The Club Insider Archives: February 2025
Cover Story Classics
The late Dr. Gerry Faust
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesLast month, in our first Cover Story Classic, we went way back to 1994 and Club Insider's first cover story, featuring the legendary Red Lerille, Owner of Red's in Lafayette, Louisiana, who was recently announced as an inductee into the inaugural class of the Health and Fitness Association's Hall of Fame. This month, though this Cover Story Classic was published more recently, in July 2016, the subject takes us even further back in time, before Club Insider was even in existence! It is because of the late Dr. Gerry Faust and Faust Roundtable #1 that Club Insider came into existence. Like so many who have experienced them, way back then, and today, the Roundtable experience is unique and uniquely effective. Many of the legends of our industry were part of Faust Roundtable #1.
Read More
Integrating New Members into Your Fitness Facility
By: Sara Kooperman, JD
Sara Kooperman, JDSuccessfully integrating new members into your fitness facility is crucial for long-term retention and overall satisfaction. The process should be structured, engaging and tailored to individual fitness goals to ensure new members feel welcomed, supported and motivated to continue their fitness journey.
Read More
Why Every Gym Owner Needs a "Think Day"
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasAs a gym owner, boutique studio operator or fitness entrepreneur, your daily schedule is packed with responsibilities: managing staff, handling sales, overseeing operations and keeping members engaged. The constant hustle can be overwhelming, and often, strategic thinking takes a back seat to the immediate demands of running your business. The most successful entrepreneurs across industries, including fitness, take time for "Think Days," dedicated time to step away from daily operations and focus on deep thinking, problem-solving and vision setting.
Read More
CES 2025
AI Fitness Take Over
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentThe 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) wasn't just about gadgets; it was about the humanization of artificial intelligence (AI). For the fitness industry, this trend meant fewer tangible demos and more groundbreaking integrations of AI into wellness and fitness technology. Here's a rundown of the standout innovations shaping the future of fitness for both home gyms and personal wellness.
Read More
Instructor Recruitment
Rules of the Road
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonAs a father of four, I have an above-average amount of experience teaching teenagers to drive. It is time-consuming and challenging for both student and teacher. Starting in a parking lot and progressing to quiet neighborhood streets, eventually to short, sometimes terrifying chaperoned errands, then braving the highway(!) is part of the learning process. But, it's necessary, because there's more to driving than knowing the rules. Imagine if we just gave them a book, and once they passed a written test, we let them jump on the road and start driving (Talk about terrifying!). Well, preparing people to teach group fitness is no different.
Read More
Crunch Fitness Takes #1 Fitness Spot in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 Ranking
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Fitness, one of the fitness industry's leading high-value, low-price gyms, ranked #1 in the fitness category and #32 overall in the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500, the world's first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. These rankings rewards Crunch for outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. Achieving placement on the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and is recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees.
Read More
HFA Announces Its First Class of Inductees into the HFA Hall of Fame
BOSTON, MA - The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) has chosen six industry leaders to be inducted into its inaugural HFA Hall of Fame class. The inductees are Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Rick Caro, Red Lerille, Julie Main, John McCarthy and Augie Nieto. The honorees will be inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held from 7 - 9 PM on March 11 at The HFA Show in Las Vegas.
Read More
"Insider Speaks"
New Research Highlights the Global Potential of Affordable Fitness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - New research by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) highlights the important role affordability plays in addressing the global physical inactivity crisis. Covering ten diverse markets, the study demonstrates how reducing financial barriers to structured exercise facilitated by fitness facilities could help drive substantial health, social and economic benefits.
Read More
Norm's Notes for February 2025
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 374th monthly edition of this 32+ year running club business publication I refer to as: A Labor of Love! I'm very thankful that you've tuned in again for this iteration of Norm's Notes, as I proceed on my keyboard with my longtime habit of "Telling-It-Like-It-Is!" I'm really happy that you're reading this edition, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for sticking with us every month! As usual, we have a bunch of health and fitness club business news, so please read on!
Read More
