This Month in Club Insider: October 2025
Cover Story Classics
Big John McCarthy... One of a Kind!
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesPublisher's Note: This Cover Story Classic dates back to November 2014 and features a fantastic conversation/interview with "big" John McCarthy. His life story, as well as what he has done for our industry, is truly a beautiful one. Following the passing of "Uncle" Rick Caro, we felt it pertinent to bring this story back to our readers. Today, Mr. McCarthy, as I still call him, is enjoying retirement, but he continues to have his pulse on the industry, as I am fortunate enough to hear from him often, always with kind words. Thank you, Mr. McCarthy! Folks, please read on. As you do, please remember the age of this article. Some things said then are still pertinent today. Other things are not. And, sadly, we have lost many mentioned in this article, another reason we are bringing it to you again. As the shepherd of our industry's history, we never want it to be forgotten. Thank you for reading.
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Things I Have Seen and Learned
By: Mike Manning
Mike ManningAs a CFO, Adviser or Board Member for almost 20 years and a Gym Member for 35 years, I've seen a lot of good and a lot of bad in the fitness industry. What follows are a few things I have seen and learned...
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Group Fitness Music
The Bride or the Barbecue?
By: Jeffrey Pinkerton
Jeffrey PinkertonMusic is a strong motivator and should be the heartbeat of the group fitness experience. It has a proven ability to increase enjoyment and improve performance. A great playlist allows people to get lost in the music and helps people disassociate from some of the negative sensations of working out. When music moves from the background to the forefront, it can drive efficiency, improve endurance, create an emotional connection, increase endorphin release and transform a workout into an experience. But, you need the right mix of music to attract maximum members into your group fitness workouts, and there is a big difference between music for the bride and music for the barbecue.
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Club Studio Brings Top Tier Fitness Without the Luxury Price Tag to Miami Worldcenter
IRVINE, CA - Fitness International, LLC announces the opening of its 15th Club Studio location, a state-of-the-art fitness destination at the highly visible corner of Miami Worldcenter, one of the largest and most transformative urban developments in the United States.
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World Gym Advances Global Growth with Mexico MFA and Australia Expansion
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - World Gym Corporation (2762.TW) ("World Gym " or the "Company"), the owner of the iconic World Gym brand with over 270 locations worldwide, announces significant progress in its global growth initiatives, highlighted by a Master Franchise Agreement (MFA) in Mexico and surging growth across Australia. The MFA will bring a minimum of 30 new World Gym facilities to Mexico while the Company has added five new locations in Australia. World Gym also reported record revenue and continued growth as well as five new corporate-owned locations in Taiwan.
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2025 HFA European Congress Draws Fitness Leaders from 30 Countries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 22nd Annual HFA European Congress brought together more than 300 fitness industry leaders from 30 countries for deep learning, dynamic networking and global collaboration. Held October 2 - 4 at the historic Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, the Congress marked a return to one of Europe's most iconic venues and delivered a powerful experience under the theme Shaping the Future: Uniting Fitness, Health and Wellness.
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JLR Associates Welcomes Hannah Karass as Senior Executive Recruiter
MARGATE CITY, N.J. - JLR Associates, a national executive search firm specializing in the fitness, wellness, and active lifestyle industries, is pleased to announce that Hannah Karass has joined the team as Senior Executive Recruiter.
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Bay Club Deepens its Los Angeles Campus with Acquisition of Griffin Club
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Bay Club Company ("Bay Club") announces the acquisition of Griffin Club Los Angeles ("Griffin Club"), a renowned racquet, athletic, aquatic and social club nestled in the heart of West Los Angeles. The move underscores Bay Club's commitment to cultivating vibrant communities and delivering meaningful, member-centric experiences. Griffin Club joins Bay Club's dynamic and well-established Los Angeles Campus, which also includes Manhattan Country Club, El Segundo, Santa Monica and Redondo Beach.
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Unapologetically Bold
Redefining Women's Leadership in Fitness & Business
SARA KOOPERMAN, JD - What does leadership look like when women lead on their own terms? Unapologetically Bold brings together a powerhouse lineup of international female leaders who are breaking barriers, disrupting industries and reshaping what it means to lead in fitness, wellness and business.
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Norm's Notes for October 2025
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 382nd monthly edition of this 30+ 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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