Innovations - IHRSA
Innovations - IHRSA
Innovations - IHRSA
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JULY 2011<br />
Club business<br />
InternatIonal<br />
Health Club<br />
Hospitality<br />
Jim Snow, tHe<br />
preSident of Gold’S<br />
Gym international,<br />
inC., knowS How to<br />
aCHieve it<br />
36 <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25<br />
44 Group-Ex-cellence<br />
48 Locker Roominess<br />
55 Small-Group Gusto<br />
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Like the Arc Trainer ® , our calorie-burning workhorse that made<br />
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Empower your members to get the results they want on<br />
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© 2010, CYBEX International. All rights reserved.<br />
www.cybexintl.com
| Letters |<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network launch<br />
Anytime Fitness ‘Military Friendly’<br />
> Anytime Fitness is very proud of the fact that we’ve been<br />
honored as a “Top 50 Military Friendly Franchise” by a number<br />
of organizations and periodicals over the past several years.<br />
We provide discounts for military personnel and their families.<br />
In fact, almost 20% of our franchise owners are military<br />
veterans. Virtually all of our clubs currently offer what we<br />
call “Hero” membership rates to military families and others,<br />
like police officers and firefighters. Many of our clubs will<br />
support the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network, as well. —|<br />
Chuck Runyon | President | Anytime Fitness | Hastings, MN<br />
Joining Forces for Our Troops<br />
> Good job, <strong>IHRSA</strong>, for getting involved with First Lady<br />
Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative. Last year, our Idaho<br />
National Guard received notice that they were going to be<br />
activated, and Apple Athletic Club offered their spouses and<br />
children a free membership. It was appreciated by the families<br />
who took advantage of the offer and extremely well received<br />
within the community. We also became involved with “Our<br />
Military Kids” to provide specific training classes for the<br />
Guard members’ children.<br />
God bless our troops and many thanks for all they do! —|<br />
Ray Gordon | Membership Manager | Apple Athletic Club | Idaho Falls, ID<br />
SWEAT for a VET 2011<br />
> We’d like to let CBI’s readers know about SWEAT for a VET<br />
2011, our “all-cardio,” inclusive-fitness fundraising event, and<br />
Editor’s note: For additional information on the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining<br />
Forces Network, please see the “Editor’s Welcome,” pg. 6, and<br />
“The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network,” pg. 104.<br />
4 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
First Lady Thanks <strong>IHRSA</strong>, ACE<br />
“I want to thank the American Council on Exercise<br />
and the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub<br />
Association, and their CEOs … who are with<br />
us here today. Thank you guys, both, for your<br />
commitments … They got a call, and this request<br />
was put in, and they jumped on it … So, Joe (Moore)<br />
and Scott (Goudeseune), we’re truly grateful for<br />
this leadership.” —|<br />
— First Lady Michelle Obama, announcing the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network on<br />
the South Lawn of the White House on May 9<br />
encourage clubs across the country and around the world to<br />
join us and host a live SWEAT-a-thon event at their own facilities.<br />
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, November 12, from<br />
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., EST, with the main event location being<br />
the Tysons Sport and Health Club in McLean, Virginia.<br />
Money raised in the U.S. benefits our Wounded Warriors,<br />
helping to provide equipment that will allow disabled veterans<br />
to continue their rehabilitation and expand their vocational<br />
options. Money raised outside the U.S. supports individuals<br />
with physical challenges by hosting training camps where<br />
they’ll learn to become group exercise instructors, and, subsequently,<br />
be able to inspire club members and promote inclusive<br />
fitness worldwide.<br />
Funds will be distributed to those communities where money<br />
is raised by clubs, so every club counts, and every club will see<br />
the results of their efforts locally!<br />
Clubs can offer one, two, or all three hours of the SWEAT-<br />
a-thon “ride,” and don’t have to worry about registration or<br />
donation payments, since both are handled through our<br />
Website. Each individual event will be participating in, and<br />
following, the main event in McLean, seeing and hearing<br />
everything, connected via a live video link.<br />
The SWEAT-a-thon is a fun and unique program that allows<br />
your members to do something good for themselves and, at the<br />
same time, do something good for others.<br />
Check out www.SWEATforaVET.org for more information<br />
and highlights from last year’s event, to become a sponsor,<br />
or make a donation. Register to participate in the event at<br />
www.SWEATforaVET.kintera.org. Clubs interested in<br />
hosting their own SWEAT-a-thon can contact me directly at<br />
Debbie@ProjectVisAbility.org.<br />
Thanks to CBI for helping us get the word out! —|<br />
Debbie Miller | President | Project VisAbility | Delray Beach, FL<br />
Club Business International (ISSN 1043-9692, USPS 766-570) is published monthly ©2011 by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, Seaport Center 70<br />
Fargo Street, Boston, MA 02210. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, Massachusetts, and additional mailing offices. Canadian Sales Agreement #40767601.<br />
Subscription rate for members is $48 per year, which is included in the dues. Additional subscriptions $24.95 per year (USA) and $75 (International).<br />
POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Club Business International, c/o <strong>IHRSA</strong>, Seaport Center 70 Fargo Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210<br />
Volume 31, Issue 7
| Editor’s Welcome |<br />
Kerry Brett<br />
Yesterday (May 30) was Memorial Day, and,<br />
throughout the U.S. and in far-flung spots<br />
throughout the world, the commitment, contributions,<br />
and sacrifices of our military men and<br />
women were briefly acknowledged. <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
would like to make their recognition, that sign of<br />
our appreciation, a year-round affair.<br />
Last month, we reported that, approached by First Lady Michelle<br />
Obama, <strong>IHRSA</strong> had eagerly agreed to participate in her Joining<br />
Forces initiative, designed to provide assistance to military families.<br />
A short while before, in May, Joe Moore, the president and CEO<br />
of <strong>IHRSA</strong>, had joined Mrs. Obama and others on the South Lawn<br />
of the White House to announce the creation of the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining<br />
Forces Network (IJFN).<br />
