Norm's Notes for May 2025
- For this article, Log In to:
-
Download PDF
Norm Cates
■Hello Everybody! This is your Club Insider Founder and Tribal Leader Since 1993 checking in with our 377th monthly edition of this 30+ 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!!!
■We hope you had a nice Memorial Day Weekend. Please always remember the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. Veteran's Day is for those who served. Memorial Day is for those who did not come home. My Dad, NORM CATES, SR., and I served in the United States Air Force. Thankfully, he came home from WWII, and I was a Jet Instructor Pilot here at home during Vietnam; but we both knew many who did not come home. It is for their sacrifice, among countless others, that we ALL celebrate this day and will always do so. May They All Rest In Peace.
Justin and Chip
■Congratulations to my son, JUSTIN, for the purchase of his first airplane. He has named it "Chip" after yours truly, because that has been my nickname for many years, including when I was an airline pilot. Justin has always loved to fly, but a lot of it was on his various flight simulators over the years. Before flight school, where he got his Commercial Rating, anytime he got to fly on a real airplane, he was always very excited. Now, he gets to FLY anytime he wants! Safe travels, Justin!!!
■Our friends and C.I. Advertiser, World Gym International, is excited to announce their partnership with Newtech, a leading name in high-performance strength equipment and the esteemed title sponsor of the Mr. Olympia & IFBB Pro Contests.
"Our partnership with World Gym marks a new era of innovation and excellence in fitness. We're committed to enhancing the workout experience for every member, delivering cutting-edge equipment that sets the standard for strength and performance," says Ivan Galvan, Newtech's VP – North America.
Check out the World Gym Ad on Page #15.
■Congratulations to our friend and C.I. Advertiser, GEORGE JACKSON, who is celebrating 40 YEARS in business with TG The Gym!!! They now have 11 locations, and celebrities like DWAYNE "The ROCK" JOHNSON and JOHN CENA have trained with them. That's as good as it gets for a true bodybuilding gym!!! Congrats to GEORGE, RICK, BRAD, ED, NICK, JOHN CENA, "The ROCK" and ALL INVOLVED!
Check out the TG The Gym Ad in our Weekly and Monthly Eblasts!!!
■Here's some news from our friends, JILL KINNEY and BILL MCBRIDE's, Active Wellness. This is via KARI BEDGOOD, Chief Marketing Officer:
Active Wellness Announces MARTY McCALLEN as Executive Director of New Business
Active Wellness, a leading fitness design and management services company, announces the appointment of Marty McCallen as its Executive Director of New Business. With decades of global experience in the fitness and wellness industry, Marty has built a reputation for forging strong, strategic relationships and delivering tailored, results-driven solutions that create success for both his partners and organizations. His deep industry knowledge and expansive network, including connections with top gym operators, franchise leaders, consultants and equipment manufacturers, will be instrumental in advancing Active Wellness' mission and supporting the growth of our strategic management partnerships as it continues building healthier communities.
As Executive Director of New Business, Marty will focus on developing new sales strategies and identifying potential clients, nurturing these relationships to successfully close contracts. His efforts will play a key role in driving new recurring revenue streams for the organization. Additionally, Marty will collaborate with MARK SIEBERT, Director of Client Services, and other executive leaders to represent Active Wellness at industry conferences and tradeshows, where they will connect with buyers seeking reliable and innovative fitness and wellness solutions.
Congrats to Jill, Bill and Marty!!!
■Here I am sitting in my office near Atlanta, and I find out the "Largest Indoor Pickleball Facility in U.S. Bound for Atlanta!" As our friends at Athletic Business report: "Metro Atlanta's pickleball craze shows few signs of cooling off, as the largest indoor facility in the United States for playing the madly popular game hopes to be operational at an intown location this year, according to project officials. A new concept called Pickleball Club of Georgia is preparing to start converting an empty warehouse in Blandtown into more than 100,000 square feet of pickleball playing courts. According to project architects, Terminus Design Group, the concept has passed Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee vetting and is awaiting permits for demolition and construction. With more than 30 courts in the works, plus a full-service gym, a golf-simulator wing, multiple event spaces and a full kitchen and bar, the project will qualify as the largest indoor pickleball facility in the country, per the design firm."
Folks, it is FUN to be in the heart of this development!!!
■Speaking of Pickleball (From our Friends at The Athletic), ANDRE AGASSI is a fellow, who years ago, was one the BEST TENNIS PLAYERS in the world. Now, nearly 20 years after Agassi retired from the sport, he's coming back to a court as a pro. But, this time around, he's swapping his tennis racket for a pickleball paddle! The winner of eight Grand Slam Tennis Titles has now competed in his first professional pickleball tournament at the Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, alongside 18-year-old pro pickler ANNA LEIGH WATERS, who's the sport's No. 1 ranked women's player.
"It was very apparent that Anna Leigh was tired of winning," Agassi joked to The Athletic, of their partnership. "She's right up there with the greatest ever in what she does, and the idea of challenging myself to not screw things up for her is daunting."
As for Ms. Waters, she's ready to see what their teamwork brings to the court... and the sport as a whole. "We both tend to err on the aggressive side, and I think that works," she told CNBC. "Andre's goals are to grow the sport of pickleball, and that's a huge goal of mine. I thought if we partnered together, this would be a really awesome way to grow the sport."
Congrats Anna, and Welcome Andre!
■Here's something that might help you in your business. The article is entitled: "THREE THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT SELLING TO YOUNGER BUYERS," by TROY HARRISON. The article introduction reads: "Salespeople are getting older. Buyers are getting younger. You have a disconnect. In raw terms, the average age of a professional B2B salesperson in the United States is 47.1 years old. Meanwhile, the average age of a B2B purchasing agent right now is 36 years old. While an eleven-year age gap doesn't sound like much, it can be a chasm as wide as the Grand Canyon."
In this article, Troy shows readers that they need to sell the way buyers want to buy. This means that some salespeople who were acculturated to different methods of selling and different buyer expectations have to do some serious adapting to stay relevant. Harrison's three style-matches includes:
- Younger buyers flip the relationship-building script;
- Younger buyers demand versatility in communication; and,
- Younger buyers are social media savvy; you had better be, too.
Give it a Google.
■I'm happy on this Friday afternoon in May, because I got a phone call from my long-time friend, CECIL SPEARMAN. Cecil is now 95 years old, and he's still going strong! He told me that his two Laguna Niguel Racquet Clubs in southern California are doing well. Cecil now has his son, MARK, running things for him. Over 30 years ago, Cecil was one of those at the special FAUST ROUNDTABLE #1 in which Club Insider was born. THANKS to the late DR. GERRY FAUST; the one and only, RICK CARO; CECIL SPEARMAN; DICK TRANT; PETER DONAHUE; the late CURT and JANE BEUSMAN; among others, for helping me create Club Insider!
■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!
