This Month in Club Insider: February 2020
World Gym Taiwan
All-In, Winning and Winning BIG!
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesSince my college years, I have enjoyed playing the game of Poker. As an amateur, I've played in numerous medium-stakes tournaments over the years (maybe a few cash games, too). The game is exciting and fun, but it can also be extremely nerve-racking, especially if you go "All-In" (betting everything for the chance to survive then maybe winning big). Playing Poker, you will learn things about yourself, and if you really study, you will learn things about others and how to read all types of people. Going All-In in Poker, however, is very different than going All-In in life. In Poker, yes, there is plenty of skill involved, but there is also blind luck that can tip the scale. In life, once again, skill is required to place yourself or a business in the right positions for success, but I don't believe that 'blind luck' is the right term to describe fortune that befalls one who has put themselves in those positions for success. In other words, in life, one makes their own luck through pure determination, drive and the will to win. Read More...
Exercise IS Medicine!
By: Mike Alpert
Mike AlpertMany of you, like me, have known and respected Amy Bantham through her years of work at IHRSA. And, you may know that she has been an advocate of Exercise is Medicine and is now pursuing her Ph.D. at The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Recently, I read an article she posted on LinkedIn: Health News Roundup - December 2019. I think it confirms what we have all known and what I have been writing about for many years. The following is a summary of her article... Read More...
Branding Ideas You May Have Forgotten That Will Work for Every Gym
By: Jim Thomas
Jim ThomasNo doubt that we live in a digital world with many opportunities for branding and to create awareness of a gym or studio. But, with that said, there are many opportunities to brand and promote your gym outside of digital. In the end, your goal should be to be known by everyone in your trade area, so you want to utilize every option you can. Here are a few ideas that tend to be forgotten... Read More...
The Industry's Focus on Wellbeing
By: Michele Wong
Michele WongThe Global Wellness Institute reports that the global wellness economy is currently a $4.5 trillion market, including: beauty, anti-aging, physical activity, nutrition, medicine, wellness tourism and physical activity, with physical activity being the second largest segment of the economy at $828 billion annually. While wellness practices date back to ancient times, the word, "wellness," is a modern word and a word that, in the last decade, most Americans likely hear daily. Read More...
Special Population Marketing
By: Michael Gelfgot
Michael GelfgotCasey Conrad, President of Communication Consultants, and a 30-year veteran in the business has been saying this for years, "you get rich in the niche. What's your niche?" When I owned and managed 21 locations, I heard what she said, but I didn't listen. It wasn't until we sold off and downsized our operation to one club that I truly figured out what she was talking about. In the past 18 months, we have generated over $250,000 in revenue from running programs for folks who are struggling with metabolic syndromes. In this article, I will tell you what we did and how we did it. Read More...
Starting a New Business
By: Paul Bosley
Paul BosleyPublisher's Note: Our friend and Club Insider Advertiser and Contributing Author, Paul Bosley, Managing Member of Health Club Experts dba Business Finance Depot has produced a new video series covering various topics that may help you in your health and fitness club business. Each month, over the next few months, we will be sharing each video and Paul's accompanying writing. To get maximum value, we recommend you to Tune In to both his written and spoken words. Read More...
New Jersey Supreme Court Hears Alternative Argument Regarding Health Club Governance
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire
Paul R. Bedard, EsquireHealth clubs tend to be regulated on a state level by very specific statutes and agencies. For example, where I practice law in Connecticut, the Department of Consumer Protection regulates health clubs to ensure compliance with Connecticut's applicable statutes. Other states have laws and designated agencies to monitor their respective regulations. These state laws, specifically tailored for the regulation of health clubs, naturally tend to be the focus of many health club lawsuits. Read More...
Design Mistakes That Can Cost You Big
By: Bruce Carter
Bruce CarterHealth club design has come a long way in recent years. Spaces that once existed to house equipment have evolved into more inviting and energizing environments, adding to the fitness success of a club. Having a team that has cumulatively worked on approximately 700 projects over the course of 30+ years, there are certain things that consistently stand out as design weaknesses. Some are small, some are big, but they all can clearly have an effect on the bottom line. However, just a little attention on these can make all the difference in creating a highly desirable experience when in a club. Read More...