The IJFN, which officially launched on June 1, is composed of<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>-member clubs that have agreed to provide free six-month<br />
memberships to members of the families of actively deployed<br />
National Guard and Reserve personnel. The program<br />
is extremely flexible, allowing clubs to<br />
decide, for instance, whether or not to offer additional<br />
benefits, and, even, if they’d like to extend<br />
the offer to other military, e.g., veterans.<br />
No sooner had Mrs. Obama unveiled the plan<br />
than clubs began volunteering to take part;<br />
among the first were Anytime Fitness and Curves<br />
International, Inc. But even before the advent of<br />
the IJFN, some clubs, recognizing the need, and<br />
acknowledging their own debt of gratitude to the<br />
nation’s servicemen and servicewomen, had<br />
introduced similar programs of their own.<br />
Last August, the three Spring Fitness facilities<br />
in Texas began offering free six-month memberships—no strings<br />
attached—to U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel.<br />
“I’d encourage everyone to do this,” suggested owner Tom<br />
Kennison. (See “Doing the Right Thing!” June CBI, pg. 38.)<br />
Since the IJFN’s debut, however, there’s been a virtual crush<br />
of early adopters. Among the more than 1,000 current network<br />
members are: Club One; Club Fit; Frog’s Fitness; The Alaska<br />
Club; The Atlantic Club; Shula’s Athletic Club; TELOS Fitness<br />
Center; Nashua Athletic Club; Saco Sport and Fitness; Body-<br />
Business Health Club and Spa; Shapes Total Fitness for Women;<br />
and the Personal Training Institute (PTI) of Tucson.<br />
“I feel very strongly about taking part in this worthwhile<br />
program,” explains Craig Jackson, the owner of PTI-Tucson, who<br />
served for seven years as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, and<br />
participated in the first Gulf War.<br />
For more information on the IJFN, see “The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces<br />
Network,” pg. 104. To enroll in the network, log on to www.ihrsa.org/<br />
joining-forces. Full information on the program is available on<br />
the same site at the extension /joining-forces-network. —|<br />
– Craig R. Waters, c.waters@fit-etc.com<br />
6 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
The mission of <strong>IHRSA</strong> is to grow, protect,<br />
and promote the industry, and to provide its<br />
members with benefits that will help them<br />
be more successful.<br />
PUBLISHING<br />
Editor-In-Chief: Craig R. Waters<br />
Publisher: Jay M. Ablondi<br />
Managing Editor: Rebecca K. Maverick<br />
Editor: Jennifer H. McInerney<br />
Associate Editor: Patricia Glynn<br />
Associate Editor: Mia Coen<br />
Contributing Editors:<br />
Patricia Amend, Liane Cassavoy, Jon Feld,<br />
Julie M. King, Lesley Mahoney, Melissa<br />
Rodriguez, Jean Suffin, Stephen Wallenfels,<br />
Kristen A. Walsh<br />
ADVERTISING, www.cbimediakit.com<br />
Vice President of Advertising & Membership Sales:<br />
Michele Eynon<br />
Senior Account Manager:<br />
Jessica Gutstein<br />
Advertising Sales Executive:<br />
Donna Garrity<br />
Business Development Publications:<br />
Will Finn<br />
Publications & Associate Coordinator:<br />
Meghan Burnham<br />
Art Direction, Design, Production:<br />
Holland-Mark, Boston, MA<br />
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH, RACQUET<br />
& SPORTSCLUB ASSOCIATION<br />
President & CEO: Joe Moore<br />
Chief Operating Officer: Anita Lawlor<br />
Executive Vice President of Public Policy:<br />
Helen Durkin<br />
Executive Vice President of Global Products:<br />
Jay Ablondi<br />
CLUB BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL<br />
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES:<br />
c/o <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
Seaport Center<br />
70 Fargo Street, Boston, MA 02210 USA<br />
800-228-4772 USA & Canada<br />
617-951-0055 | 617-951-0056 FAX<br />
E-mail: cbi@ihrsa.org<br />
www.ihrsa.org<br />
To order reprints of articles,<br />
call 800-228-4772 ext. 117 or<br />
visit www.ihrsa.org/cbi<br />
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CLUB BUSINESS<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
President Jim Snow serves<br />
GGI’s constituencies<br />
Features<br />
30 Health Club Hospitality<br />
A hospitality-industry pro, Jim Snow has been<br />
preaching and practicing the virtues of a servicecentric<br />
business for more than 23 years, most<br />
recently as the regional vice president of operations<br />
for Omni Hotels, a 50-facility brand. Now,<br />
as the president of Gold’s Gym International,<br />
Inc. (GGI), he intends to use all he knows to<br />
help transform the industry’s standard “salesoriented”<br />
perspective into a more productive<br />
“culture built around service.”<br />
8 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
CONTENTS | JULY 2011<br />
Spaciousness is key to locker<br />
room/spa success<br />
30 48<br />
36 <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>’s annual ranking of club companies<br />
44 Group Exercise Extraordinaire!<br />
Les Mills’ Ultimate Studio Search winners<br />
48 Locker Room Largesse<br />
Tips on making small areas more spacious<br />
55 SGPT: A Magic Acronym<br />
Small-group personal training is big news!
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CLUBBUSINESS<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
24 Hour Fitness<br />
‘serves’ U.S. military<br />
28<br />
Departments<br />
News & Know How<br />
63<br />
15 News<br />
Virgin Active acquires Esporta; Talwalkars<br />
tops 100; Christian Pierar boards <strong>IHRSA</strong>;<br />
industry mourns Stephen Williams; upbeat<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Index; plus Latin American News<br />
25 First Person<br />
Go Figure CEO Kyle Zagrodzky assesses<br />
technology’s impact on the fitness industry<br />
27 On the Move<br />
Vivafit debuts in Spain; Crunch’s polefitness<br />
X-Pert-ise; Snap ‘fit’ for entrepreneurs;<br />
RED HOT SUMMER for World;<br />
24 Hour supports the troops; and more<br />
<strong>Innovations</strong><br />
63 What’s New<br />
Great new products from TRX, Precor,<br />
Star Trac, Peaksware, Life Fitness, Legend<br />
Fitness, and other <strong>IHRSA</strong> associates<br />
67 F.I.T. Extra<br />
iPod docks, USB ports, LCD screens,<br />
workout tracking—treadmills, today,<br />
are anything but plain<br />
10 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
CONTENTS | JULY 2011<br />
Peaksware tracks<br />
fitness via iPhone<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Report<br />
89 First Set<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Chairperson Art Curtis offers<br />
suggestions on how to accelerate out<br />
of the Great Recession<br />
97<br />
90 In Brief<br />
Whether or not one of your aerobics<br />
instructors is an employee or an independent<br />
contractor matters to the IRS<br />
93 Board Profiles<br />
CBI is pleased to introduce new <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
board members Jasmin Kirstein and<br />
Robert Brewster<br />
94 Ask the Entrepreneurs<br />
Colleen Braun, Simon Gale, and<br />
Michael Jenkins explain how they<br />
solicit club members’ insights<br />
