This Month in Club Insider: July 2018
Chris Warner and Earth Treks
Climb. Play. Grow.
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesOur cover story subject this month, Chris Warner, Founder and Owner of Earth Treks, is a world-renowned mountaineer who has scaled the pinnacles of the climbing world: Mount Everest and K2. Most may think Everest is the most dangerous mountain in the world to climb because it is the tallest. However, it is actually K2 (world's second tallest) that is more dangerous with almost 30% of those attempting the climb losing their life (Everest is around 3%). As the ninth American to have scaled both peaks, Warner is truly in elite company. By comparison, only 12 Americans have ever walked on the moon! Read More...
Fred Streck, Early Racquetball and Sports Club Developer, and Co-Owner of CourtSouth, Passes Away
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesFred Streck was a one-in-a-million kind of guy. A former U.S. Army Pilot during the Vietnam War, Fred landed in Atlanta, Georgia in the mid-1970s. There, his entrepreneurial talents as a developer and owner of several very successful night clubs, "The Stone Pony" and "Xanadu Night Club," led the way and made Fred quite wealthy in the years before he became involved in the racquetball and sports club development and operation business, partnering with Rich Boggs, Ray Irwin and this author, Norm Cates. Sadly, on Father's Day, Sunday June 17th, our friend and former partner, Fred Streck, passed away after a 12-year battle with prostate cancer. A memorial event was held at the home of his daughter, Danielle, in Marietta, Georgia on June 30th. Read More...
Inactivity, Sedentary Lifestyles and Overeating...
By: Mike Alpert
Mike AlpertInactivity, sedentary lifestyles and overeating, which are major causes of chronic illness, pose a very challenging and scary future for our country. I was recently at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and could not help but notice the huge number of adults and children who were overweight or obese. It was truly shocking. At the hotel pool, and at the parks, over two-thirds of the people I saw fit into this category. Whether we were eating breakfast, lunch or dinner, seeing the amount and types of food that was being consumed literally turned my stomach. Read More...
Balancing What You Have the Right to Do With What is Right to Do
By: Stephen Tharrett
Stephen TharrettAchieving and sustaining business success in the fitness or private club business has never been more daunting. Today's competition is intense, with consumers and members having more choices than ever before. In this ocean of hyper-competition, it is understandable that owners and operators might misconstrue good business ethics in an effort to sustain membership sales, maximize share of member wallet and reduce the risk of member defection and resignation. While misconstruing good business ethics may not seem damaging, especially when the short-term outcomes of such behavior may generate temporary success, the long-term consequences could be devastating. The following quote frames it best, "Doing the right thing doesn't always bring success, but compromising ethics almost always leads to failure." Read More...
Complying With the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Avoiding TCPA Lawsuits
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire
Paul R. Bedard, EsquireCongress passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in 1991. The TCPA was subsequently signed into law by President George H. W. Bush as Pubic Law 102-243. This law was designed to limit telephone solicitations, including those involving automated dialing systems, fax machines, artificial or pre-recorded messages and text messages during a time when telephone landlines were the predominant form of communication and when many consumers were being exposed to unsolicited calls from telemarketers at nearly all hours of the day and night. Read More...
Employee Recognition and Rewards
By: Melissa Knowles
Melissa KnowlesRemember when continued employment and a steady paycheck was enough of a reward for a job well done? If you replied, "No," there's a good chance you were born after 1982. If you're shaking your head and proclaiming, "Hear, hear! Those were the good old days," you've got the old right in that statement. In 2015, Millennials made up over 75% of the workforce. Take a look at your workforce and understand that recognition must go beyond a paycheck nowadays! Read More...
Begin Preparing Now For Your Fall Marketing Campaign!
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasWhen you think of growing new leads, you are more likely to think of outside customers rather than your own members as a source of steady new leads. The members using and getting results in your gym are the flesh and blood of your brand. The actual people in your building make up your best marketing team. The chances are that, if your members are having a positive experience and getting results, they will be the diehard ambassadors of your brand. We know word-of-mouth is still extremely relevant with millennials in the age of social media. So, how do you convert that buzz into sales? Make sure that you are communicating the right message and creating the right space for your members, so they feel compelled to share their experience. Read More...
