Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Friday, September 21st, 2018
Donahue Wildman and Ron Thompson, Health and Fitness Club Industry Giants, Pass Away!
Posted: September 18, 2018 in Other News
Donahue Wildman and Ron Thompson, both truly health and fitness club industry giants in their own realms, passed away within two days of each other with Wildman departing this earth on September 16th and Thompson departing on September 17th. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Chooses Styku As Preferred Vendor; Announces Newest Location in Riverview, Florida
Posted: September 18, 2018 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Crunch Franchise announced that it has selected Styku as a preferred vendor after testing against a body scanning competitor and then piloting Styku across several health clubs. Crunch Franchise also announced the opening of a 22,000-square-foot gym with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities in Riverview, Florida. The modern, expansive club is expected to open in January 2019. Read More...
Power Wellness Awarded MFA’s Best Practice Partner of the Year
Posted: September 17, 2018 in Suppliers
LOMBARD, IL - The Medical Fitness Association (MFA) has named Power Wellness Management as the 2018 Best Practice Partner of the Year. Best Practice Partners support the growth of the MFA and its groundbreaking and revolutionary approach to health and wellness. Power Wellness currently manages a third of the MFA’s certified facilities and serves over 100,000 members, managing 5 million visits with its 2,300 team members nationwide. Power Wellness humbly accepts this award and will continue to provide services that improve population health across the country. Read More...
American Council on Exercise and Women in Fitness Association Announce Founding Partnership
Posted: September 17, 2018 in Suppliers
SAN DIEGO, CA - The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a nonprofit organization with global reach that works to increase physical activity, announced its sponsorship of the Women in Fitness Association (WIFA). WIFA is a global nonprofit association that cultivates collaboration and leadership for women in the fitness industry. Read More...
Detroit Pistons Bring Blink Fitness To Midtown Detroit
Posted: September 13, 2018 in Chains
DETROIT, MI - The Detroit Pistons and Blink Fitness have announced plans to build a publicly-accessible Blink Fitness franchise inside the state-of-the-art Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. The New Center facility will be the first Blink Fitness location in Detroit and one of several planned Blink Fitness openings slated in Michigan during 2019. Blink Fitness, a premium-quality value-based gym, announced in February that it will open 15 or more locations throughout Michigan. Read More...
FlexIt, the Powerful New Club Lead Generation and User Acquisition Solution
Posted: September 10, 2018 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, N.Y. - For fitness club owners, reaching new gym-goers and generating qualified leads is now easier than ever before. FlexIt Inc. is the new disruptive mobile app that makes it easier for users and clubs to find one another by enhancing the end-to-end process from discovery to repeat usage. Read More...
Marie Graul Joins Life Fitness As Chief Financial Officer
Posted: September 6, 2018 in Suppliers
ROSEMONT, IL - Life Fitness, the global leader in commercial fitness equipment, announced that Marie Graul has joined the company as its Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Jaime Irick, President of Life Fitness. Most recently, Graul was CFO at the MXD Group, a logistics and supply chain provider, and before that assignment had served as the Chief Financial Officer of Enesco Group Inc., a global specialty retailer of collectibles. Read More...
International Franchise Association Names Caroline Simmons and Curves of Wytheville, Virginia, Franchisee of the Year
Posted: September 6, 2018 in Chains
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The International Franchise Association (IFA), the oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide, named Caroline Simmons, a Curves franchise owner in Wytheville, VA, one of its 2018 Franchisees of the Year. Caroline Simmons was recognized at IFA’s Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., which brings together more than 400 franchise business leaders to raise awareness with policymakers on the industry’s continued successes and economic contributions. Read More...
Pure Barre Launches First Brand Campaign With MATTE Projects
Posted: September 6, 2018 in Suppliers
DENVER, CO - Pure Barre, the largest and most established barre concept in North America, announced the launch of Pure Effect, its first brand campaign in partnership with creative agency MATTE Projects. The multimedia campaign is the first major brand expression for Pure Barre since the company was founded in 2001. Read More...
United PF Partners Acquires Arizona Planet Fitness Club Group
Posted: September 5, 2018 in Chains
AUSTIN, TX - United PF Partners (United PF), the largest Planet Fitness (NYSE :PLNT) franchisee, has acquired 19 Planet Fitness locations in the Phoenix market from JEG-FIT, increasing its operating club count to 108 clubs across 10 states. United PF was formed by JLM Financial Partners (JLM) and Eagle Merchant Partners (Eagle) in November 2016 with the merger of several leading Planet Fitness franchisees. In addition to acquiring the operating clubs from JEG-FIT and the remaining development rights to the Phoenix market, the investment from United PF will provide capital to fuel club-level improvements and growth through the development of new clubs in this market. Read More...
Life Time Set to Launch Life Time Sport at Historic Winter Park This Fall
Posted: September 5, 2018 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Life Time is set to launch an all-new concept, Life Time Sport, at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Following a pilot in Lakeville, Life Time Sport will officially kick-off at the former Minnesota Vikings practice facility once modest renovations are complete later this fall. In the interim, Life Time will offer outdoor play and limited access events in September. A Wait List has been established for interested families, and details of the Winter Park lease for the interim use of the facility have not yet been disclosed. Read More...