96 Member News<br />
FreeMotion Fitness’ special ‘Value<br />
Proposition;’ plus news from ACE, the<br />
USPTA, Motionsoft, Technogym, and more<br />
101 Calendar<br />
FreeMotion Fitness<br />
on Golden Gate<br />
Reps<br />
4 Letters<br />
6 Editor’s<br />
Welcome<br />
12 Ihrsa.org<br />
102 Marketplace<br />
103 Ad Index<br />
104 Last Rep<br />
First Lady Michelle<br />
Obama is excited<br />
about the new Joining<br />
Forces Network,<br />
reports <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
president and CEO<br />
Joe Moore
2011<br />
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SHOES THAT HELP BOOST<br />
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Save BIG on <strong>IHRSA</strong>30 Recordings<br />
> www.ihrsa.org/store<br />
A PREVIEW OF WHAT’S NEW THIS MONTH ON WWW.<strong>IHRSA</strong>.ORG<br />
Read All About It: Get Active! Magazine<br />
> www.ihrsa.org/get-active-magazine<br />
Did you miss <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s 30th Anniversary International Convention and Trade<br />
Show? Or did you attend, but find it impossible to get to every session on<br />
your wish list? Perhaps some of the sessions you attended were so riveting<br />
that you want to share them with your entire staff. You’re in luck: <strong>IHRSA</strong>30<br />
session recordings are now available for purchase as downloadable MP3s.<br />
Buy the full set of 63 recordings for just $399 ($499 nonmembers). This<br />
great value represents a huge savings over the cost of purchasing each<br />
session individually. Individual sessions are available for $15 each ($20<br />
nonmembers).<br />
Best-selling titles to date include: Building a Successful, Highly Profitable<br />
Sales Department; Creating Raving Fans: The Secret to Business Success;<br />
Big Company Talent Management for Small Organizations; Integrating the<br />
Medical Client into Your Facility; Using Technology to Improve Membership<br />
Sales & Retention; and Release Your Inner Geek: Social Media for Fitness<br />
Professionals. —|<br />
To order, visit www.ihrsa.org/store. Use promo code LISTEN to save 20% on any<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>30 convention session recording purchase, through July 31.<br />
12 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Readers are raving about the Spring/Summer 2011 edition of Get Active!,<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>’s motivational magazine written exclusively for health club members,<br />
guests, and prospective members. This new issue features interviews with<br />
Madonna and actress Elisabeth Rohm, both of whom own health clubs. It also<br />
includes exercise advice, a dramatic before-and-after club member profile, tips<br />
on staying motivated and overcoming negativity, and much more. Magazines<br />
are available in boxes of 100, and supplies are limited. —|<br />
Log on to www.ihrsa.org/get-active-magazine to read the digital version and to order your<br />
club’s copies of the standard or Anytime Fitness editions.<br />
U.S. Clubs: Enroll in<br />
the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining<br />
Forces Network<br />
> www.healthclubs.com<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> member clubs in the U.S. are being<br />
encouraged to offer free memberships<br />
to the immediate family members of<br />
actively deployed reservists and National<br />
Guard members through the new <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
Joining Forces Network. Clubs may provide<br />
additional benefits such as childcare,<br />
children’s programming, group classes,<br />
discounts for veterans, and discounts for<br />
active-duty families. Military families can<br />
find participating clubs in their area at<br />
healthclubs.com. The Website will also<br />
offer a free digital subscription to Get<br />
Active! Magazine, an <strong>IHRSA</strong> publication<br />
dedicated to promoting healthy living<br />
through exercise. Visit healthclubs.com<br />
for details and to enroll! —|
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News & Know How<br />
News 15 | First Person 25 | On the Move 27<br />
OpenAire, Inc., an <strong>IHRSA</strong> associate member, is currently creating<br />
the Royal Marine Aquapark, a one-of-a-kind recreational facility in<br />
Donetsk, Ukraine. “At 86' high and 278' in diameter, it’s the<br />
largest freestanding aluminum dome structure in the world,”<br />
notes OpenAire President Mark Albertine. “And the<br />
unique retractable design makes it the first<br />
park of its kind. There’s simply nothing<br />
else like it.” —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 15
MORE STICKING POWER THAN<br />
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CLUBS THAT OFFER LES MILLS ® GROUP FITNESS CLASSES HOLD ON TO<br />
THEIR MEMBERS. NO FEWER THAN 81% OF THOSE WHO TAKE PART IN<br />
OUR CLASSES DO SO ON A REGULAR BASIS.*<br />
The LES MILLS ® Group Fitness System is proven and our programs are constantly refreshed to<br />
keep your members coming back for more. So if you want to turn studio space into your most<br />
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Bulking up: Sir Richard Branson<br />
Virgin Active Acquires 55 Esporta Sites<br />
The $125.4-million deal nearly doubles the size of Virgin’s<br />
U.K. holdings<br />
Virgin Active, the international<br />
club chain headed by Sir Richard<br />
Branson, has nearly doubled the<br />
size of its U.K. footprint by purchasing<br />
55 sites from Esporta for some $125.4<br />
million. The transaction involves 35<br />
fitness centers and 20 racquet-sports<br />
facilities with more than 159,000<br />
members, and increases Virgin Active’s<br />
U.K. portfolio to 126 properties.<br />
The company says its enlarged U.K.<br />
business will have some 430,000 members<br />
and generate annual revenues of<br />
about $525 million.<br />
Earlier, in 2004 and 2005, it had<br />
acquired 10 Esporta clubs in the U.K.<br />
and six in Spain.<br />
“The location of Esporta’s clubs is an<br />
excellent fit with our estate and significantly<br />
strengthens our business,” says<br />
Matthew Bucknall, the chief executive<br />
of Virgin Active. “We’ve been able to<br />
sustain … growth over the last three<br />
years, when economic conditions have<br />
been difficult, and we continue to see<br />
excellent prospects for future growth in<br />
all our territories.”<br />
Virgin Active also owns and operates<br />
clubs in Italy, Portugal, and South Africa.<br />
Virgin Active figures prominently in<br />
this year’s <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25 lists (see<br />
“The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25,” pg. 36). In terms<br />
of number of facilities, it ranks No. 7<br />
(with 194 sites); number of members,<br />
No. 7 (975,000); total revenues, No. 5<br />
($709 million); one-year revenue growth,<br />
No. 1 (+14%); five-year revenue growth,<br />
No. 2, (+115%); and one-year unit<br />
growth, No. 25 (+4%). Recently, it broke<br />
through the 1-million-member mark. —|<br />
| News & Know How | News<br />
Talwalkars Hits<br />
100-Club Mark<br />
India’s industry<br />
leader pursues<br />
aggressive growth<br />
> India’s largest health club<br />
