The Club Insider Archives: May 2013
Stone Creek Club & Spa
"Your Everyday Getaway"
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesOver the years, regular readers of Club Insider will have noticed several themes that have constantly repeated themselves in our publication. Some of these themes include the constant improvement and modernization of facilities, programs and other member offerings, club cleanliness being crucial to member satisfaction, true staff development and empowerment, outstanding member service that creates results, and possibly the most important, development of TRUST within the community via constant outreach. One of our goals as a publication is to share stories of success in the industry and what these organizations have done to be that way. This month, our study of Stone Creek Club & Spa includes everything mentioned above and more.
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The "Insider Speaks"
What Do You Stand For?
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesI was driving down the road in my Beemer listening to my favorite music radio station, Atlanta's 94.1 FM, when the song, Some Nights, written by Nathaniel Joseph/dost Ruess came on. For the first time ever, I actually listened to the words of the song, instead of just the melody. During the song, these following lyrics really caught my ear: "What Do I Stand For?"
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Driving Profitability Via Your Fitness Department
Part I
By: Dr. Kevin Steele
Dr. Kevin SteeleIn the early years of our industry, and up until fairly recently, the majority of club owner/operators generated most all of their revenue through aggressive membership sales. The emphasis was on high volume, new member acquisition, and there were little to no programming or services provided. As our industry has evolved, successful club operators typically have a broad menu of products and services available in their portfolio.
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Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Member Retention In Your Club
By: Tracey Bourdon
Tracey BourdonAt times, it seems that for any club, even their best members can start to lose their motivation. They visit the club less and less frequently, and to your horror, they may even cancel their membership. What has happened to them? Perhaps if we can begin to understand this gradual decline in their participation, we will be able to prevent it from happening.
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Financial Literacy
By: Will Phillips
Will PhillipsApril was Financial Literacy Month. Good timing! More than ever, government, businesses and families are suffering from financial illiteracy. Too often, we abdicate financial decisions to others. Too often, we do not understand financial decisions because we are financially illiterate.
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What If You Are Not A Natural Health Club Salesperson?
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasI've always thought that one of my greatest assets when it comes to training health club salespeople is the fact that I was terrible at it when I first started. Nothing came natural. I had to learn it.
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How to Find Three Extra Hours Every Day
Permanently Eliminate the Words, "I Don't Have Enough Time."
By: Donna Krech
Donna Krech"Where did the day go?" "I need more hours in a day!" "I'm meeting myself coming and going!" "I just want time to do the things I want to do!!!" If you're like most people, you can relate whole-heartedly to at least one of those statements. Why? Because too many of us have arranged our world (unknowingly, of course) to be one where our time controls us rather than where we control our time.
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A Systematic Approach To Creating a Plan and Budget for Marketing and Membership Sales
By: Greg Maurer
Greg MaurerAs the saying goes, "those who fail to plan, plan to fail," and this is nowhere more true than in membership marketing and sales. High-level financial performance depends on solid membership sales and not just some of the time, all the time. This does not happen by accident, and it starts with the creation of marketing and sales plans with realistic budgets.
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Virgin Active Eyes £2bn David Lloyd Merger
By: Mark Kleinman
Virgin Active is mulling a takeover bid for David Lloyd Leisure that would create a £2bn health and fitness empire and entrench Sir Richard Branson as the industry's most important British stakeholder.
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Programming For The "Fun Of It!"
21 Ideas to Inspire New Programs
By: Laurie Cingle
Laurie CingleIt's important that club programmers consistently come up with new ideas and services that will keep members interested in the club. These ideas don't have to revolve around exercise. Why not offer your members activities that are all about fun and meeting others who share their interests? "Clubs within a club" have the potential to really get your members (and prospects) talking about the great service your club provides.
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Blast Fitness Members Upset After Gym Closes Doors
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (KTVI TV News, St. Louis) - Blast Fitness in Maryland Heights closes its doors, leaving members stunned and angry. They want answers. They say they had no warning. And, some people who use the Maryland Heights facility came from the Clayton gym.
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LA Fitness Remodels Five Atlanta Clubs With New Equipment, State-Of-The-Art Facilities
IRVINE, CA - LA Fitness, one of the fastest growing health club chains in the United States, announced it has completed the remodels of five of its health clubs in the Atlanta area, including locations in Sugarloaf, Cumberland, Camp Creek, Johns Creek and the Alpharetta/Windward communities. The renovations complement the features already in place at each location, reinforcing LA Fitness' commitment to ensure the best work out experience possible for its members, while meeting the distinct needs of each community it serves.
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Life Fitness President Chris Clawson Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 Finalist
SCHILLER PARK, IL - Life Fitness, a leader in commercial fitness equipment manufacturing, announced that President Chris Clawson was named a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 program in the Midwest. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.
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Life Fitness Launches Search For The World's Best Personal Trainers To Watch
SCHILLER PARK, IL - Life Fitness, a global leader in fitness equipment manufacturing, announced its search for the world's best Personal Trainers to Watch in partnership with the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPs), an international partnership between exercise professional registration bodies around the world. Now in its third year, the Personal Trainers to Watch program recognizes and rewards trainers around the world who embody the same passion and commitment to healthy lifestyles on which Life Fitness prides itself.
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NEHRSA Selects Susan K Bailey Marketing & Design As Agency of Record
BOSTON, MA - NEHRSA announced it had selected Susan K. Bailey Marketing & Design as its new advertising agency of record. The selection follows a review process that began in January when Casey Murphy was tabbed as the new Executive Director.
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SKLZ and Athletes' Performance Launch New Facility To Deliver Training and Products To Maximize Human Performance
CARLSBAD, CA - SKLZ, the industry leader in athletic performance and skill development products, and Athletes' Performance, the leader in integrated human performance for elite and professional athletes, announced the grand opening of Athletes' Performance - San Diego within SKLZ headquarters in Southern California.
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Is His Fitness Franchise In Good Shape?
Retro Fitness CEO Goes On CBS's Undercover Boss to Find Out
COLTS NECK, N.J. - Retro Fitness Founder and CEO, Eric Casaburi, has spent the better part of his adult life building a fitness franchise based on the principles of perseverance, integrity, honesty and cleanliness. Now, the personal and professional journey of this tough and highly energetic Jersey native will unfold on national television as he gets a frontline look at the inner workings of his Retro Fitness chain in the hit CBS series Undercover Boss.
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Norm's Notes for May 2013
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Tribal Leader and Publisher Since 1993 checking in!
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