-702-1774
Mr. Brian Hayward
5030 Business
Ste. 150
Center Drive
Fairfield, CA 94534
707-864-8020
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The Studio Fitness for Women
3930 Broad St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-541-1100
Mr. David Pomfret
Snap Fitness
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
1145-1147 S. DeAnza Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95129
408-252-SNAP
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Members
New IHRSA Clubs
continued
Topanga
Training & Fitness
5441 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-347-9500
Mr. Allen Saltzman
Touchstone Concord
1220 Diamond Way
Ste. 140
Concord, CA 94520
925-602-1000
Ms. Lyn Verinsky
Touchstone San Jose
200 S. First St.
San Jose, CA 95113
408-920-6000
Mr. Justen Sjong
Colorado
Anytime Fitness
200 W. Foothills Prkwy.
Ste. B
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-223-2248
Mr. David Haase
District of
Columbia
41 N. 42nd Ave.
Brighton, CO 80601
303-659-1261
Vida Fitness
Snap Fitness
18240 E. 104th Ave.
Commerce City, CO 80022
303-289-7333
201 S. Elm
Eaton, CO 80615
303-961-3960
Anytime Fitness
108 Bartrum Oaks Walk
Jacksonville, FL 32259
904-230-6700
Connecticut
Anytime Fitness
281-B Berlin Turnpike
Berlin, CT 06037
860-770-6013
Mr. Wayne Dottor
Anytime Fitness
195 Federal Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
203-740-7771
Mr. Peter Mei
4731 W. 10th St.
Ste. G
Greeley, CO 80634
970-353-1200
Mr. Andy Murphy
521 Riverside Drive
Westport, CT 06880
203-221-7475
Mr. Howard Winklevoss
Anytime Fitness
8227 S. Holly St.
Centennial, CO 80015
303-220-0205
Mr. Larry Sarjeant
Anytime Fitness
393 N. Washington Ave.
Golden, CO 80403
720-746-1000
Club Colorado Fitness *
3755 Precision Drive
Ste. 100
Loveland, CO 80538
970-744-8923
Mr. Ryan Conover
Delaware
1312 S. Marshall St.
Boone, IA 50036
515-432-9400
Mr. Roger Aaron
Valley Isle Fitness
29 Iliwai Loop
Kihei, HI 96753
808-874-2844
Mr. James Moser
Idaho
Snap Fitness
50 N.W. Point Blvd.
Elk Grove, IL 60007
224-222-2509
Mr. Jason Amore
Georgia
Snap Fitness
2 Town Road
Ocean View, DE 19970
302-539-8282
Mr. Pete Brooks
920 Glenwood Ave.
Ste. 102/103
Atlanta, GA 30316
404-627-8000
Snap Fitness
2512 Redwine Road
Fayettevilee, GA 30215
770-632-4444
Snap Fitness
1190 King George Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31419
912-652-9624
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Illinois
13058 Race Track Road
Tampa, FL 33626
727-251-2990
Dupont Country Club
Fitness Center
World Gym
205 Stockham Blvd.
Rigby, ID 83442
208-745-8292
Citigroup
433 Canton Road
Ste. 105
Cumming, GA 30040
770-853-8651
Black Gates Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
302-421-1728
Mr. Larry Hampton
2926 E. Greenhurst Road
Nampa, ID 83686
208-461-6655
Ms. Genesis Nelson
Snap Fitness
Anytime Fitness
M AY 2 0 0 7
1040 S. King St.
Ste. 210
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-228-6208
Dr. Richard Ridao
Bank of America - Medifit
Corporate Services
1100 N. King St.
Wilmington, DE 19884
302-432-2090
Ms. Sarah Frahm
n
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness
9000 Southside Blvd.
Bldg. 500
Jacksonville, FL 32256
904-464-3901
Mr. Matt Kelley
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
Iowa
Club 50 of Oahu
8206 Philips Hwy.
Unit 1
Jacksonville, FL 32256
904-737-1286
Mr. Kevin Craig
Bank of America - Medifit
Corporate Services
Club Business International
Hawaii
Bally Total Fitness
Saugatuck Rowing Club
701 Delaware Ave.
Longmont, CO 80501
303-776-2633
Mr. Chris Berger
601 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-393-8432
Mr. David N. Von Storch
Florida
Snap Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness
108
Snap Fitness
Snap Fitness
1042 E. Algonquin Road
Algonquin, IL 60102
847-854-3481
Anytime Fitness
1818 Fawcett Prkwy.
Nevada, IA 50201
515-382-2424
Mr. Roger Aaron
Snap Fitness
1810 S.W. White Birch Circle
Ste. 107
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-965-8778
Snap Fitness
905 Hwy. 30 E, #2
Carroll, IA 51401
712-792-0101
Snap Fitness
7085 C Ave. NE
Ste. A6
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-393-3632
Snap Fitness
2200 N.W. 159th St., #200
Clive, IA 50325
515-987-7777
Snap Fitness
4123 University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311
515-255-SNAP
Indiana
Snap Fitness
Plummer Blvd.