chain has just gotten a little<br />
bit bigger.<br />
Talwalkars Better Value<br />
Fitness, Ltd., based in Mumbai,<br />
already has facilities in 50 cities<br />
and more than 1 million members,<br />
and, recently, it announced<br />
the opening of its 100th club. The<br />
new Ballygunge branch, situated<br />
in Kolkata, a metropolitan area<br />
in East India, made its debut in<br />
April, and, like other Talwalkars<br />
facilities, features top-of-theline<br />
equipment and highly<br />
trained staff.<br />
Speaking at the opening,<br />
Prashant Talwalkar, the company’s<br />
CEO and managing director,<br />
described it as an “historic<br />
occasion,” and spoke of the<br />
company’s plans to “continue<br />
expanding at an increasing pace<br />
during the coming fiscal year.”<br />
Talwalkars, Ballygunge<br />
Part of its growth strategy<br />
involves the introduction of a new<br />
brand, known as Hi Fi, that will<br />
target a middle-income clientele.<br />
“Hi Fi will fulfill our dream of<br />
making fitness available to the<br />
masses,” says Chairman Madhukar<br />
Talwalkar. The company<br />
hopes to establish 25 Hi Fi<br />
locations within the next year. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 17
| News & Know How | Latin American News<br />
Cia Athletica Introduces Activities<br />
Accuracy Manager<br />
Companhia Athletica, the Brazilian health club chain, has<br />
developed an Activities Accuracy Manager (AAM), a system<br />
that generates training programs that effectively address the<br />
conditions, needs, and objectives of each individual member.<br />
Using an iPod Touch, trainers are alerted to a member’s arrival at the<br />
gym, and are provided with their personal-profile data and a description<br />
of the training program they’re supposed to follow. Utilizing this<br />
information, trainers can then improve their client planning, integrate<br />
physical assessments as indicated, renew programs in a timely manner,<br />
and, ultimately, maximize results.<br />
The AAM software relies on the guidelines of the American College<br />
of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology to<br />
inform the prescription of activities<br />
and periods indicated, or contraindicated,<br />
for over 400 diseases and<br />
disorders. The software also records<br />
the data obtained in the Test of<br />
Functional Movement (TMF). Developed<br />
in the U.S., TMF was adapted<br />
by Companhia Athletica to analyze a<br />
member’s exercise motions to ensure<br />
proper movement, and, thereby,<br />
Exercise ‘management’<br />
improve posture, prevent injuries,<br />
and enhance performance. —|<br />
O2 Opens Fourth Facility in Chile<br />
This month, the O2 Balance &<br />
Wellness Club will open its<br />
fourth facility in Chile. The<br />
12,900-square-foot unit, situated in<br />
the new Paseo Los Dominicanos mall<br />
at San Carlos de Apoquindo, will<br />
boast a fitness area with strength<br />
and cardiovascular equipment, and<br />
rooms for yoga, group fitness, and<br />
group cycling.<br />
“For us, 2010 was a year in which O2’s No. 4 in Chile<br />
we concentrated on consolidating<br />
our first three clubs,” reports CEO Alfredo De Goyeneche. “Now we’re<br />
beginning a new phase of expansion.”<br />
De Goyeneche reports that the new club “has competition just a block<br />
away, but each of the clubs is good and has a very different profile. Our<br />
club,” he predicts, “will attract a market that’s been growing in recent<br />
years as a result of the strong real estate development in that area of<br />
the city.”<br />
The monthly dues at the new O2 club, which hopes to attract approximately<br />
1,200 members, will range from $100 to $200. —|<br />
Editor’s Note: All of the news items on this page were provided by<br />
Mercado Fitness (www.mercadofitness.com).<br />
18 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Sport Club Goes<br />
Women-Only<br />
Club Sport: for<br />
women only<br />
> Today, increasingly, women are<br />
searching for a space where they can<br />
disconnect from their daily routine, relax,<br />
have fun, and exercise—both individually<br />
and in groups. Responding to this emerging<br />
trend, many fitness providers have<br />
successfully developed unique ways to<br />
serve this market niche.<br />
Among them is Club Sport, an Argentine<br />
chain, which has just opened its first<br />
women-only facility. The 12,900-squarefoot<br />
unit is located at the new Champagnat<br />
Mall, in the city of Pilar, in the northern<br />
area of Buenos Aires.<br />
Mariana Cuevas Coelho, the company’s<br />
marketing manager, describes the new<br />
corporate brand, Club Sport Women, as<br />
being for “women who want to enjoy a full<br />
workout in an exclusive atmosphere, seeking<br />
balance in the different dimensions of<br />
health—physical, emotional, social,<br />
intellectual, and spiritual.<br />
“It’s designed to enable women to cope<br />
with greater freedom and peace,” she continues,<br />
“and feel comfortable as they enjoy<br />
all of the activities of the new club—cardio,<br />
weight training, aerobics classes, indoor<br />
cycling, and Pilates.” The club will also offer<br />
yoga, meditation, and breathing classes.<br />
The Champagnat site will have an<br />
exclusive and limited membership<br />
“because we take care of the service we<br />
offer,” explains Coelho, who expects the<br />
club to reach 800 members within the<br />
first five months. The second Club Sport<br />
Women will open soon in Buenos Aires.<br />
Depending on the public’s response, the<br />
company then hopes to open additional<br />
women-only facilities. —|
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| News & Know How | News<br />
Christian Pierar Joins <strong>IHRSA</strong> Board<br />
Industry veteran will share 30 years of European expertise<br />
Christian Pierar, the special European advisor for <strong>IHRSA</strong>,<br />
has been elected to serve as a full member of the association’s<br />
board of directors. An industry veteran with<br />
more than 30 years’ experience, Pierar has held positions as<br />
a club owner, international consultant, association executive,<br />
and public speaker.<br />
His non-<strong>IHRSA</strong> accomplishments have included serving as<br />
the co-owner of Centro Sportivo and Moving Fitness Center;<br />
owner of Sports and Management Consulting BVBA; co-owner<br />
and CEO of Forum Lifestyle and Wellness, which developed<br />
fitness centers for major hotel chains; and CEO of Tinbert/<br />
Elexia NV, a venture-capital group that developed 68 clubs<br />
and wellness centers throughout Europe.<br />
Among the numerous titles he’s held on the association<br />
front are those of chairman of the National Belgian Syndicate<br />
for employers of the fitness and wellness industry in Europe;<br />
board member of the Belgian Security Fund for fitness<br />
In Memoriam: Stephen Williams<br />
Industry Mourns Passing of Former Cybex and Technogym Executive<br />
Stephen “Steve” Williams, 61, a<br />
former executive with Cybex<br />
International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<br />
CYBI), and Technogym, passed away<br />
in Seattle, Washington, on April 13,<br />
