The Club Insider Archives: March 2012
IHRSA31 Los Angeles a Huge Success!
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesIt all started 31 years ago when we had our first IHRSA Convention and Trade Show at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. There, a handful of club owner/operators came together from the tennis (NTA) and racquetball club (NCCA) worlds to form what was then called the International Racquet Sports Association (IRSA). There were less than 1,000 attendees and vendors in attendance at that event in Las Vegas in 1981, but we were off and RUNNING!
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The "Insider Speaks"
Who Am I? Why Am I Here?
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesYou may be thinking, "Norm, why in the world are you asking these questions here and now, and how do your questions relate to me, a health club owner/operator/manager?"
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101 Tips for Being a Great General Manager
By: Jeffrey Keller
Jeffrey KellerEveryone likes tips. They're simple, easy to digest, and sometimes for some people, earth shattering. General Managers (and Owners) get so caught up in putting out fires, dealing with employee issues and worrying about making their budget that they forget that even their jobs can be broken down into the simplest of tasks.
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Should You Invest in Sales Training for Your Health Club Staff?
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasHealth club sales training is a must for any fitness facility wishing to secure a competitive advantage in their marketplace. This has always been important, but it's even more important now than ever. The ability to sell memberships, personal training, etc. is fundamental to success in the fitness business, and the full effort of the sales team is essential.
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Sell More With Greater Rapport!
By: Casey Conrad
Casey ConradWhether you are a club operator or a membership salesperson, your goal is to sell more memberships. With the economic and competitive challenges that most clubs face, everyone is looking for that "one thing" that can help them convert more prospects into paying members.
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How to Tap Into the Next Trillion Dollar Industry
By: Donna Krech
Donna KrechThe game has changed. Our industry is not what it used to be. Based on my trips to Washington D.C., CDC definitions say we are perfectly set to be the wellness solution that businesses, government and individuals are looking for. You may need to change the way you do business, depending on whether or not you know the five keys to trillion dollar industry success, wellness success, that is.
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Programming Tip of the Month
Senior Day With A Beginning
By: Sandy Coffman
Sandy CoffmanThe success of our business can be attributed to successful NEW BEGINNINGS! May, which is coming fast, is National Senior Fitness Month, and a great reason for a new beginning program for seniors. Senior Day With A New Beginning is a 1-day special event designed for clubs that want to increase their membership, grow their senior programs and provide visibility to the community as well.
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Gold's Gym International Acquires 11 Spectrum Athletic Club Locations in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Gold's Gym International (GGI), one of the world's leading authorities on health and fitness, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire all 11 Spectrum Athletic Club locations in the San Antonio area. With nine clubs already serving residents throughout the market, Gold's Gym will now have a total of 20 locations in the Alamo City.
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Mike Minton Selected as 2012 SBA Small Business Person of the Year for Texas
FORT WORTH, TX - Mike Minton, Owner of Minton's Sportsplex Family Fitness in Texarkana, Texas, has been selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2012 State Small Business Person of the Year for Texas.
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Cybex Announces Lawsuit Settlement... Stock Jumps
MEDWAY, MA - Cybex has announced that it reached an agreement in the Natalie M. Barnhard case that significantly reduced the amount of the damages initially awarded.
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IHRSA Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
Commercial Clubs Continued Robust Performance in 2011
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced the release of the IHRSA Index results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2011, which reports the financial performance of a sample of the commercial health club industry. Results from 15 leading U.S. health club companies, representing a total of 511 facilities, indicate increased performance in key metrics. Same-store clubs recorded modest improvements.
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IHRSA's 16th Annual Financial Panel
Moderated by Rick Caro, President of Management Vision, Inc.
The Financial Panel session this year, in particular, was one not to be missed. With more recent transactions in all segments of the industry, the Financial Panel was a most important place for all senior club company executives to gain a financial update and outlook on the club industry. The session was moderated by Rick Caro, President of Management Vision, Inc.
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19% of Gen-Y Americans Were Health Club Members in the 4th Quarter
IHRSA Trend Report Analyzes the Gen X & Y Health Club Consumer
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released The IHRSA Trend Report: Fourth Quarter 2011 Executive Summary on February 28th. Conducted in partnership with the Leisure Trends Group, Boulder Colorado, the report examines why Americans join, stay and leave their health clubs. The fourth quarter installment analyzes Generations X and Y (See Definitions Below) consumer attitudes' towards health club membership.
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Goodlife Fitness Honored
GoodLife Fitness was recognized on the Canadian national stage in February with Platinum Status for Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Award. This award recognizes best-in-class organizations across Canada in categories ranging from finance to transportation to fitness.
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Newtown Athletic Club Big Build Bash Grand Opening of New 12,000 Square-foot Fitness Center Addition
NEWTOWN, PA - The Newtown Athletic Club (NAC) is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the 12,000 square-foot Fitness Center addition on Saturday, February 18, 2012. Over 2,000 guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment, dancing and fine refreshment in honor of the completion of the new Fitness Center. This addition boasts 25-foot ceilings with a floor-to-ceiling glass enclosure and a balcony overlooking the center to allow members to enjoy a view and the largest fitness floor on the east coast.
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IHRSA 2012 Slideshow
Check out photos from IHRSA 2012!
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Norm's Notes for March 2012
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in!
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