Chathum, IL 62629
217-891-3006
Snap Fitness
380 Bank Drive
McHenry, IL 60050
815-385-5526
Snap Fitness
23836 135th St.
Plainfield, IL 60544
815-254-9888
Snap Fitness
11009 Allison Road
Fishers, IN 46083
317-594-1200
Kansas
Snap Fitness
5424 Roberts St.
Shawnee, KS 66226
913-441-5182
Kentucky
Snap Fitness
147 E. Lincoln Trail
Radcliff, KY 40160
270-351-1348
Members
New IHRSA Clubs
continued
Louisiana
North Cypress
Fitness Studio
113 N. Cypress St.
Hammond, LA 70401
985-542-3121
Mr. Olaf K. Ross
Snap Fitness
14241 Coursey Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225-751-1979
Maine
Snap Fitness
747 Broadway S
Portland, ME 97229
207-799-0864
Maryland
Anytime Fitness
9130 Piscataway Road
Clinton, MD 20735
240-605-7939
KINETIX Health Club *
First Floor
957 National Hwy.
Lavale, MD 21502
301-729-9755
Mr. Rommel Gonzaga
Massachusetts
Anytime Fitness
20 Andrews Prkwy.
Devens, MA 01434
Anytime Fitness
138 Industrial Park Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-747-7677
Mr. Scott H. Ruisi
Bank of America - Medifit
Corporate Services
100 Federal St.
Boston, MA 02110
617-434-2348
Ms. Meghan Carroll
Medifit
25 Greenfield Road
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Ms. Stephanie Esdale
110
Snap Fitness
Michigan
1641 Blake Ave.
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-1290
Anytime Fitness
1030 S. Main St.
Chelsea, MI 48118
734-433-3333
Ms. Hayon Stewart
Snap Fitness
5262 Kyler Ave. NE
Albertville, MN 55301
763-391-7627
Anytime Fitness
5169 Northland NE
Plainfield, MI 49525
616-364-3100
Snap Fitness
1804 S. Broadway St.
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-8879
Fitness Connections
2930 W. Main St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
269-488-2700
Mr. Bryan Heisler
Snap Fitness
Flex Fitness Center *
474 Century Lane
Holland, MI 49423
616-396-2901
Mr. Shawn Miller
Nakomis Square
307 N. Nokomis St.
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-8879
Mississippi
24-7 Fitness Studio
Snap Fitness
850 Forest Hill Road
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
616-957-3560
Snap Fitness
950 W. Norton Ave.
Norton Shores, MI 49441
231-343-9443
Snap Fitness
2902 Hardy St.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
601-447-6933
Mr. David Aiena
Snap Fitness
3906 Hardy St.
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
504-338-8180
Snap Fitness
123 Grandview Blvd.
Madison, MS 39110
651-484-0428
723 E. Savage
Ste. F
Spring Lake, MI 49456
616-846-7627
Montana
Snap Fitness
2913 Crooks Road
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Minnesota
Snap Fitness
3906 Hardy St.
Hattiesburg, MT 39402
504-338-8180
Snap Fitness
Anytime Fitness
38873 14th Ave.