following a long and courageous battle<br />
with diabetes and kidney failure.<br />
A resident of Bainbridge Island,<br />
Washington, Williams was a passionate<br />
technologist and sophisticated marketer.<br />
At Cybex, Williams worked his way<br />
up the corporate ladder, holding the<br />
positions of director of marketing, vice<br />
president and managing director of<br />
fitness, and eventually, vice president<br />
of corporate development. He also put<br />
his marketing expertise to work on<br />
behalf of Technogym and was the first<br />
president of Technogym USA.<br />
Jill Kinney, the managing director of<br />
Clubsource Development Partners, LLC,<br />
><br />
Stephen Williams<br />
20 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
based in San Rafael, California, and a<br />
long-time friend of Williams, describes<br />
him as a “true innovator” whose work<br />
had a profound impact on the fitness<br />
industry. “In the mid-80s, he introduced<br />
a new, polished, industrial<br />
industry employees; founding<br />
member of the European<br />
Health and Fitness Association<br />
(EHFA), responsible for the<br />
European Network of Fitness<br />
Employers; and board member<br />
and treasurer of the European<br />
Association of Sport Employers. Christian Pierar<br />
A member of <strong>IHRSA</strong> for 24<br />
years, Pierar is a graduate of<br />
the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Institute for Professional Club Management and<br />
has been actively involved in many of the association’s<br />
activities. He commences his four-year board term with<br />
new board members Robert Brewster, the president of The<br />
Alaska Club, in Anchorage, Alaska; and Jasmin Kirstein, the<br />
owner of My Sportlady, in Munich, Germany. Brewster and<br />
Kirstein are profiled on pg. 93. —|<br />
design that turned the old weight stacks<br />
into sleek, attractive equipment, while,<br />
at the same time, insisting that sound<br />
science underlie the steel,” she points<br />
out. “He hired world-class photographers,<br />
consulted with sports and<br />
medical specialists, and used women<br />
in ads for the first time in order to<br />
demonstrate the remarkable benefits<br />
of exercise … The net effect of his<br />
marketing genius was worldwide<br />
recognition for brands such as Cybex<br />
and Technogym.<br />
“Aside from his impact on the fitness<br />
industry,” says Kinney, “Steve was best<br />
known as a great friend. He knew just<br />
about everyone and mixed, equally,<br />
with celebrities, club owners, and<br />
equipment manufacturers—with the<br />
same passion and intellectual humor.<br />
He’ll be missed by all.” —|<br />
Short Takes | Green Spaces Inspire Exercise<br />
It’s no coincidence that people who live near wide-open green spaces are more likely<br />
to engage in physical activities. A new study from the University of Southern Denmark<br />
concludes that a person’s proximity to green space has a direct influence on their fitness<br />
pursuits—including their likelihood of belonging to a health club. —|
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Copyright © 2011 Zumba Fitness, LLC | Zumba ® , Zumba Fitness ® and the Zumba Fitness logos are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC
| News & Know How | News<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Index<br />
Reflects Industry<br />
Strength<br />
Clubs’ 2010 financial performance<br />
shows marked improvement<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> recently released the findings<br />
of its Financial Index for 2010, and,<br />
despite a weak economy, the industry’s<br />
metrics, the results show, were<br />
surprisingly good.<br />
“Our survey of 16 leading U.S. health<br />
and sports club companies, representing<br />
a total of 498 facilities, shows that<br />
performance was robust among commercial<br />
health clubs last year,” reports<br />
Jay Ablondi, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s executive vice<br />
president of global products.<br />
The Index documented marked<br />
improvements in revenue, membership<br />
dues revenue, nondues revenue, and<br />
EDITDAR (earnings before interest,<br />
taxes, depreciation, amortization, and<br />
rent). Overall, results for the full calendar<br />
year ending December 31, 2010,<br />
compared to those for 2009, showed<br />
that total revenue rose 5.9%; membership-dues<br />
revenue climbed 3.5%;<br />
nondues sales increased 11.8%; and<br />
EBITDAR grew by 4.9%.<br />
“Even though the year started with<br />
performance comparable to 2009 indicators,<br />
the quarterly-index participants<br />
finished the year with strong fourthquarter<br />
results,” points out Melissa<br />
Rodriguez, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s manager of<br />
research. Nondues revenue posted the<br />
strongest increase, up 13.4% over the<br />
same quarter in ’09, and EBITDAR<br />
was up by 9.1% over 4Q ’09.<br />
For complete results, visit<br />
www.ihrsa.org/research. —|<br />
> CORRECTION: Todd Galati was<br />
incorrectly identified as being the<br />
new director of the American Council<br />
on Exercise (ACE) in the March issue<br />
of CBI (pg. 34). In<br />
fact, Galati’s title<br />
is: Director of<br />
Credentialing for<br />
ACE. CBI regrets<br />
the error. —|<br />
Todd Galati<br />
Marketing<br />
The Power of Group Buying<br />
By Liane Cassavoy<br />
22 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Thanks to group-buying services, such as Groupon, shopping is no longer a<br />
solitary activity. These deal-of-the-day services, which have recently<br />
exploded in popularity, are changing the way people shop—and the way<br />
merchants, fitness clubs among them, sell their wares. These services offer clubs<br />
a new marketing platform, and a novel way to get first-time customers in the door.<br />
Groupon, LivingSocial, and the just-launched Facebook Deals work by offering<br />
a limited-time special, which must be purchased by a minimum number of users<br />
in order for everyone to reap the savings. Groupon’s approach, says spokesman<br />
Chad Nason, works because its “tipping-point” concept guarantees a certain<br />
number of customers.<br />
Groupon works with businesses to<br />
create the deal and determine the<br />
tipping point, then sells the vouchers<br />
and collects payments. After taking<br />
its 50% commission, it hands the rest<br />
of the money over to the business.<br />
Nason says that “virtually all” of its<br />
deals reach their payoff point now<br />
that the service has more than 70<br />
million subscribers.<br />
The Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment<br />
Complex, a high-end sports and entertainment complex in Manhattan, uses<br />
Groupon to offer discounts on programs that could bring in potential new members,<br />
notes Dana Thayer, the senior vice president of marketing and sponsorship.<br />
Because customers have to redeem their Groupon once they enter a gym, operators<br />
can track the results of the promotion. “You can see exactly who they are, and<br />
provide the great experience that will turn them into repeat customers,” says Nason.<br />
