This Month in Club Insider: August 2018
PASS PHIT!
The Importance of Passing PHIT and What You Can Do To Help
By: Justin Cates
Justin CatesThe Health and Fitness Club Industry is on the verge of an accomplishment that has been years in the making and one that should further bolster its growth in the years to come. Of course, I am talking about PHIT, the Personal Health Investment Today act. After more than a decade of hard, in-the-trenches work by hundreds of industry leaders and advocates, on July 25, 2018, H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2018, a broader bill that included the current language of PHIT, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 277 to 142. On the heels of being recommended by the House Ways and Means Committee, for the first time, PHIT has passed a House of Congress vote. In doing so, it sets up what can only be described as the most crucial moment in history that our industry has faced. We must win. So, to that end, this month's cover story is going to be all about PHIT. How did it come to be? Who are the key players that brought it to the forefront of national awareness? What will it do for this great industry? And, if not already, what can you do to get involved? More than ever, I urge you to read on. Read More...
Exercise IS Medicine!
By: Mike Alpert
Mike AlpertLate last year, I was able to watch a short segment that NBC News in Cleveland did on a program that was having extraordinary results with people who were struggling with Parkinson's disease. The study involved a scientist at the Cleveland Clinic by the name of Jay Alberts that he began in 2003. Jay was participating in a Ride Across America with a patient and friend of his who had moderate Parkinson's. They were riding a tandem bike, and after the first day, and in all the subsequent days, he noticed a significant improvement in his friends' Parkinson's symptoms. This led him to begin his study, which involved having patients with Parkinson's at the clinic begin riding stationary bicycles three times a week for one hour at 85 - 90 RPM. Read More...
Is the Wellness Revolution Finally Here?
By: Casey Conrad
Casey ConradJust over 15 years ago, Paul Zane Pilzer was a keynote presenter at IHRSA in 2003. He had recently published his book, The New Wellness Revolution, subtitled, "How to Make a FORTUNE in the Next Trillion Dollar Industry." Pilzer's message was very clear: If you want to succeed, get into wellness, not just fitness. At the time, I was very much involved in the weight loss side of our business, so I liked Pilzer's message. My franchise locations focused on eating, exercise and stress reduction. I recently pulled out his book to look for a statistic and found myself reading it again because of the amazing number of predictions he made. Here are a few that, looking back, really stand out for me... Read More...
Something is Missing...
By: Karen Woodard-Chavez
Karen Woodard-ChavezHow many times in the past few months have you been on the consumer end of a purchase and felt like the selling conversation and service during the buying process was exemplary? Think about it and count. On the other hand, how many times have you been on the consumer end of a purchase and felt like the salesperson did not know their product, did not bother to find out enough about you, was delivering a canned pitch, was lacking in relationship building skills and you felt generally disappointed in the process? Please think about that and count. Read More...
Inside Instinctive Insights
Client Spotlight: HealthQuest Fitness, A Brand for the Ages
By: Deneen Laprade
Deneen LapradeHealthQuest Fitness in Flemington, New Jersey is a pillar in the fitness industry. For the last 17 years, they've provided the local community with a place to get fit, to enroll their kids in recreational activities and summer camps, and to experience the benefits of healthy living. Their philosophy is, "Fitness impacts the mind, body, and soul, which is why it's not just a gym, it's a lifestyle. HealthQuest is an innovative fitness center that allows you and your family to take the reins and make your own path to good health. Our state-of-the-art facility is perfect for all ages and is dedicated to improving our community one workout at a time." They walk their talk every single day. Read More...
David and Goliath
By: Michael Gelfgot
Michael GelfgotIn his book, David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the art of battling giants. What's interesting about the story is that everyone else besides David fought Goliath, Goliath's way. Goliath's way was up-close, hand-to-hand combat, with a sword and a shield. Goliath outpowered and annihilated every opponent. David knew that, if he were to fight Goliath, Goliath's way, he would lose. David was a sheep farmer, not a veteran fighter with tremendous strength and size, so David implemented guerrilla tactics to beat Goliath. David fought Goliath, David's way, and took down an undefeated giant. Read More...
Lawsuit Stemming From Transgender Locker Room Policy Revived
By: Paul R. Bedard, Esquire
Paul R. Bedard, EsquireThe Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled that a lawsuit against Planet Fitness will move forward and be sent back to trial court due to the gym's violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA). Although the lawsuit originated from a complaint regarding Planet Fitness' transgender-friendly locker room policy, the Court's analysis of the MCPA provides broader insight into how one court interpreted a consumer protection statute and its applicability to a health club membership agreement. Read More...
KKR to Acquire The Bay Club Company
NEW YORK, N.Y. and SAN FRANCISCO, CA - KKR, a leading global investment firm, and The Bay Club Company ("Bay Club"), a premier active lifestyle and hospitality company, announce the signing of a definitive agreement under which KKR will acquire Bay Club from York Capital Management and minority investors, including JMA Ventures and Roxborough Group. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More...
ClubIntel Announces the Upcoming Launch of
4th Annual International Health/Fitness Industry Trend Study - What's All the Rage
DALLAS, TX - ClubIntel, a global leader in conducting market research related to the health and fitness club industry, announced it will be launching the 4th Annual International Health/Fitness Industry Trend Study - What's All the Rage in late September of 2018. Read More...
1,500+ Join New Crunch Gym in Tuscaloosa on Record First Day of Pre-Opening Sales
TUSCALOOSA, AL - Crunch Franchise announced that 1,536 people signed up for memberships for the Crunch gym opening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on the first day they became available. That figure sets a Crunch Franchise record for the most memberships sold during the first day of a gym's pre-opening sales period ("pre-sale"). Crunch Tuscaloosa is expected to open in September 2018. Read More...
Muscle Up Marketing Acquired by Mudlick Mail
STAMFORD, CT - Mudlick Mail announces that it will combine operations with Muscle Up Marketing, a full-service marketing firm specializing in serving the fitness and health and wellness industries. The combination will expand Mudlick's expertise into a brand-new vertical market while enhancing the digital services offered to clients. This acquisition marks the first transaction driving towards Mudlick's vision to become the leading provider of direct response marketing. Read More...
Norm's Notes for August 2018
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Publisher and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with Club Insider Edition #296! WOW! Only four editions to go before we hit the Big 300! Yahoo! Read More...