North Branch, MN 55056
651-674-0580
Ms. Jennifer Stromquist
3150 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, MT 59602
406-442-4530
Nebraska
Anytime Fitness
975 Frontenan Drive NE
Winona, MN 55987
Ms. Abby Riewe
Club Business International
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Snap Fitness
3503 Samson Way, #112
Bellevue, NE 68123
402-991-7881
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
Nevada
New York
Powerhouse
Gym & Aerobics
Setauket Tennis
& Fitness *
2900 Clear Acre Lane
Ste. S
Reno, NV 89512
775-337-2800
Mr. Wayne Moon
5 S. Jersey Ave.
East Setauket, NY 11733
631-751-6767
Ms. Susan Lasorsa
Snap Fitness
3350 Novat St.
Ste. 155
Las Vegas, NV 89128
702-731-4100
Snap Fitness
Snap Fitness
1388 E. Genesee St.
Skaneateles, NY 13152
315-406-0575
North Carolina
Anytime Fitness
8390 DeCatur Blvd.
North Las Vegas, NV
89085
702-731-4100
2980 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27518
919-387-7077
Snap Fitness
Healthtrax Fitness
and Wellness
1675 Robb Drive
Unit 1
Reno, NV 89523
775-746-5700
New Jersey
Achieve 24 Fitness *
199 Main St.
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
908-813-1966
Mr. Benjamin Krymis
Anytime Fitness
141 Rte. 46 E
Budd Lake, NJ 07828
973-426-0909
Mr. Joe Nordquist
Club H Fitness *
110 Sinatra Drive
Hoboken, NJ 07030
888-640-2582
Mr. Craig Laskow
Snap Fitness
1468 Blackwood
Gloucester, NJ 8021
856-346-1800
New Mexico
Anytime Fitness
11500 Menaul Blvd. NE, F-2
Albuquerque, NM 87120
505-332-3493
8300 Health Park Way
Raleigh, NC 27615
919-847-2393
Ms. Lisa LaGanke
Snap Fitness
1052 Alamance
Church Road
Greensboro, NC 27406
336-676-9990
Snap Fitness
217 Hwy. 64 W
Ste. 1
Lexington, NC 27292
336-243-7627
Snap Fitness
705 W. Main St.
Jamestown, NC 27282
336-682-9549
Snap Fitness
11914 Elm Lane
Charlotte, NC 28277
North Dakota
Snap Fitness
3200 Sheyenne St.
West Fargo, ND 58078
701-356-3650
Snap Fitness
4950 13th Ave. S
Fargo, ND 58103
701-356-0012
Members
continued
Ohio
Anytime Fitness
5119 W. Tuscarawas
Canton, OH 44708
330-477-5000
Anytime Fitness
26611 N. Dixie Hwy.
Perrysburg, OH 43551
419-872-0002
Ms. Karen Beamish
New IHRSA Clubs
L.A. Fitness *
Snap Fitness
351 Loucks Road
York, PA 17404
717-848-6910
69 E. Main
Unit 1
Erie, PA 16428
814-725-2000
Volant Fitness *
Puerto Rico
Citigroup
Minillas Industrial Park
Calle 174 KM 2.2, #111
Bayamon, PR 00959
787-995-4099
Ms. Maria Bonilla
981 E. Lancaster Ave.
Downington, PA 19335
610-518-7680
Mr. Steve Main
Bank of America Medifit Corporate Services
25875 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, OH 44122
Ms. Michelle Custer
Citigroup
9997 Carver Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Mr. Brian Parnell
Snap Fitness
230 State St.
Conneaut, OH 44030
Oregon
Snap Fitness
18335 N.W. West
Union Road
Portland, OR 97229
503-397-9563
US SportsPlex
4540 Commerce St.
Eugene, OR 97402
541-484-7451
Mr. John Kraft
Snap Fitness
5349 W. Baseline Road
Hillsboro, OR 97212
Pennsylvania
Bank of America - Medifit Corporate Services
1 Fleet Way
Scranton, PA 18507
570-330-3144
Ms. Patricia Miller
Cornerstone Health
and Fitness
415 S. York Road
New Hope, PA 18938
Mr. Jim Bishop
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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Members