Amy Peddycord, the owner of Invoke, a yoga and Pilates studio in Indianapolis,<br />
Indiana, agrees. Her first deal, last year, resulted in the sale of 404 Groupons,<br />
70% of which were sold to newcomers to her studio. Peddycord says that 50% of<br />
the Groupon customers went on to purchase additional classes or merchandise<br />
from the studio, and 40% became regular students.<br />
Groupon does allow businesses to impose a cap on their offers, a welcome<br />
relief for those wary of being overrun by bargain hunters. And clubs should<br />
consider how to cover the cost of the deals they offer. Peddycord says she made<br />
the decision not to pay her teachers—who are typically compensated per<br />
student—for the Groupon users who attended their classes.<br />
Both Thayer and Peddycord agree that, while using a service like Groupon is<br />
extra work, the effort is worthwhile.<br />
The concept of group buying and discounting has become so prevalent that<br />
now industry-specific versions, such as FitnessCouponClub.com, have begun to<br />
appear, as have business-to-business versions, including Motionsoft’s<br />
fillMyGym, which allows gyms to purchase discounted equipment.<br />
The overwhelmingly large scope of Groupon is one of the primary reasons<br />
that John Spencer Ellis started FitnessCouponClub.com. “Sometimes<br />
fitness services get lost in the mix,” he explains. “Now, an offer for a gym won’t<br />
be overlooked between the chimney-sweeping and restaurant appetizer<br />
specials.” —|
CBI Spends 10 Minutes on the Line with<br />
Kyle Zagrodzky<br />
Kyle Zagrodzky is the<br />
CEO of Go Figure, Inc.,<br />
based in Houston. He<br />
began developing club<br />
management software<br />
in the 1990s, after he<br />
and his wife, Brenda,<br />
opened nine franchised<br />
Curves facilities. In<br />
1997, he introduced the<br />
iGo Figure Membership<br />
and Business Management<br />
program, which<br />
is now sold in 14<br />
languages in more<br />
than 50 countries.<br />
.com<br />
To hear Kyle Zagrodzky<br />
describe iGo Figure<br />
software in detail, log<br />
on to www.igofigure.com<br />
and click on “iGo<br />
Product Video.”<br />
| News & Know How | First Person<br />
QWhat, exactly, is data mining and how can clubs capitalize<br />
on it most effectively? What prompted you to develop the<br />
iGo Figure Membership and Business Management software<br />
program? How can health clubs get the most out of the<br />
software they have? What’s the future look like for data mining?<br />
“Data mining is a method of processing large data<br />
sets to help identify trends, patterns, and anomalies,<br />
with the goal of gaining insights into what’s<br />
going on in many areas of a business.<br />
For example, on a day-to-day basis, you can use<br />
member data to help increase retention by identifying<br />
at-risk customers—ones with declining or<br />
erratic attendance patterns—or, conversely, VIP<br />
customers who maintain high spending levels.<br />
You can determine where most of your customers<br />
live, define their demographic profile, and then<br />
target the most likely prospects with an effective<br />
ad campaign. You can also use data to help<br />
identify members who are part of a special<br />
population—for instance, ones with diabetes—<br />
and then tailor programs, service levels, and<br />
specific communications for them that they’d<br />
profit from. Or you can identify and establish<br />
partnerships with the businesses in your market<br />
that club prospects tend to frequent.<br />
These are just a few of the ways that good data<br />
can help operators manage their businesses<br />
better. If they’re not making use of data-mining<br />
software at all, or aren’t fully leveraging the software<br />
they have, then they’re missing out on some<br />
major opportunities.<br />
I first entered the fitness industry as a martial<br />
artist many years ago. In the 1990s, my wife, Brenda,<br />
and I opened nine Curves franchises in Houston,<br />
and, in 1999, we won the Curves Multi-Franchisee<br />
of the Year Award. I began designing comprehensive,<br />
all-inclusive membership and club management<br />
software to meet my needs as a club<br />
operator. When iGo Figure demanded more of my<br />
time, Brenda, an outstanding club operator, took<br />
over our clubs. We sold them eight years ago.<br />
Over the years, my team and I have continued to<br />
design the product from the end-user’s perspective.<br />
Today, thousands of clubs use iGo Figure, in<br />
14 languages, in more than 50 countries. Our<br />
software offers integrated payment-processing<br />
and collection services in several of the countries<br />
we serve. And all of our users are encouraged to<br />
take advantage of our free one-on-one training,<br />
and have unlimited access to our powerful,<br />
Internet-based learning tools.<br />
Technological advances are constantly improving<br />
on what club management systems can deliver,<br />
which makes this an exciting field. What we can<br />
accomplish today with a single line of code<br />
required 20 lines of code just a few years ago.<br />
User-interface concepts are much more flexible<br />
and simpler to design, which makes applications<br />
easier to learn. Now, nontechnical employees<br />
can perform the complex data-mining tasks that<br />
were once left to “the IT people” to complete.<br />
For clubs to get the most from software, top<br />
management must recognize its value and properly<br />
train the employees who will be using it.<br />
Clubs will obtain the highest return on their<br />
investment only if they leverage its capabilities to<br />
the fullest.<br />
Social media may be the new frontier. People<br />
spent more time on Facebook than on any other<br />
Website in 2010. It’s becoming one of the best<br />
ways to get information directly to your members,<br />
and allows you to target ads locally, reaching your<br />
desired demographic. Some day, I imagine we’ll<br />
be able to farm data or write applications to work<br />
with sites like Facebook.<br />
Once we do, the sky’s the limit! ” —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 25
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Franchising Programming<br />
Vivafit Breaks Ground in Spain<br />
Warm welcome for Vivafit<br />
Vivafit, the Western European chain of women-only health clubs, has<br />
opened its first franchise location in Spain in the town of Lepe, near Huelva.<br />
The new facility—owned by businessman Florencio Andre—opened in<br />
February, and, having sold 232 memberships during presale, was already<br />
at break-even on the day that it made its debut.<br />
Vivafit owns two additional Spanish locations and hopes to have 100<br />
in the country by 2016. The company, based in Portugal, has more than<br />
100 centers there, and dominates the 30-minute-express sector with an<br />
estimated 80% market share. It’s also exploring opportunities in India<br />
and Singapore.<br />
“Vivafit strives to be the leading weight-loss fitness franchisor in the<br />
world,” explains President Constance Morrissey Ruiz. “We’re committed<br />
to meeting the highest standards of the fitness industry and the highest<br />
standards of franchising.” —|<br />
