The Club Insider Archives: December 2010
2010 In Review
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesIt feels like it was yesterday that I wrote, "Another year has flown by," in our 2009 In Review report. Well, now, it's the end of 2010, and it's time to review everything covered in Club Insider this year. As always, we worked very hard to produce a set of valuable cover stories, featuring amazing and successful individuals within the industry whose stories can help others in the industry.
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Planet Fitness Drops Personal Training!
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesBig news just hit the industry, and it will alter the competitive environment of the health and fitness club industry for some time to come. Planet Fitness Co-founders Mike and Marc Grondahl and Chris Rondeau, have announced that the company will be dropping personal training as a service in all locations nationwide, in both corporately- and franchisee-owned centers.
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In Memory of Those Who Passed In 2010
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesThe year 2010 was one in which our industry lost several wonderful friends. It was also a year in which I lost my Dad, two of my 1967 North Carolina State football teammates and a good friend here in Atlanta.
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Fifteen Steps to Paradise
Step 15 - Hiring: The Foundation
By: Will Phillips
Will PhillipsYour business success depends on your organization being smart and healthy. Patrick Lencioni, a keynote speaker at IHRSA 2011 says being smart means you are knowledgeable about marketing, sales, numbers, personnel operations and make good decisions in these areas. This is the traditional business school curriculum; hardnosed, practical and focused on results.
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Medical Fitness Facility Certification
By: Dr. Cary Wing
Dr. Cary WingSeveral years ago, the health and fitness industry began to acknowledge and embrace the concept of medical fitness facility certification. The importance and significance of providing programs and services that are held to a higher set of standards and guidelines is fundamental in eliciting trust and confidence within the healthcare system, as well as members of the community.
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Turning "Traditional" into Internet Marketing
Part III
By: Casey Conrad
Casey ConradIn the previous two parts of this article series, we discussed both the goals and theories behind internet marketing as well as giving you specific web strategies to utilize. This article will discuss how you can (and must) turn every "traditional" marketing effort into one that leverages the power of the internet.
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Club Members Winning the Weight Loss Battle
December 2010
By: Donna Krech
Donna KrechWe are coming upon our hot season right now, and hundreds of prospects will be walking through our doors to start their New Year's Resolutions. I would love to believe the majority wants to get fit, but reality proves the majority really want to lose weight. The great news is we have the Solution for their Resolution, it's the Total Solution.
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Managing the Member Experience
Part I
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez
Karen Woodard-ChavezFor the past ten years in our industry, much has been discussed about the best way to insure that the member experience is one that creates differentiation so that current members stay with the club, attracts new members and allows the club to have an edge over the competition.
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3 Guaranteed Ways To Make Sure Your PT Department Makes Money!
Part III
By: Michael Sena
Welcome to Part III of my 3-part series on how to maximize your PT department profits. As you now know, whether it's recruiting and hiring or training and developing, they are both extremely important and must happen in the right order for maximum results.
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New Year's Resolutions
By: Sandy Coffman
Sandy CoffmanLast month, I wrote about the importance of having specialty programs available in your programming calendar. The New Year's Resolution program is fun, easy to do, provides camaraderie, lots of action, new experiences and is a great beginning for follow-up programming in 2011.
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Johnny Keel
1949 - 2010
John Robert "Johnny" Keel, age 61, passed away on November 25th, 2010 after a courageous decade-long fight against colon cancer. A native of Ballinger, Texas, he was born on August 1, 1949 to Gene and Nell Reynolds Keel. Johnny was an inspiration to all, but he was a better friend.
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ICAA Honors Innovative Active-Aging Programs and Concepts
VANCOUVER, BC - The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), an association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, has selected the winners of its Eighth Annual ICAA Innovators Awards. Recognizing creativity and excellence in active aging, this annual awards program honors innovations that are leading the way, setting new standards and making a difference in the lives of older adults.
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ABC Financial Expands Offerings
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Arkansas-based ABC Financial, one of the country's largest providers of health club billing services, announced the launch of ABC Merchant Services (ABCMS), a subsidiary of ABC Financial Services, Inc. ABCMS is a direct payment processor providing businesses both inside and outside of the fitness industry with the ability to accept most forms of electronic payments.
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Making an Impact
American Health Club Members Utilize Facilities 102 Days, on Average, in 2009
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced the release of The IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report: 2010 Health Club Activity, Usage, Trends & Analysis, which provides detailed insight into the metrics, participation trends, and demographics of both member and non-member consumers in American fitness facilities.
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IHRSA Announces the 2011 Campaign to Protect and Promote the Fitness Club Industry
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association has announced the launch of their annual Industry Defense Fund Campaign to Promote and Protect the Fitness Club Industry.
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XSport Fitness Announces Major Plans For Growth In 2011
CHICAGO, IL - Chicago-based XSport Fitness announced plans to open four new fitness centers in the coming year, bringing the total 2011 open store count to 29.
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Bio Ritmo Academia of Brazil Invests in Visual Fitness Planner
FORT WORTH, TX - Bio Ritmo Academia, Inc., which operates over twenty health clubs throughout the Sao Paulo region of Brazil has signed on as a customer for the Visual Fitness Planner from InterImages, Inc.
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Star Trac Files Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors
IRVINE, CA - Star Trac (the "Company"), a leading developer of advanced fitness equipment, announced that it has entered into an irrevocable Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors ("ABC") effective immediately, in accordance with California law.
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Norm's Notes for December 2010
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in! Glad to be here pounding this keyboard for you... on the first issue of our 18th year! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you all!
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