New IHRSA Clubs
continued
Rhode Island
Bank of America
111 Westminster St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-473-2920
Mr. Kyle Froberg
Tennessee
50 and Fit
3161 Southern
Memphis, TN 38111
901-848-4348
Mr. Mel Baddorf
Anytime Fitness
8390 Hwy. 51 N
Ste. 102
Millington, TN 38053
901-491-6283
Mr. Terry Dukes
112
Anytime Fitness
Gold’s Gym
Snap Fitness
7648 Stout Road
Germantown, TN 38138
662-893-3355
Ms. Pam Parnell
16233 Clay Road
Houston, TX 77084
832-593-9333
Mr. Bill Windschief
205 S. Main St.
Red Oak, TX 75154
972-576-0388
Snap Fitness
5201 S. Colony Blvd.
The Colony, TX 75056
972-625-8994
Gold’s Gym
Texas
2213 N. Park Drive
Kingwood, TX 77339
281-359-9911
Mr. Tony Mazurkewicz
Anytime Fitness
13730 Alice Road
Ste. D
Tomball, TX 77377
281-255-2300
Mr. Jason Bramlett
Bank of America - Medifit
Corporate Services
16001 N. Dallas Prkwy.
Dallas, TX 75001
469-201-4781
Ms. Lisa Wood
Club Business International
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Utah
L.A. Fitness *
Anytime Fitness
20127 Interstate 45 N
Spring, TX 77388
281-350-4298
1330 E. Hwy. 193, #C2
Layton, UT 84040
801-771-5100
Mr. Curtis Peterson
Medifit
220 E. Las Colinas
Irving, TX 75039
972-830-6899
Ms. Susan Bell
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
The Wellness Institute
1055 N. 500 W
Provo, UT 84604
801-429-0610
Mr. Brett Mortensen
Virginia
Snap Fitness
16609-16609 Montain
Road
Montpelier, VA 23192
804-883-0190
Washington
Gold’s Gym
1504 Iowa St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-671-4653
Ms. Tamara J. McClellan
Snap Fitness
11523 Avondale Road NE
Redmond, WA 98052
425-605-2241
Calendar of Events
Coming
Soon
in CBI
2007
May 9-10
IHRSA Traveling
Seminar & Showcase
Detroit, MI
www.ihrsa.org/ontheroad
May 14-16
Fitness Industry Suppliers
Association N.A.
Program Director Forum
San Diego, CA
858-508-0034
www.fisana.org
May 16-17
IHRSA Legislative Summit
Washington, D.C.
800-228-4772 (U.S. & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org
June 4-8
2nd Annual IHRSA University
Barcelona, Spain
800-228-4772 (U.S. & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org
June 6-9
Club Industry East
Orlando, FL
www.clubindustryshow.com
June 20-21
IHRSA Traveling Seminar
& Showcase
Atlanta, GA
www.ihrsa.org/ontheroad
August 6-10
19th Annual IHRSA
Institute for Professional
Club Management
September 4-7
3rd Annual IHRSA Club
Business Entrepreneur
Conference
Presented in conjunction
with the National Fitness
Trade Show & the ACE
International Symposium
Las Vegas, Nevada
800-228-4772 (U.S. & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org/coference
September 4-7
ACE International Symposium
Presented in conjunction
with the IHRSA Club Business
Entrepreneur Conference &
the National Fitness Trade Show
Las Vegas, Nevada
858-576-6502
www.acefitness.org
September 5-7
26th Annual National
Fitness Trade Show
Presented in conjunction with
the IHRSA Club Business
Entrepreneur Conference & the
ACE International Symposium
Las Vegas, Nevada
541-830-0400
www.msfitness.com
September 5-7
September 27-30
SIBEC
Scottsdale, AZ
Www.sibecna.com
October 4-6
8th Annual IHRSA / Fitness
Brasil Latin American
Conference & Trade Show
São Paulo, Brazil
800-228-4772 (U.S. & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org/meetings
www.fitnessbrasil.com.br
• Global 25: CBI’s annual ranking
of the biggest and boldest club
companies in the world
October 10-13
Club Industry
• Rising Sums: Our correspondent,
Tomoko Iwai, describes industry
advances in Japan
Chicago, IL
Www.clubindustryshow.com
November 1-4
6th Annual IHRSA
Asia-Pacific Forum
• The Governator: Schwarzenegger
and 24 Hour Fitness are promoting
healthcare reform
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
www.ihrsa.org
November 12-14
• At Liberty: We talk with the
women who are empowering the
Liberty Fitness franchise
7th Annual IHRSA
European Congress
Paris, France
800-228-4772 (US & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org/congress
• Nice Touch: These clever little
details make for a rewarding
locker-room experience
Fitness Industry Suppliers
Association N.A.
FISA-East
Orlando, FL
858-508-0034
www.fisana.org
• Teen Scene: We check out the
action at O2 MAX, Overtime Fitness,
and other teen-only clubs
Out of Shape by Stan Tran
• Board Beat: Members of
IHRSA’s board of directors explain
why they’ve chosen to serve
Wellesley, Massachusetts
800-228-4772 (U.S. & Canada)
617-951-0055
www.ihrsa.org/institute
• Tech Trek: F.I.T. Extra takes a
stroll through the virtual world of
club computer options
August 16-19
Can-Fit-Pro 2007
Toronto, ON, Canada
800-667-5622 ext. 242
www.canfitpro.com
August 22-23
Club Business
IHRSA Traveling
Seminar & Showcase
International
Phoenix, AZ
www.ihrsa.org/ontheroad
w w w. i h r s a . o r g
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Marketplace
PRODUCTS FOR SALE
Work in Luxury
• Sell • Buy
• Recondition
•Broker • Lease
• Trade In
Millennium Partners Sports Club Management LLC is the owner and operator of six luxury
Like–New
Fitness Equipment at
Wholesale Prices
sports, fitness, and wellness clubs that operate under the brands “The Sports Club/LA” and
“Reebok Sports Club/NY” in New York City, San Francisco, Miami, Washington DC, and
800-922-3488
unrivaled amenities to meet our Members’ lifestyle needs. If you possess exceptional skills
and experience and want to grow with the industry leader, we would like to talk to you
Boston. With personalized, five-star service, the Clubs provide an urban resort with
www.firstfitnessequipment.com
about the following opportunities:
Club Management
EMPLOYMENT
Fitness Management
Membership Sales
Private Trainers
Yoga & Pilates Instructors
We offer our employees a warm, friendly, and team-oriented work environment,
as well as excellent compensation and benefits.