Snap Fitness a Top Franchisor for Young Entrepreneurs<br />
Snap Fitness, Inc., one of the world’s fastest-growing franchisors of 24/7<br />
express fitness centers, has been named one of the Top 21 Franchises for<br />
Young Entrepreneurs by Under30CEO.com. The recognition honors Snap<br />
Fitness as a franchise concept that appeals to the interests of entrepreneurs<br />
under the age of 30, pointing out that it’s “paid special attention<br />
to helping franchisees select their locations and has some of the lowest<br />
startup costs in the industry.” Snap also offers a Web tool that enables<br />
franchisees to manage their club operations online.<br />
“No matter the age, we<br />
encourage everyone who’s<br />
interested in opening up a<br />
health club to look at Snap<br />
Fitness as a viable franchise<br />
option,” suggests Peter<br />
Taunton, the founder and<br />
CEO of Snap Fitness, based in<br />
Chanhassen, Minnesota. “As<br />
a growing fitness concept, it’s<br />
our franchise system’s goal<br />
to provide the Generation Y<br />
franchise owners within our<br />
system with the necessary<br />
Peter Taunton<br />
support to lead them toward<br />
success.” —|<br />
| News & Know How | On The Move<br />
Crunch Launches X-Pert Pole<br />
Fitness Training Program<br />
Crunch Fitness, an industry leader in the field<br />
of innovative group-fitness programming, has<br />
announced the launch of X-Pert Pole Fitness, a<br />
professional training program. The course, offered<br />
in conjunction with X-Pole, a major manufacturer of<br />
poles, is the first and only one of its kind accredited<br />
by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America<br />
(AFAA) and the American Council on Exercise<br />
(ACE). The curriculum has also been endorsed by<br />
the Pole Fitness Association (PFA).<br />
Developed and led by<br />
top professionals in the<br />
fitness industry and polefitness<br />
community, the<br />
two-day, 16-hour training<br />
lays the groundwork<br />
for a general standard<br />
of safety and technique.<br />
It breaks down each<br />
section of a pole-fitness<br />
class—e.g., how to set up<br />
a pole properly, dance<br />
choreography, exercise<br />
Pole X-Pert-ise science—to provide the<br />
best workout possible. —|<br />
Marketing<br />
World Gym International<br />
Fires Up RED HOT SUMMER<br />
World Gym International,<br />
LLC, the iconic<br />
gym brand and<br />
international franchise<br />
company, has unveiled<br />
a new consumer<br />
campaign for its franchisees.<br />
The tagline:<br />
RED HOT SUMMER.<br />
The promotion features trademarked graphics<br />
that celebrate the company’s heritage and recent<br />
initiatives. The promotion package includes direct<br />
mail and e-mail, in-gym posters, social-media tools,<br />
and Website support to help franchisees attract<br />
prospects and retain existing members.<br />
“Our RED HOT SUMMER campaign helps franchisees<br />
to differentiate themselves from the generic<br />
fitness brands with which they compete,” explains<br />
Managing Director Guy Cammilleri. —|<br />
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| News & Know How | On The Move<br />
Club Openings<br />
FFC West Loop<br />
Sport & Health Finds Promise in Frederick, Maryland<br />
Fundraising<br />
FFC Introduces New West Loop Facility<br />
Sport & Health Clubs, the largest chain of health and fitness facilities in the<br />
metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, has signed a lease in anticipation of opening<br />
a $6-million, 42,000-square-foot location at Market Square, in Frederick, Maryland.<br />
“We’re just crazy about Frederick,” enthuses CEO Mark Fisher, who observes that<br />
the community is “very vibrant, active, and health-conscious.”<br />
The new facility in Frederick will offer an array of amenities, including group<br />
exercise, racquetball courts, indoor/outdoor swimming pools and tennis courts,<br />
Pilates, a Kidz Klub, tanning, and spa services.<br />
Sport & Health is based in Vienna, Virginia.” —|<br />
24 Hour Fitness Employee Supports the Troops<br />
Jessica Maddin, a front-desk employee at 24 Hour Fitness<br />
Worldwide, Inc., the world’s largest privately-owned club chain,<br />
could never have predicted the response she’d receive from an<br />
e-mail she sent to CEO Carl Liebert III, asking for his help to<br />
support U.S. troops. Now, she’s the proud founder of Jessica’s<br />
Hope Project, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports<br />
the men and women of the nation’s armed forces via care<br />
packages containing health<br />
and fitness supplies.<br />
Last April, Maddin sent<br />
her request to Liebert and<br />
explained her concern that,<br />
according to the U.S. Marine<br />
Corps, deployed military<br />
personnel lose approximately<br />
50 pounds of body weight per<br />
deployment. Within 10 days of<br />
Liebert, l., with Maddin her initial message, Maddin<br />
received a shipment from<br />
Liebert totaling more than $17,000 worth of 24 Hour Fitness<br />
retail products, including supplements, vitamins, protein bars,<br />
and powders. She’s since redistributed the donations to soldiers<br />
abroad in 451 individual shipments.<br />
“There are people out there like Jessica who have the power<br />
to take a stand and make a difference,” said Liebert, who once<br />
served as a naval officer. “I hope the success we’ve had with<br />
Jessica’s Hope Project serves as an inspiration to others to<br />
carry through with their ambitions.” —|<br />
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Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC), which owns and operates nine upscale clubs and<br />
manages three corporate fitness centers in the Greater Chicago area, has opened its<br />
new West Loop facility at 10 S. Clinton Street. The full-service, 52,000-square-foot<br />
property features a dramatic three-story glass-enclosed atrium entryway; an expansive<br />
skylight over the indoor pool; a new Pilates studio; advanced training areas; and a<br />
luxurious outdoor pool, sundeck, and beverage bar. Other amenities include an indoorcycling<br />
theater; group-fitness studios; complimentary towel and laundry service; and<br />
the FFC Spa. —|<br />
Sport & Health<br />
expanding<br />
The Claremont Club Excels at Art of Giving<br />
The Claremont Club, one of<br />
Southern California’s premier<br />
health, fitness, and wellness<br />
destinations, will celebrate its<br />
fifth year of hosting the Art of<br />
Giving Charity event this<br />
month, on July 30. The semiformal<br />
food and wine-tasting<br />
affair will be held at the side of<br />
the club’s pool, and 100% of<br />
Art of Giving goings-on<br />
the proceeds will be distributed<br />
to three programs:<br />
• the Living Well After Cancer program, in partnership with the<br />
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center’s Robert and Beverly<br />
Lewis Family Cancer Care Center, which supports individuals<br />
in different stages of recovery through personal training, nutritional<br />
counseling, group-exercise classes, and support groups;<br />
• the Adopt a Family program, which provides needy families<br />