Marketing and Selling to Special Populations
By: Casey Conrad
Casey ConradIf you follow any of my writings or lectures, you've heard me say it a million times, "You get rich in the niche!" Marketing to a very specific customer is much easier for several reasons... Read More...
Cincinnati Sports Club Celebrates 30th Anniversary
CINCINNATI, OH - It's been five years since Club Insider's Cover Story sharing the story celebrating the 25th anniversary of the amazing Cincinnati Sports Club (CSC), a one location locally and privately owned club in southwest Ohio. Now, CSC is celebrating 30 years! Read More...
New Zeamo Rewards Program Helps Companies Incentivize Employee Fitness to Encourage Healthy Habits
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Zeamo, the digital fitness solution for employee wellness, has launched Zeamo Rewards, giving companies a free, easy way to reward employees for staying fit and building healthy habits to improve physical and mental wellbeing among the workforce. Read More...
REX Growth Sees Justin Tamsett Join the U.S. Team
GARRISON, N.Y. - In 2020, Justin Tamsett, one of the industry's thought leaders will be joining the REX Chairs Team in the United States. Read More...
IHRSA Announces 2020 Industry Award Recipients
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association has announced that four award recipients will be honored during IHRSA 2020, the association's 39th Annual International Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, CA, March 18 - 21, 2020. Read More...
The Vitamin Shoppe Opens New Distribution Channel in Partnership With LA Fitness
SECAUCUS, N.J. - The Vitamin Shoppe, an omni-channel specialty retailer of nutritional products, has announced a partnership with LA Fitness that opens The Vitamin Shoppe locations inside LA Fitness health clubs. Since November, The Vitamin Shoppe has opened nine shops within the LA Fitness chain. Read More...
Columbia Association Tennis Receives USTA Award for Outstanding League Tennis
COLUMBIA, MD - Columbia Association's (CA) tennis programming has been named the winner of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Mid-Atlantic's Outstanding League Tennis Facility Award for 2019. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness and American Heart Association Join Forces in the Push for Heart Health
BOCA RATON, FL - Strengthen your heart, literally and figuratively, this February with Orangetheory Fitness as the brand collaborates with the American Heart Association to help prospects and members live a longer, more vibrant life. Read More...
Cycle For Survival Celebrates 10 Years of West Coast Events With World Cancer Day Fundraising Campaign
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Brave Like Gabe Foundation sponsored a $100,000 donation challenge to commemorate World Cancer Day and celebrate 10 years of Cycle for Survival events on the West Coast. The Foundation's generous gift inspired increased giving by offering Cycle for Survival participants in California and Seattle an online donation match from February 4 - 7 Read More...
Matrix Fitness and Smart Fit Announce Partnership
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - Matrix Fitness and Smart Fit have announced a partnership for the premium equipment provider to equip 200 Smart Fit facilities within the next three years. Read More...
Johnson Health Tech Receives International Service Excellence Award
COTTAGE GROVE, WI - It has been announced that Johnson Health Tech (JHT) was awarded the 2019 International Service Excellence Award by the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA). JHT is the first ever fitness equipment manufacturer to be recognized with this achievement. Read More...
UFC GYM Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
With Special Guests Dana White, Forrest Griffin, BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar, Jessica Eye
CONCORD, CA - UFC GYM, the rapidly expanding fitness franchise that creates training programs for all levels and ages inspired by the regimens of UFC athletes, welcomed fitness enthusiasts and athletes alike to attend an event in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of UFC GYM Concord, which took place Saturday, January 25. Read More...
Norm's Notes for February 2020
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody, this is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 314th monthly edition! My partner and son, JUSTIN CATES, and I want to Thank ALL of you for reading Club Insider! Thank you! Read More...