FIND STRENGTH IN PEOPLE
WHO CARE ABOUT YOU!
For consideration, please send your resume and cover letter indicating
Working together to achieve great
things has made Lifestyle Family
Fitness a fast-growing leader in the
competitive fitness industry. Here
on our team, there’s always
someone to carry the weight!
position and location preference(s) to careers@mp-sportsclub.com.
JLR
36 locations in Florida and Ohio,
we have the following immediate
opportunities available:
ASSOCIATES
• District and Area
O pe r a ti o n s M a n a g e r s
• District and Area Sale s
Managers
• Club Sales Managers
• C l u b O p e r a t i o n s M a n a ge r s
• Personal Trainers
• Sales Consultants
• G r o u p F i t n e ss I n s t r u c t o r s
Call Jeff Randall
Sport & Health, DC’s premiere provider of over 20 multipurpose
health clubs, is in search of business & sales minded General
Managers! Ideal managers will have 5-10 yrs of direct industry
experience, an entrepreneur attitude and a passion for success.
WE HAVE
IMMEDIATE
OPENINGS!
People are our business and we
are proud to work with some of the
best. Exercise your ability to
succeed, when you apply online
now at www.lff.com. Click on
Employment Opportunities to apply
to a club of your choice. EOE
Club Business International
DRIVE Sales? MANAGE Operations & Facilities?
SUPPORT Programming?
OPERATE Financial Budgets?
You are the General Manager we want!
Tel: 781-251-0094
jr@jlrassoc.com
Or Dennie Noecker
Tel: 609-430-8455
dennie@jlrassoc.com
Competitive salaries, bonus &
commission programs and great
benefits package offered!
114
Executive Search,
Recruitment and
Placement –
Helping You Find
the Right People
www.jlrassoc.com
We offer an aggressive compensation & bonus plan, full
medical/dental plan, 401(k) plan, an upbeat & enriching work
environment and long term growth opportunities!
Send resume and salary requirements to jobs@sportandhealth.com
or fax to (703) 893-8487.
Visit us at www.sportandhealth.com
visit www.ihrsa.org
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Marketplace
As one of the most elite athletic club organizations
in Maryland we are expanding our team of
professionals and are looking for an ALL STAR
to join us on our path to success.
Merritt Athletic Club is looking for:
• a highly qualified, naturally interpersonal
Regional Sales Director
• a self confident, persistent, pro-active individual
that can inspire others and will be able to build
relationships through written and
verbal communication.
• a person who thinks outside the box and has
the innovation and drive to motivate a
sales staff to the next level
• an individual with 3 years of sales
experience as a manager
We offer competitive compensation and great benefits
package. If you feel qualified for this position please
email your resume to tbennington@merrittclubs.com
Global Fitness Holdings, the largest and fastest
growing fitness company in Ohio, Kentucky &
Tennessee, has immediate openings for District
Managers, Operating Partners, General Managers
and Fitness Consultants.
8 new super clubs opening in 2007.
Would you like to be
part of that growth?
Paying top dollar for the best.
We offer salary, bonus & commissions.
Medical, dental, life, vision & retirement.
Relocation package.
WORK WHERE YOU PLAY
Matrix Fitness Systems,
one of the fastest
growing companies in
the commercial fitness
industry, is looking for
dynamic individuals to
join our sales team.
We are looking for
experienced sales
managers in various
territories across the
U.S. and Canada.
Wellbridge owns and operates 20
premier athletic clubs and spas
nationwide under the mission of
“improving quality of life through
fitness, wellness, sports and fun.” If you
are motivated and seeking a position
where you can utilize your passion to
exceed your career expectations, we
want you to join our team.
