The Club Insider Archives: June 2024
Crunch Fitness
Making Moves in 2024!
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesPositivity. Inclusivity. Fun. These are the pillars of Crunch's No Judgments Philosophy, and now, 35 years after its creation, the company has become a stalwart of the health and fitness club industry. We know those pillars have been key to success. Today, their pace of opening new locations may be unparalleled. And, they are just getting started! We are only halfway through 2024, but what a year it has already been for Crunch! What follows in this cover story are those key developments, announced during the first half of this year.
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Five Crucial Steps for Better Employee Onboarding
By: Chris Stevenson
Chris StevensonStaffing the fitness industry is often a revolving-door scenario. Some team members move on, some are let go and some get promoted, leaving a gap to fill. Particularly in the post-COVID era, many facility operators will find hiring a top priority. Hiring encompasses team members new to your company, as well as returning team members in need of refresher training. In either case, a comprehensive onboarding program is crucial for team member success.
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Recapping SIBEC 2024
Plus a Bonus: Planning Your Fall FitFest
By: Frank Guengerich
Frank GuengerichThis year's summer 2024 SIBEC Event was on point! One of the best events of this type I've ever attended and certainly the best attendance from both Suppliers and Buyers. The location was fantastic, the Langham Huntington Resort, in Pasadena, California. Robert Shannon and his team from SIBEC did a great job organizing and coordinating the event. The logistics and scheduling of this sort of event is no small feat, but they did it flawlessly. These are my main takeaways...
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Shape Up Your Fitness Business With These DIY PR Tips
By: Nancy Trent
Nancy TrentIf your fitness center offers unique classes, innovative programs or success stories, you're a prime candidate for publicity. Journalists love "stories with purpose, led by people with passion," and your gym fits the bill perfectly. First, some basics...
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The Use of Blood Labs and their Relevance to Health Club Clinical Exercise Programs
By: Eric Durak, MSc
Eric Durak, MScThe use of blood labs within the health club profession is not a new concept. In the 1980s, as the interest in high levels of cholesterol was becoming more common, health clubs used the Cholestech machine to take a finger stick of blood, and in three minutes, obtain a total cholesterol value.
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To Beat the Boutique, Be the Boutique
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonThe boutique fitness space has grown exponentially over the past decade, and it has grown at a pace that exceeds new people joining a health club for the first time. So, it's fair to say that, if you operate a full-service health club, your business has been impacted by the competitive pressure of these often single-service, often higher-priced, always socially driven, usually smaller footprint fitness facilities. What can we learn from the business model and learn from the consumer attraction? How can you create a boutique-like experience to beat the boutique at their own game? And, to be clear, the game is delivering amazing, engaging, social group fitness experiences.
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Is Your Gym on the Ropes?
Here's Your Knockout Marketing Plan for a Comeback
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasGym owners, listen up! Facing tough times? Your marketing needs a major overhaul. Here's why... Same Old, Same Sinkhole: The ideas that got you here won't get you out. It's time to ditch the stale tactics and inject a bold, fresh approach into your marketing strategy. Here is The Turnaround Blueprint...
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Health & Fitness Association Elects New Board Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer
BOSTON, MA - At its June 3 meeting, the Health & Fitness Association Board of Directors elected Chris Smith as Chair, Luke Carlson as Vice Chair, and Al Noshirvani as Treasurer, the Association announced. Chris Smith has served on the Health & Fitness Association Board for four years, the last year as Vice Chair. He is President and CEO of Fitness World Canada, a position he has held since 2020.
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Genesis Health Clubs Acquires Both Locations of Saw Mill Club
MT. KISCO, N.Y. - Genesis Health Clubs announces the acquisition of both locations of the Saw Mill Club, effective immediately. The clubs, now known as Genesis Health Clubs - Saw Mill Club, and Genesis Health Clubs - Saw Mill Club East, represent the 71st and 72nd clubs in the ever-growing Genesis portfolio and the first in New York, its 11th state.
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ACSM Unveils New Brand Identity, Marking 70th Anniversary and Strategic Shift
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - In a momentous occasion coinciding with its 70th anniversary, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) unveils the launch of its new brand identity and strategic plan at the 2024 Annual Meeting. This significant milestone reflects ACSM's commitment to innovation, collaboration and the advancement of movement
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Norm's Notes for June 2024
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 366th monthly edition of this 31+ 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!
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