This Month in Club Insider: July 2017
Keith and Kathy Rawlings' Arena Club
Making It FUN for Every Family
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesFor years, Club Insider has published at least one ad each month that simply says: Make It FUN! The reason for this is quite simple; it is our way to remind our readers that the health and fitness club industry is supposed to be FUN! Sure, there is the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly pressures of successfully running a business in ever-increasingly competitive markets. But, without FUN, the product of health and fitness is a hard one to sell. Our industry's top challenge is that it is easier for people to sit around and live an inactive lifestyle. They know the consequences, but creating action is still difficult. A key way to combat that is to sell fun, in addition to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Throw in a focus on the family unit and you have the formula that serves The Arena Club in Bel Air, Maryland. Read More...
A Tribute to Brother Michael Scott Scudder
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesThis Tribute to club consultant, former club operator and fitness industry veteran, Brother Michael Scott Scudder, age 75, was completed on the 4th of July, the day Brother Scudder was buried at a small, Jewish and non-sectarian cemetery affiliated with the Taos Jewish Center. Brother Scudder had suddenly died at his home in Taos, New Mexico on Friday, June 30th from complications related to his June 7th hip surgery. Michael's wife of many years, Phyllis Landis, wrote that doctors believed her husband had died from a pulmonary embolism. An autopsy was being done. Read More...
Why Not Start Today!?
By: Antionette Mara
Antionette MaraI have heard many times from people, even my doctor, that they are too old to exercise, they just don't like to exercise or they don't have time. There are many things in life that we don't like to do or have maybe put off until a later date even though we know its something we need to do right away. What keeps us from doing the things that we know will make us better? And, what is the secret sauce to get us doing those things? How many of us know now what we need to do and still choose not to do those things? Putting off until tomorrow, next Monday, next week, next month or even next year the things that will make us feel better today... Read More...
Protect Your Confidential and Proprietary Information, Knowledge and Materials with Non-Disclosure Agreements
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire
Paul R. Bedard, EsquireA non-disclosure agreement, also known as a confidentiality agreement, is a legal agreement that is made between at least two parties that details the information, knowledge and materials being shared between the parties and the legal obligations created by the agreement. Among other uses, a non-disclosure agreement can be utilized within an employment agreement to safeguard company-owned confidential information or to protect knowledge, information and materials shared with an outside party for the purposes of exploring a potential business relationship. Non-disclosure agreements can be mutual or unilateral. A mutual agreement is utilized when both parties are sharing anything that is considered confidential. A unilateral agreement is used when only one party is making a disclosure. Read More...
Minimize Hiring Mistakes and Increase Success with the Criteria for Success
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez
Karen Woodard-ChavezI recently was onsite with a client doing sales training for their membership team. As many of my clients, they had just hired a new team member who will likely not be successful in the position based on a few very limiting qualities. This is such a common and costly issue that this article will offer tools to minimize this experience for you. Read More...
The Basic Rules of Reinvention
How to Move the Health and Fitness Industry From Infancy to Adulthood
By: Thomas Plummer
Thomas PlummerLook! Look! It's bright and shiny! I want it! I want it! I want it! Oh, now look over there! Brighter and shinier, and I have to have that now, too. In the health and fitness world, chasing bright and shiny is our industry's way of instant gratification. Curves introduced the 30-minute circuit about a hundred years ago, and we all had to rush out and buy one for our own gyms, because obviously, the 30-minute circuit was the missing secret to financial success in the health and fitness universe. Read More...
Workplace and Medical Fitness Case Studies
Mike Feitelberg and The Edge
By: Dave Beadle
Dave BeadleThe first club to respond to our call recently issued in Club Insider was The Edge in South Burlington, Vermont. Mike Feitelberg, Edge President was excited to share what his club is doing to become a wellness hub in their community. Read More...