•
•
•
•
For additional information including
current positions & qualifications, visit
our website at www.wellbridge.com
or send your resume to
resumes@wellbridge.com
Qualifications include:
• Bachelor’s degree
preferred
• 3+ years industry
experience
• Proven producer
• Computer savvy
• Excellent organizational
and communication skills
• Extensive travel required
• Health & fitness enthusiast
Regional Sales Managers
Expresso Fitness, the
industry leader in
commercial extertainment
systems, is hiring regional
sales managers with a
minimum of 5 years of
industry sales experience.
Reporting to the VP of
Worldwide Sales, they will
initiate and drive sales of
Expresso’s interactive
cardiovascular fitness
systems to area health
clubs and fitness facilities.
Candidates should have
excellent communication
and organizational skills,
an active interest in
health and fitness and
a positive, friendly
demeanor. For motivated
team players, this is
a tremendous
opportunity in a rapidly
growing company.
Please send resume with
cover letter to:
hr@jhtna.com
Johnson Health Tech
North America
1600 Landmark Drive
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
www.matrixfitness.com
http://www.johnsonfitness.com
Looking for a
Job in the
Fitness
Industry?
ActiveCareers
is the Answer!
This opportunity is only for the committed,
hard-working fitness professional.
Qualified candidates:
eMail your resume,
cover letter and desired
geography to
employment@
expressofitness.com
or apply online at
ActiveCareers.com.
Send resume to resume@ggtko.com
or fax to 859-977-3091
Visit our website, www.ggtko.com
Call 1-866-GO-GGTK
www.ActiveCareers.com
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Club Management
Membership Sales Representatives
Personal Training Managers
Personal Trainers
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115
Marketplace
Join Our Team of
Professionals!
Opportunities Available
Throughout the Southeast
WANTED
AMERICAN CLUB
SYSTEMS, INC.
NOW HIRING
Earn
$100,000.00+ Per Year
General Managers
Sales Managers
Personal Training
Directors
Personal Trainers
(Positions available in Coed
& Women’s Only Clubs)
MMC® is looking for Independent
Contractors to run protected
territories throughout the US,
Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.
MMC® specializes in raising
immediate
CASH
and
MONTHLY RECEIVABLES for
health clubs. We have a proven
success track record for more
than fifteen (15) years. Our
programs are no risk to the
health club owners because
they completely pay for themselves. If you love Sales and
Marketing, want to be your
own boss, work from your
home office and have the
potential to earn more than
$100,000.00 per year then you
want to contact us at 1-877620-8135 or visit our website
at www.healthclubconsultant.com
$75K to $100K
earnings potential!
If you are Career-Oriented,
Self-Motivated, Energetic
and interested in
developing the skills
and knowledge to succeed
in an exciting industry
Fax resume to
Fitness Centers/Gyms
Business For Sale
SW Florida
(706) 322-4123
or e-mail resume to
recruiting@
★ 2 locations: 13,500 /
15,000 sq.ft.
americanclubsystems.com
ATTN: Jack Letz
Phone: 800-640-5161
★ Great leasehold
improvements and
extensive gym equipment
★ Pro shop, tanning,
juice shop
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES
★ Convenient to major
roadways and
interstate highway
UP AND RUNNING –
HEALTH CLUB FOR SALE
Full Service, 25,000 Sq-Ft
Health and Fitness Club, 1400
current members, $42,000
monthly EFT, $500,000
annual membership sales
base. Located in upscale
Fairfield County, CT. Email:
newtowngym@comcast.net or
call 203-994-2987 for more
information.
Facility
is
expandable to 35,000 Sq-Ft.
116
Club Business International
★ $750K & $1,250K or
$1,900,000 for both
Contact Broker:
Karl T. Lippek, CCIM
Colliers Arnold
239-418-0300 x205
Fax: 239-418-1937
cwoosley@colliersarnold.com
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We are looking for
existing fitness
center locations!
Minimum Requirements:
20,000 sq. ft. facility
Adequate Parking
Minimum 10 year lease with
5 year option
We are looking to
expand in all counties
of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire and
Rhode Island
Please contact:
William Silvestri
1-603-893-4324 ext.11
fax: 1-603-893-8216
Bill@SilvestriCorp.com
CONSULTING
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Missed an Issue?
Did you know you can access the
full text of CBI articles from as
early as 2001 on IHRSA’s web site?
To learn more, visit www.ihrsa.org/cbi.
CBI Advertisers
Index
Company
Page #
A-1 Textiles
67
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
77
Affiliated Acceptance Corporation
80
Airex distributed by SPRI Products, Inc.
71
American Council on Exercise
11
Anytime Fitness, Inc.