Trend Wisdom – Why it’s Important to be Part of the Dialogue in 2018
Posted: September 4, 2018 in Suppliers
Trends are one of the quintessential truths of mankind and one of the core truths of capitalism. Trends influence how we think, what we want to believe or not believe, how we act and how we react. From a business perspective, trends can inform us of where the market is headed, what competitors are doing, what consumers are embracing, what business leaders are thinking and what opportunities there are for the taking. Jason Canton summed this up nicely when he said, “Those who are ill informed will be at risk for a rough future.” Read More...
Cybex Recalls Weight-Lifting Equipment Due to Serious Injury Hazards
Posted: August 30, 2018 in Suppliers
OWATONNA, MN - This recall involves the Cybex Smith Press model 5340, manufactured and distributed from 1989 through 1993, and model 5341, manufactured and distributed from 1993 through 2009. The models have a weight bar seated between two parallel vertical tracks on latch pins. The weight bar can be moved up and down to perform upper body and lower body exercises. The equipment is used primarily in fitness facilities. The weight bar was sold with the Smith Press, and the weights were sold separately. The model number is printed on the base of the frame of the Smith Press equipment. Read More...
Longest Partnership in Tennis History Continues
Posted: August 30, 2018 in Suppliers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) signed a 3-year contract with HEAD Penn, extending its longstanding partnership to a history making 38 years! The relationship between PTR and HEAD began in January 1983, when Dennis Van der Meer signed the first agreement with HEAD racquets. Now, HEAD is the official racquet, bag, ball, string, grip and youth equipment of PTR in the United States through December 2021. Read More...
Spinning Launches International Ambassador Program
Posted: August 30, 2018 in Suppliers
VENICE, CA - Spinning, the leading indoor cycling and education program, announced the launch of the International Spinning Ambassador program. Spinning has trained over 250,000 instructors and reaches millions of enthusiasts in over 80 countries worldwide. “The incredible Spinning community is woven together by creative, dynamic and passionate instructors who seek to transform lives. The Master Instructor team is fortunate to work every day with our instructor base around the world, assisting them in their pursuit of education and excellence to ensure they continue to deliver amazing, scientifically-sound and entertaining classes. We are all very excited to provide an additional resource for the entire global Spinning community through the Ambassador program,” said Luciana Marcial-Vincion, Spinning Senior Advisor and Master Instructor Team Manager. Read More...
Workout Anytime Flexes Muscles with More Gyms Planned Across the Southeast
Posted: August 29, 2018 in Chains
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Jeff Londis co-founded Benchmark Physical Therapy in 1995 and helped build the Chattanooga-based PT therapy chain to more than 350 clinics either owned or managed by Benchmark across the country before selling his interest in that business a couple of years ago. The 57-year-old Chattanooga businessman is flexing his entrepreneurial muscles again in a different industry he bought into a decade ago and has grown to soon include five locations. Londis, the local franchisee for Workout Anytime, hopes to have at least 10 locations and thousands of members in the Southeast within the next three years. Read More...
SilverSneakers Announces National Swanson Award Winner
Posted: August 29, 2018 in Chains
CHANDLER, AZ - SilverSneakers by Tivity Health (NASDAQ:TVTY), the nation's leading community fitness program for older Americans, announced the national winner of the 2018 SilverSneakers Swanson Award. DeWitt, Michigan resident, Sally Miller has been named the winner of the 14th annual award, which is presented to one member whose commitment to health and staying active encourages others to love life longer. Sally, a member of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, doesn't just work out at Snap Fitness, she befriends everyone she meets. According to her son Robb, who nominated her for the award and who owns the Snap Fitness location, it's a "fitness family business." Read More...
American College of Sports Medicine and Equinox Announce Strategic Partnership
Posted: August 28, 2018 in Suppliers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Equinox, the high-performance lifestyle leader, announced a strategic partnership to help grow and advance the careers of ACSM Certified Personal Trainers. ACSM Personal Trainers will gain access to key Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI) education tools and various career opportunities within Equinox. As part of the partnership, Equinox will be recognized as an ACSM approved provider of continuing education credits (CECs) via ACSM’s online learning platform. Read More...
USPTA Annual Awards Announced
Posted: August 24, 2018 in Suppliers
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The United States Professional Tennis Association honored tennis-teaching professionals and coaches during the 2018 USPTA General Membership Meeting at the 2018 Tennis Teachers Conference. The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually, and nominations are submitted by the 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each awards category are decided by the USPTA's awards committee. Here are this year's winners... Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Newest Location in Abilene, Texas
Posted: August 23, 2018 in Chains
ABILENE, TX - Crunch Fitness announced its newest club will be coming soon to Abilene, Texas. The pre-sale will begin in early October, and the first 500 sign-ups get all kinds of special deals and offers. Expected to open mid-December, Crunch Abilene will service the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fusing fitness with entertainment to make serious exercise fun, Crunch Abilene will offer top-quality cardio and strength training equipment, half-hour circuit training, personal training, a functional training area with indoor turf, a dedicated group fitness studio, tanning beds and sunless spray options and more. Read More...