Club Insider

The Club Insider Archives: March 2014

Jack Tawney
A Passionate Focus on Results in the Northwest

By: Justin Cates

Justin CatesJustin CatesMany years ago, when I was a young kid green to the world, I was taught many important lessons that have served me throughout my life. I am still learning to this day, and I always will; however, two of these lessons in particular have made a real difference in molding me into who I am today. The following interview with Jack Tawney, Co-founder and owner of Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds, Washington and a partner in numerous Peak Health & Wellness locations across Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, reminded me of two lessons I learned at an early age. Read More

Youth Fitness
Why It's More Important Than Just Being Fit

By: Karen Jashinsky

Karen JashinskyKaren JashinskyLike many personal trainers, I became passionate about fitness after it changed my life. As a kid, I swam and played tennis, but asthma and allergies made some activities tough. In high school, running the mile had me wheezing like a withered chain smoker, to say nothing of running it in under 12 minutes. I took up weight training instead. My first surprise was that I really loved strength training. Read More

Catching Up With Club Business Dynamo
Maria Parrella-Turco On FitRewards

By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesClub Insider recently had a chance to catch up with club business dynamo, Maria Parrella-Turco. She is busier than ever with some very exciting companies and products in the industry, some of which could help your club business if utilized. We welcome you to read on. Read More

Boost Your SEO With Video
By: Casey Conrad

Casey ConradCasey ConradWe all know the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) in business. The more optimized your website is, the greater the chance that new prospects will find you during their search for a solution to their fitness challenges and concerns. Unfortunately, although there is a high level regarding the need (and desire) for good SEO, there is a lot of confusion as to how to attain it. Read More

The Cycle of Life At Your Club
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez

Karen Woodard-ChavezKaren Woodard-ChavezThe cycle of life, as you see in the visual of this article, is a very simple cycle and is the same for many businesses. I use this as a very visual example for my clients in the health and wellness industry as well as other industries. The only difference is that the language may change for each stage in the cycle based on the business. Let's briefly walk through it together, and then, we will break it down further to enhance the outcomes for your long-term success. Read More

PR 101
Building Your Brand With Ambassadors

By: Nancy Trent

Nancy TrentNancy TrentOnce upon a time, companies that wanted to sell their services or products hired authentic experts, authority figures and frequently authors with advanced degrees who seemed incorruptible, ethical and thoroughly reliable. They possessed a high degree of credibility, and their own notoriety rubbed off on the brands they endorsed either blatantly or subtly. They were, and many still are, powerful influencers of human behavior. Read More

How A Club Keeps Changing To Stay The Best in Their Market
By: Bruce Carter

Bruce CarterBruce CarterThe need to renovate a club is like the need to renovate your body. No matter what, if you do not keep up with the latest exercise and nutrition, your body ages and becomes a shadow of what it once was, and you are not able to effectively be the most productive you can be. So it is with a club. Not renovating lessens your competitive ability, and slowly, your club can "whither" away. Oh sure, maybe you can hang on... but the profits are never the same. Read More

Trend Watching May Fuel A Visionary Growth Strategy
By: Stephen Tharrett

Stephen TharrettStephen TharrettIn a recent article published in the New York Times, the author brought forth one of the more interesting economic phenomena that have occurred as America and the world have risen from the bowels of the recent economic recession (2008 to 2012). The author indicated that, since 2009, when the recession hit rock bottom, inflation-adjusted spending by the top echelon has risen 17%, compared with 1% among the bottom 95%. In broader terms, this means that 90% of the overall increase in consumer spending from 2009 to 2012 was generated by the top 20% of households based on income. Read More

Programming For The "Fun Of It!"
Increased Participation Guaranteed With This Easy-to-Implement Program

By: Laurie Cingle

Laurie CingleLaurie CingleHere's a motivational program modeled after the game Monopoly that is easy to implement and draws big numbers of participants. Brand it to your facility by renaming it to include your club's nickname, for example, MAC-opoly. Or simply call it Fit-opoly or Well-opoly. Read More

High Five! Planet Fitness Announces Five Million Members and Celebrates With Special Thank You
NEWINGTON, NH - Planet Fitness, the innovative health club franchise known for its Judgement Free Zone and affordable prices, announced that the company has achieved a significant milestone of reaching five million members. Planet Fitness owns a 10% market share of the 50 million card-carrying health club members in the United States according to IHRSA's 2013 Global Report. Read More

Active Sports Clubs Completes Asset Acquisition With Club One, Inc.
SAUSALITO, CA - Active Sports Clubs, a new health club brand launched late last year by Club One's co-founder, Jill Kinney; former President and COO, Bill McBride; and former CFO, Carey White, has assumed the majority of Club One, Inc.'s asset portfolio. This includes its Bay Area Club One Fitness locations and its community center, hospital and corporate fitness and wellness management operations. Read More

Rick Caro's 18th Annual IHRSA Financial Panel Summary
SAN DIEGO, CA - Rick Caro produced and moderated the 18th Annual IHRSA Financial Panel at IHRSA 2014 in San Diego. These were Caro's opening comments: "The club industry gets more exciting each year, and our presenters are significantly involved in it. We are most fortunate once again this year to have an impressive set of presenters, each with a different financial perspective of the club industry. Once again, all four of the presenters are active participants in the club industry, some because of recent transactions. Read More

IHRSA Award Recipients Honored For Making the World Healthier and More Active
SAN DIEGO, CA - IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association honored three award recipients during IHRSA 2014, the Association's 33rd Annual International Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, California, March 12-15, 2014. Read More

Total Woman Gym + Spa Announces Innovative Holistic Platform for Flagship Property Opening in Westlake Village
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - Total Woman Gym + Spa, California's largest full-service gym and day spa, has announced plans to introduce an innovative holistic platform that will facilitate transformative experiences for members, beginning with its brand new flagship facility currently under construction in Westlake Village. Read More

Leaders Needed to Grow, Promote and Protect the Fitness Industry!
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA is looking for a few great, forward-thinking, strategic-minded club owners, operators and industry suppliers who value the benefits of advocacy and health promotion; who appreciate being part of something bigger than themselves and their immediate business; and who understand the benefits of collaborating, even if it's with a competitor, to grow opportunities for the entire fitness industry. Read More

Mountainside Fitness Expands With $40M in Funding
PHOENIX, AZ - Mountainside Fitness, the Arizona-based health club chain, will be able to expand thanks to a new partnership with PNC Mezzanine Capital. Mountainside could see a growth capital of up to $40 million, enabling the company to add to its 10 locations. Mountainside projects it will be able to add 1,500 to 2,000 jobs as a result. Read More

IHRSA 2014 Slideshow
Check out photos from IHRSA 2014! Read More

Norm's Notes for March 2014
By: Norm Cates

Norm CatesNorm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher Since 1993 checking in, fresh out of sunny and beautiful San Diego, California with a bunch of news from IHRSA 2014! We welcome you to read on! Read More

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