76
ASF International
2&3
Axios LLC
118
BOSU by Fitness Quest
28
Can-Fit-Pro
26 & 69
CheckFree Corporation
7
Club Industry
Insert
Concept2
73
Creative Agency Group
117
CSI Software
15
CYBEX International, Inc.
Inside Front Cover & 5
DIRECTV
16
eFit Financial
102
Electronic Billing & Collecting Services
101
EVERLAST Performance Flooring
34
Fit Zone For Women International, Inc.
64
Fitness Equipment Source, Inc.
65
Fitour
83
Go Figure
44
HardKore Inc.
32
HydroTher Commercial Spa
& Wellness Equipment
68
IDEACAST
22
Iron Grip Barbell Company
9
Ivanko Barbell Company
31
K & K Insurance
72
Keiser
12
Life Fitness
Back Cover
Matrix Fitness Systems, Corp.
10
Mavericks Franchise
97
MembersFirst, Inc.
63
National Academy of Sports Medicine
75
National Exercise & Sports
Trainers Association (NESTA)
79
OPTP
74
Parisi Speed School
105
Peak Pilates
Inside Back Cover
101
Perform Better
20
Power Blendz (Island Oasis)
Power Systems
Outsert
Precor Commercial Division
19
Private Label Fitness
86
Ready Care Industries
78
Retro Fitness Franchising
91
70
Salsbury Industries
Snap Fitness
106
68
Special Projects Audio
SPEEDFIT
93
Sports & Fitness Insurance Corporation
98
Sports Solutions, Inc.
43
Sportsmith
111, 117
112
Sportwall International, Inc.
1
Star Trac
Stott Pilates
78
TECHNOGYM
French Cover
Thin & Healthy's Total Solution
89
True Fitness Technology, Inc.
25
United States Professional Tennis Association
80
Velocity Sports
94
60
VERT Worldwide, Inc.
82
Visual Fitness Planner
WaterRower, Inc.
81
Phone #
Contact
E-mail/Website
800-351-1819
800-225-2322
800-233-8483
800-222-7774
800-825-3636
800-704-5004
800-227-3859
800-748-5125
800-497-8281
800-667-5622 x234
800-242-9522
610-238-9306
800-245-5676
800-888-8381
800-247-3431
508-533-4300
888-200-4388
877-772-3348
800-766-1918
888-383-7655
269-226-9564
800-748-5125
800-348-6873
281-207-0018
630 882 6277
Customer Service
Tom Ivicevic
Sid Nelson
Customer Service
Customer Service
Jeff Thames
Sean Kirby
Mark Clayton
Suzanna West
Victoria Goncharenko
Ron Poliseno
Herb Greenebaum
Bill Patton
Jon Denley
Andy Wigderson
Deb Cowell
DIRECTV
Dudley Exstrom
Gerald Hamm
John Aten
Todd Sullivan
Mark Clayton
Robert Ottis
Sales
Mark Spangler
www.a1athletictowels.com
www.afaa.com
www.affiliated.org
www.spriproducts.com
www.acefitness.org
www.anytimefitness.com
www.asfinternational.com
www.endlessrope.com
www.bosu.com
www.canfitpro.com
www.checkfreeclubmanager.com
www.clubindustry.com
www.concept2.com
www.creativeagency.com
www.csisoftwareusa.com
www.cybexinternational.com
www.DIRECTV.COM/BUSINESS
www.efitfinancial.com
www.achbilling.com
www.everlastflooring.com
www.FitZoneForWomen.com
www.fitnessequipmentsource.com
www.fitour.com
www.igofigure.com
www.hkgear.com
800-891-5811
312-988-4121
800-664-4766
310-514-1155
800-637-4757
800-336-8133
800-634-8637
866-693-4863
541-593-2500
866-636-3477
800-460-6276 x5501
Jennifer Mercieca
Fred Smith
Donna McCallum
Chet Groskreutz
Sandee Howle
Darrin Pelkey
Mike Rotz
Tiffany Hoeye
Jerry Cunningham
Pete Diffendal
Education Advisor
jen@hydrother.com
www.ideacast.net
www.irongrip.com
www.ivankobarbell.com
www.kandkinsurance.com
www.keiser.com
www.lifefitness.com
www.matrix-fitness.com
www.maverickssports.com
www.memfirst.com
www.nasm.org
877-348-6692 x210
800-367-7393
888-GET-FAST
800-925-3674
800-556-7464
800-999-5674
800-321-6975
800-786-8404
800-340-7011
800-477-4283
800-RETRO-04
800-562-5377
877-474-5422
866-491-2677
866 5+SPEED+1
888-276-8392
800-969-8008
800-713-2880
800-695-5056 x118
800-228-6635
800-910-0001
800-804-0952
419-991-1223
877-712-7209
800-877-8248
949-330-6231
239-530-3163
877-VFP-1212
800-852-2210
Mark Baines
Customer Service
Laurie Plaza
Julie Lobdell
Chris Poirier
Mark Malkin
Customer Service
Larry Domingo
Art Rothafel
Kevin Hedican
Franchising Department
Ricardo Alva
Michael Wickman
Tracy Clay
Alex Astilean
Jennifer Urmston Lowe
Laurie Schmidt
Brad Schupp
Sarah Funkhouser
Paul Ireland
Sales Department
Ivo Grossi
Marcia Bigler
Keith Hankins
Tim Heckler
Kerri Sonenshine
Ed Torkelson
Daron Allen
Colin Shaw
www.NESTAcertified.com
www.optp.com