Why Entrepreneurs Should Open a Fitness Business
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasIf you discovered this article, you are likely an entrepreneur considering an investment in a fitness business. In the United States alone, the health and fitness club industry generates over $25.8 billion, with 55 million members. Many entrepreneurs, though, believe they need to be a personal trainer or have fitness experience to open a fitness business; however, that may not be true. Read More...
An Interview With Workout Anytime CEO and Co-Founder, Steve Strickland, and COO, Mark de Gorter
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesSteve Strickland, CEO and Co-Founder, and John Quattrocchi, President and Co-Founder, founded Workout Anytime in 1999 in Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The founders started with nine company-owned Workout Anytime Clubs. They started franchising in 2006 and reached 50 locations eight years later, in 2014. But, growth quickly accelerated; it only took two years to get from 50 to 100 locations. Now, at 140 locations, they're projecting to have more than 200 locations at this time next year. Read More...
Drive Revenue and Memberships with HYPOXI
Over the past 10 years, HYPOXI has increased revenue and memberships for Goodlife Health Clubs in Australia, while remaining an untapped opportunity in the United States... until now. HYPOXI pioneered an all-natural training method that targets fat loss during exercise. Its science-proven program combines patented technology, exercise and nutrition to accelerate fat loss in the stomach, hips, thighs and bottom. Using advanced vacuum and compression technology, HYPOXI machines increase blood flow to common areas of stubborn fat. This increased circulation accelerates the body's natural fat-burning system, thereby enabling targeted fat loss. Read More...
Youfit Health Clubs COO J.J. Creegan Receives "40 Under 40" Honor
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL - The South Florida Business Journal has selected Youfit Health Clubs Chief Operating Officer J.J. Creegan as a 2017 "40 Under 40" award recipient. South Florida Business Journal's 40 Under 40 program recognizes outstanding executives under the age of 40 who have made a significant impact in their field of expertise, their community and at their companies. This year's honorees were selected from hundreds of nominations and represent some the region's most entrepreneurial and influential young leaders in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Read More...
Club Industry 2017 is on The Horizon!
A Focus On This Year's Educational Tracks
It's that time of year again; the 2017 Club Industry Show is on the horizon and will take place in Chicago, October 4 - 6 at the Chicago Hilton Hotel. We want to take a moment to inform you about this year's educational tracks. Every year, the educational value of Club Industry cannot be understated, and this year is no exception. This year's tracks include... Read More...
Planet Fitness Honored For Excellence In Corporate Social Impact
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States, announced that the company has been honored with Engage for Good's 2017 Gold Halo Award in the social services category. The award recognizes the company's impact with its pro-kindness, anti-bullying initiative, The Judgement Free Generation, and was announced at the 15th Annual Engage for Good (formerly Cause Marketing Forum) Conference. The Halo Awards are North America's highest honor in recognition of organizations that have taken action and positively affected their communities with effective social and cause marketing initiatives. Read More...
Paul Grzymkowski Joins NutriMost Management Team
LOS ANGELES, CA - Fitness Industry franchise expert and veteran Paul Grzymkowski has teamed up with NutriMost CEO/Founder Dr. Ray Wisniewski, DC, in expanding the NutriMost weight loss franchise concept in North America and other global markets. "I am extremely excited about joining Dr. Wisniewski and the NutriMost team in introducing the NutriMost Wellness & Weight Loss franchise platform throughout the world. "NutriMost Wellness & Weight Loss is a perfect complement to the fitness industry. It's truly an amazing science-based weight loss and wellness concept," says Grzymkowski. Read More...
Wounded Veterans Gather for Wounded Warrior Project Fitness Training
SEATTLE, WA - One of the major challenges many wounded veterans face when returning to civilian life is maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. That's why Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) hosts physical health and wellness expos around the nation, not just to get warriors moving again but to connect them with other local warriors who share their life experiences. Read More...
Norm's Notes for July 2017
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 283rd monthly edition! This is a sad time for all of us, as you will see when you read on. Read More...