Norm's Notes for May 2024
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Norm Cates
■Hello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 365th monthly edition of this 31+ 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!
■Is AMERICA a GREAT COUNTRY, or WHAT!? Hmm... hmm... hmm! And, as usual, let me start these Norm's Notes with my normal monthly salutation to you all: GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY and YOUR BUSINESS!!!
John Quattrocchi, Norm and Ilena Cates, and Steve Strickland
■On Saturday night, April 27th, my wife, ILENA, and I had the pleasure of attending Workout Anytime's 25th Anniversary Banquet and Celebration! Folks, in my 50+ years in our great industry I've been to a lot of special club business events, but I must say the Workout Anytime event that Saturday night was what I told my friends, STEVE STRICKLAND and JOHN QUATTROCCHI, Workout Anytime's Founders, 'in the Top 5 of events I've ever had the pleasure of attending!'
Folks, in 1999, Steve and John co-founded Workout Anytime, Inc., which opened its first facility in the Atlanta market. In 2004, they co-founded Workout Anytime Franchising Systems, LLC. and have been growing ever since! I want to say this now: Good on you STEVE and JOHN! And, to you, my highly esteemed readers, I say, 'Folks, don't miss reading this month's cover story, honoring Workout Anytime's 25th Anniversary,' starting on Page #3.
■Breaking News! ANTHONY GEISLER Resigns As CEO! Xponential Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: XPOF) announces that Anthony Geisler has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Xponential Fitness. Brenda Morris will serve as Xponential's Interim Chief Executive Officer. The Board has initiated a search for the company's next CEO with support from a leading executive search firm.
"With Brenda serving as Interim CEO, we are confident that Xponential is poised to continue to build on our successful track record," said MARK GRABOWSKI, Chairman of Xponential. "Xponential's brands continue to resonate with consumers as evidenced by our all-time high membership of 796,000 in April, up 1.7% sequentially from March. We remain focused on ensuring a smooth transition across our organization and continuing to serve our customers and franchisees as we execute our growth strategy."
Stay Tuned Folks!
■It has been reported that Planet Fitness is raising its $10 "Classic" Membership for the first time in 26 Years! The gym chain will raise the price of its "classic" membership from $10 a month to $15 a month for new members beginning in the summer. The "classic" membership gives people access to one location. Planet Fitness' $25 monthly "Black Club" Membership offers more locations access and perks, but the chain is not hiking this fee, although executives said they may begin testing higher prices for that plan as well. Executives did not give a reason for the price hike, but the change comes as construction and materials costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Planet Fitness executives said consumers have grown accustomed to price hikes, and the move will not hurt business. "We've seen in every industry people move in price, so it's not going to come as a shock to anybody that we're moving a price that's been in effect for a long, long time." said CRAIG BENSON, Planet Fitness interim CEO.
■Optimize by Equinox could be a game-changer, using biomarker testing as a map for hyper-personalized training. But, it will cost members around $40,000 a year! Equinox's entry into the longevity and healthspan space rolled out at the end of April in New York City and Highland Park, Texas with a groundbreaking new membership offering from the luxury lifestyle and fitness brand that comes with a $3,000 per month price tag!
Equinox and Function Health announced their partnership last month, ushering in a "new era in hyper-personalized health and integrated personal training." The longevity membership begins with a biomarker test from Function Health, which examines 100 biomarkers to reveal health information about major organs, metabolic and immune systems. Equinox also runs a series of tests that assess VO2 max, strength and movement range. An Equinox concierge then gathers the test results to develop a personalized program. Both tests are repeated twice a year.
Each program member is then assigned a personal team of health and wellness experts, including a fitness trainer, nutrition coach, sleep coach and massage therapist. The membership includes three one hour-long training sessions per week, bi-monthly half-hour sessions with a nutrition coach, two half-hour sessions per month with a sleep coach and one massage therapy session a month.
The program is set to expand into other states following its debut in New York City and Highland Park, Texas. While Equinox's new program is financially out of reach for many at the moment, health and fitness clubs may have an opportunity down the road to offer similar services, especially as over 70% of Americans feel the healthcare system is failing to meet their needs.
Stay Tuned Folks!
■This last item is not about our club industry. But, since I went to college and played football at N.C. State in Raleigh, North Carolina, the same place where ROMAN GABRIEL, the subject of this Norm's Note attended and played, I feel compelled to share this with you all. So, here goes:
Roman Gabriel, former NC State Super Star Quarterback and two-time ACC Player of the Year, passed away at age 83 on April 18, reported BRIAN MURPHY of WRAL TV in Raleigh, N.C. on April 20th. Gabriel played 16 NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. This was after setting 22 N.C. State records and nine ACC records during his career. The first ACC quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in a season, Gabriel was the ACC Player of the Year in 1960 and 1961.
"Extending our thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and everyone who was lucky enough to have their life impacted by Roman Gabriel," N.C. State Athletics said in a statement on social media. "Thank you for everything you did."
He was the Number 1 pick in the American Football League draft (Oakland Raiders) and the Number 2 pick in the National Football League draft (Los Angeles Rams) in 1961. A four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, Gabriel was the NFL MVP in 1969 and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in 1973. He ended his career as the Rams' all-time leader in passing yardage.
Gabriel was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and attended New Hanover High School where he was an all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball. He played first base for the N.C. State baseball team and led the team in home runs in 1961. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1971. His #18 jersey was retired by then North Carolina Governor, TERRY SANFORD, in 1962.
Garbiel was known for his post-career charity work, and he raised more than $7 million for various organizations, according to N.C. State. He also went onto a notable acting career. Gabriel was the head coach of the Raleigh Skyhawks of the World League of American Football.
MAY ROMAN GABRIEL REST IN PEACE.
■JUSTIN and I want to THANK YOU for reading Club Insider! We appreciate you being with us. And, in particular, WE VERY SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY and ALL SUPPORT OF OUR ESTEEMED Club Insider ADVERTISERS! PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH THEM and WHEN YOU DO, PLEASE TELL 'EM Club Insider SENT YOU! THANK YOU ALL!
■God bless our troops, airmen and sailors worldwide and keep them safe. Thank you, Congratulations and Welcome Home to all of our troops who have served around the world. God bless America's Policemen and women and Firemen and women; keep them safe. Finally, God bless you, your family, your club(s) and your members. God Bless America! Laus Deo!