www.parisischool.com
www.peakpilates.com
www.performbetter.com
www.powerblendz.com
www.power-systems.com
www.precor.com
www.privatelabelfitness.com
www.readycare.com
www.retrofitness.net
www.lockers.com
www.snapfitness.com
www.specialprojectsaudio.com
www.speedfit.com
www.sportsfitness.com
www.sportssolutionsinc.com
www.sportsmith.net
www.sportwall.com
www.startrac.com
www.stottpilates.com
www.technogymusa.com
www.thinandhealthy.com
www.truefitness.com
www.uspta.com
www.velocitysp.com
edtork@comcast.net
www.vfp.us
www.waterrower.com
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CEO Briefing
The goal: to have our industry recognized as
the entity that ‘dispenses exercise as medicine.’
Healthcare:
A Healthier Policy
E
very day, it seems, there’s more bad news about the
healthcare crisis. We’ve all heard that this generation of
children may be the first to have a shorter average
lifespan than that of their parents. The medical costs associated
with being overweight or obese continue to skyrocket. Only 40%
of the diabetics who are told to exercise by their doctors
actually do so. Only about 50% of heart patients complete their
prescribed therapy following surgery.
According to several recent studies, the U.S. is also facing
a potential shortage of 85,000–200,000 physicians by the
year 2020.
So… the cost of healthcare is increasing; people are
becoming sicker, in part because of inactivity; many patients
aren’t heeding their physician’s advice; and we’re heading
toward a serious shortage of physicians.
Joe Moore
Does this sound like a formula for disaster?
IHRSA President & CEO
As alarming and disheartening as it may seem, this situation
can—and must—be changed.
As health club owners and operators, the fundamental
question before us is simply: What can we do?
As IHRSA grows in size and sophistication, its public-policy goals must be carefully defined
and developed. We’re now at a critical juncture in our history—a point at which, for the first time,
we can take decisive actions to achieve our short- and long-term federal public-policy objectives.
Our ultimate aspiration is to solidly position our industry as part of the healthcare
continuum by making club-based exercise an integral part of every phase of healthcare—
beginning with prevention, and continuing through to disease intervention and rehabilitation.
Reaching that goal will require an ongoing commitment from IHRSA, individual clubs, and the
industry as a whole, but we firmly believe it’s one that we can—and will—attain. We’re also
convinced that, by doing so, we’ll do much to grow our business.
Charting a course to reach that grand destination, IHRSA has identified four major interim
objectives that we’ll be working toward. They are:
• To have IHRSA recognized as one of the most active leaders and most valuable resources
dealing with America’s healthcare crisis—particularly with respect to obesity, wellness, and the
health and economic costs of sedentary lifestyles.
• To increase the involvement of IHRSA in collaborative federal initiatives—with the
government and other influential stakeholders—to help solve the current crisis.
• To inform, influence, and help shape legislation that affects the healthcare industry,
particular with respect to related tax measures.
• To have the health club industry recognized as the entity that “dispenses exercise as medicine.”
One Hundred Twenty Million
Members by 2010
120
If we can convince the government and the public of the incredible value of making use of our
clubs, and if they take the appropriate, positive action, maybe—just maybe—people will become
healthier, and we can stop worrying about a shortage of physicians. Only by making exercise
a core component of the proposed solution can we transform the healthcare crisis into
healthy opportunities.
Learn more about how you can become involved in this major initiative to improve the health
of Americans and grow the health club industry, by visiting www.ihrsa.org/grassroots. n
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Club Business International May 2007
David Schnabel