Hire Smart
By: Derek Barton
Derek BartonA friend of mine sent me a picture of Steve Jobs, which included a quote of his that read: "It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do." My friend knows that I am in the consulting business and that I would appreciate that quote, especially from my business hero. When you really think about that quote, it becomes thought-provoking to say the least. Read More...
IDEA World: A Recap
By: Angie Pattengale
Angie PattengaleIf you weren't there, you missed something special, but the good news is I'm here to give you the rundown in case you're thinking of attending this event next year. In the distant past, IDEA World was highly recognized for its huge Expo, but it's evolved into a new focus for higher learning. This year, especially, the lens that I saw this show through became clearer for me. This year, we were attendees, not exhibitors, and we were a part of as many events and sessions as possible. Read More...
In Touch With Tom "Stuie" Henderson
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesTom Henderson, a good friend and one of my high school classmates at Rome Free Academy (RFA) in Rome, New York, agreed to participate in this interview. We explored several different motivational concepts and manpower development ideas that Tom used for decades to help train and encourage his associates in the competitive insurance and investment business. One of the ideas that we touched on during our discussion was The KASH Formula. This acronym stands for Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits. These are the four building blocks in the development of any successful business, and Tom taught these principles to his many associates at the Equitable Life Assurance Society during his highly successful career. I believe some of Tom's thoughts and suggestions might be transferable to you as you strive to make your club business stronger, more productive and more profitable. Read More...
Stone Creek Wins Prestigious 'Business of the Year' Award
COVINGTON, LA - The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce recently honored Stone Creek Club & Spa with its prestigious 'Tammany Award' for business of the year. The Tammany Award recognizes a business for its contribution to local economic development (through the creation of jobs & the addition of local revenues) as well as its commitment to improving the community it serves. Read More...
BREAKING NEWS:
PHIT Clears Legislative Hurdle, One Step Closer to Passage
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is pleased to announce that the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was reported out of the House Ways and Means Committee. In a bipartisan show of support, the committee voted in favor of PHIT by a vote of 28 to 7. This landmark action clears an important legislative hurdle for PHIT. Now, the bill will await consideration by the entire House. Read More...
GYMBOX Fitness Announces New Equity Partner; Bill Windscheif Joins Texas-Based Fitness Company
LONGVIEW, TX - GYMBOX Fitness announces the addition of long-time fitness industry leader, Bill Windscheif, as an equity partner in the Texas-based company, effective immediately. Bill's career in the fitness industry spans more than 20 years. He's held positions as Vice President of Operations at Gold's Gym International and Vice President of Gym Development at World Gym International. Bill is also President of WinFit Enterprises, a health club consulting firm he and his wife founded in 2005. Read More...
World Gym International Promotes Guy Cammilleri To CEO and Doug Katona to COO
LOS ANGELES, CA - World Gym International, the iconic global brand of seriously fun fitness, has announced two executive promotions, restructuring and growing its Los Angeles-based team. Guy Cammilleri has been elevated to Chief Executive Officer, and Doug Katona has been appointed to Chief Operations Officer. Read More...
Planet Fitness, Inc. Announces Refinancing Transaction
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE:PLNT) (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") announced that certain of its subsidiaries intend to complete a refinancing of their existing senior secured credit facilities with a new securitized financing facility. Read More...
2018 Club Insider Reader Survey
Please take a few minutes to give us feedback on how we might make Club Insider better for you. We'd appreciate your assessments and candid input... good OR bad, so fire away! Thanks in advance to those of you who choose to provide feedback to help us make our publication better as we near the completion of our 25th Anniversary. Read More...
Norm's Notes for July 2018
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader checking in with our 295th monthly edition. Yahoo... here we GO! Read More...