CBE Winter Report.qk - IHRSA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

NEW & IMPROVED! continued “ With more than 40 million healthclub members throughout Europe, the market is clearly vibrant. ” 22 Club Business Europe � JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 � www.ihrsa.org CONSIDER THESE HIGHLIGHTS: • The outlook. The fitness club industry within Europe certainly is still heterogeneous. Differences in market penetration and the market structure concerning single or chain operators clearly exist. While the UK and German markets are leading within Europe right now, other countries are pushing new trends and are developing very fast. The Russian market, especially, looks very promising over the next few years. • The opportunities. As obesity—especially in children—and the aging population become more present in the minds of the politicians in Europe, individual fitness clubs and chains are in a position to further extend the fitness trend and to gear their offerings towards the specific customers’ needs. Clubs focusing on children, elderly people or women may expect future growth and revenue potential. Women-only fitness is already quite established in the US and Europe, e.g., Curves International, is the worldwide leader of fitness chains in terms of members and facilities. With the part of the population that is older than 50 years continuing to rise, club operators need to realise where to invest and create new offerings. Not only does the fitness industry need to adapt to a new customer base, the equipment industry also has to develop new devices adjusted to children’s bodies or to the physical abilities of the elderly. • P-E and M&A activity. Business is robust, with health club chains employing a variety of strategies to obtain capital for growth. Private Equity continues to play a major role. However, whilst continuing consolidation will provide chains with greater economies of scale, there will always be room in the industry for well-run, customer-friendly, independent clubs. • Consumer behaviour. The annual consumer tracking study of 6,000 consumers conducted by GfK indicates that 27.7 million people belong to health clubs in the following six countries: Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the UK and the Netherlands. With more than 40 million health club members throughout Europe, the market is clearly vibrant. • Market penetration. Examining the age structure of fitness club members within these countries gives some useful hints on possible fitness trends. As to be expected, a very low percentage (on average 6%) of fitness club members are between 14 and 17 years old. The largest groups are comprised of those between 18 to 34 (36,54%) and 35 to 54 years (34,9%). Together they occupy more than 70% of the member base in the six countries observed. A large potential market not yet utilised by the fitness industry, is the 55+ age group. Seniors represent on average only 22% of club members in these six countries. As the European population grows older and the anticipated average life expectancy increases, fitness clubs need to develop special programmes and facilities aiming at the needs and requirements for elderly people. AGE STRUCTURE OF FITNESS CLUB MEMBERS IN SIX MAJOR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: 40 30 20 10 0 6.33% 36.54% 34.90% Average over all six countries 22.22% 14–17 18–34 35–54 The full report offers additional information on business activity and consumer behaviour in the industry, as well as in-depth market penetration data for the UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, France and Italy. It can be purchased at www.ihrsastore.com/fiintef.html, or by calling +1 617-951-0055. IHRSA members can purchase a printed copy or a PDF download for e95. 55+
Inside IHRSA Working Together As an Industry Fast friends: Congress attendees enjoy reconnecting in Paris > Events at the 7th Annual IHRSA European Congress, which took place 12-15 November in Paris, clearly demonstrated how well members of this industry can work together. They included: • IHRSA Europe Council meeting. The consensus of the new group, formed to guide the association in its European development plans, was that IHRSA should strengthen and enhance its traditional offerings in Europe, including the Congress, IHRSA University, Club Business Europe magazine, the IHRSA European Market Report, the Passport programme, networking opportunities, etc., profits from which are reinvested in programmes and services for European members. Joe Moore, president of IHRSA, said about the Council, “As clubs and manufacturers get involved with the association, they begin to think beyond their own busi- The IHRSA Europe Council nesses and think more about growing the industry as a whole. The more people get involved, the more the industry benefits.” • IHRSA and EHFA working group. Christian Pierar, a member of both the IHRSA Europe Council and the EHFA board, reported that IHRSA and EHFA are establishing a working group to determine how the two might cooperate to grow the industry, particularly in the area of public policy. • Rasmus Ingerslev received the 2007 European Club Leadership Award. The CEO of fitness dk, was so honoured for his efforts as co-creator of the Danish Fitness & Health Organisation, and for making fitness dk the first to combine membership with health insurance in Denmark. In addition, Hans Muench was formally named IHRSA Director, Europe. Muench, who assumes the role in January, will be based in Germany. � Kilian Fisher, ILAM, Ireland; Antonio Macias, AGAP, Portugal; Maria Angeles de Santiago Restoy, Sports Managers, Spain; Ramon Canela and Rod Hill, DiR Fitness, Spain; Christian Pierar, DFO, Belgium; Rasmus Ingerslev, fitness dk and DHFO, Denmark; Doug Miller, Sales Makers International, UK/Scandinavia; Matthias Schmitz, Fitness First, Germany; John Harris, Stars Fitness, Austria; David Minton, Leisure Database, UK; Anastasia Yusina, Strata Partners, Russia; Theo Hendriks, Sports and Leisure Group, The Netherlands; Christophe Andanson, FHRSA, France. Rasmus Ingerslev and IHRSA Board Chair Michael Levy Coming Soon: IHRSA 2008, 5-8 March in San Diego > March will be here before you know it… so register now for IHRSA’s 27th Annual International Convention & Trade Show in San Diego, California, in the US. Hear business guru Kjell Nordström speak. Attend educational sessions simultaneously translated into French and Spanish. Stroll around the best Trade Show in the industry. Enjoy the European Forum and the Around the World in 60 Minutes Panel Discussion. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones at the Planet IHRSA International Reception, and at the International Club, where you can also check your email. Register online at www.ihrsa2008.org, or by contacting Blakely Sullivan at bls@ihrsa.org or Alison O’Kane at aok@ihrsa.org. Prices: e495 for IHRSA members / e631 for nonmembers. �
Page 1 and 2: Club Business January/February 2008
Page 3 and 4: The world’s first Adaptive Motion
Page 6 and 7: Club Business EUROPE FEATURES page
Page 8 and 9: ihrsa.org A 2007 Sponsored by Infor
Page 10 and 11: News & Notes 9th Forum Il Nuovo Clu
Page 12 and 13: News & Notes continued Vivafit chai
Page 14: News & Notes continued Velocity and
Page 18 and 19: Interview We will work with our par
Page 20 and 21: PART I: LESSONS FROM THE PAST Turni
Page 22 and 23: European success: Kieser Training o
Page 26 and 27: Products � Torque Fitness, LLC, (
Page 28 and 29: Calendar of Events 2008 2008 IHRSA
Page 30 and 31: The Finish Line Tracy Powell One Hu
Page 32: Champions train with Technogym ® w

CBE Winter Report.qk - IHRSA

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?