with household essentials, such as beds, washers, dryers,<br />
linens, and other items;<br />
• and the Matt Leinart Foundation, an organization that cares<br />
for disadvantaged youth.<br />
“We’re hoping to raise $60,000 this year and anticipate a<br />
great turnout,” notes Shannon Malooly, the club’s groupexercise<br />
director. “Community businesses donate all the food,<br />
beverages, entertainment, and raffle items, and we put on an<br />
incredible event!” —|
GGI President Jim Snow
Jim Snow<br />
By Patricia Amend<br />
CBI: When you moved from Omni Hotels to become president of Gold’s Gym<br />
International, Inc. (GGI), in 2009, it raised a few eyebrows. What valuable<br />
qualities, skills, and experience did TRT Holdings, the parent of both<br />
companies, hope you’d bring to bear on GGI?<br />
JIm Snow: I think TRT saw it as a logical move, since the hospitality and fitness<br />
businesses have many fundamental components in common. They each have<br />
guests, facilities, sales departments, and a lot of competition, and rely heavily on<br />
great customer service and their ability to develop strong customer loyalty. The<br />
hotels I’ve managed were consistently ranked at the top of Omni’s guest-service<br />
and profitability metrics. This experience translated remarkably well to what we’re<br />
doing now at Gold’s Gym.<br />
CBI: Recently, in CBI, John McCarthy, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s executive director emeritus,<br />
wrote that one of the most important things that the industry needs to do<br />
today is “redefine itself as a hospitality business” and become much more<br />
“consumer-centric.” Your thoughts on that concept and how it relates,<br />
specifically, to Gold’s?<br />
JS: John is right on point. The fitness industry has a culture built around sales,<br />
while the hospitality industry has a culture built around service.<br />
But it wasn’t always like that; the hospitality industry was once dominated by fullservice<br />
hotels. When the economy brands began entering the market at a rapid pace<br />
with high-quality products, free amenities, and low prices, the competitive pressures<br />
escalated dramatically. The luxury hotel segment was forced to improve its products<br />
and service, and, today, it’s synonymous with service.<br />
The fitness industry faces a strikingly similar development, and consumers’<br />
spending habits have changed. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to provide<br />
value, regardless of what segment you’re in. Service is driven by culture, and culture<br />
revolves around people—not programs. A service-oriented culture requires a<br />
strong commitment by a company’s leadership.<br />
CBI: How would you best describe your own leadership style?<br />
JS: I’m a driver, and I expect fast results. And, while I don’t change things for<br />
the sake of change, the reason that I’ve assumed the positions I have is because<br />
progress had become stagnant or things were outdated. I also try to be very<br />
transparent for everyone, and, generally, people appreciate that.<br />
CBI: When you came on board, did TRT provide you with a list of specific<br />
goals or objectives?<br />
JS: Our guiding principle is: “To Be the Best Franchisor in this Space.” Our three ><br />
| CBI Interview |<br />
Gold’s Gym International, Inc., is relying on his vast hospitality<br />
industry experience to make it ‘The Best Franchisor in this Space’<br />
Highlights<br />
» Fitness/hospitality<br />
» Franchisee upgrades<br />
» Gold’s Gym Express<br />
» Worldwide expansion<br />
Jim Snow became president<br />
of Gold’s Gym International,<br />
Inc. (GGI), in 2009. A graduate<br />
of Kansas State University, he<br />
brings more than 23 years of<br />
experience in the hospitality<br />
and service industries to GGI,<br />
having developed an impressive<br />
track record in sales, retail,<br />
marketing, and management<br />
in a multi-unit, service-driven<br />
environment. He embarked<br />
on his career with Omni<br />
Hotels in 1992, and worked<br />
his way through numerous<br />
executive positions within the<br />
company. Most recently, he<br />
served as regional vice president<br />
of operations for Omni<br />
Hotels, a sister company of<br />
GGI, where he oversaw several<br />
high-profile properties, thousands<br />
of employees, and<br />
millions of dollars in revenue.<br />
Under his leadership, Omni<br />
Hotels was twice recognized<br />
as one of the “Best Places to<br />
Work in Texas.” Snow resides<br />
in Dallas with his family. He<br />
works out daily at a Gold’s<br />
franchise near GGI’s corporate<br />
office and, on weekends,<br />
at a corporate-owned club<br />
near his home. —|<br />
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| CBI Interview |<br />
long-term goals are to grow the GGI<br />
brand around the world; help our<br />
franchisees become more profitable;<br />
and dominate the fitness industry in<br />
the years to come.<br />
Our philosophy is guided by these<br />
goals, all of which demand that we<br />
balance the needs of our customers,<br />
associates, and owners. Identifying what<br />
was out of balance with GGI, and remedying<br />
that, has been my primary focus.<br />
CBI: Tell us what you’ve accomplished<br />
since becoming president.<br />
What progress have you made,<br />
thus far, in achieving your goals?<br />
JS: During the past 18 months, we’ve<br />
completely rebuilt GGI’s technology<br />
platform and improved the level of<br />
service that we provide to our new and<br />
existing franchisees. This has included<br />
redoing Gold’s Gym University online;<br />
investing in a new franchise communications<br />
platform; rebuilding our<br />
franchise sales systems; and revamping<br />
the Gold’s Gym Website.<br />
In addition, we’ve modified the<br />
roles of our regional field managers;<br />
launched the Gold’s Gym Express<br />
concept; and introduced our new<br />
Gold’s Capital financing division to<br />
support our franchisees.<br />
CBI: Let’s talk about those two<br />
additions for a moment. Can you<br />
tell us more about the Gold’s Gym<br />
Express clubs? What are their<br />
price points, what do they offer,<br />
and how do they differ from others<br />
in the economy segment?<br />
JS: Gold’s Gym Express was created in<br />
response to requests from our franchisees,<br />
who wanted a product to compete<br />
in the high-volume, low-price segment.<br />
Gold’s Gym Express is a $9.99-<br />
$19.99-a-month gym with low labor<br />
costs. All Express clubs feature highquality<br />
construction and design, our<br />
signature Cardio Cinema, unlimited<br />
guest passes, and a no-contract<br />
option. In addition, franchisees can<br />
choose to offer tanning, massage<br />
chairs, and a free training component.<br />
What differentiates us is the support<br />
we provide that most low-cost players<br />
don’t offer, including the latest virtual<br />
training technology, advice from<br />
celebrity trainers, customized workout<br />
programs, and comprehensive<br />
online tracking tools.<br />
“The hospitality and fitness businesses …<br />
each have guests, facilities, sales<br />
departments, and a lot of competition,<br />
and rely heavily on great customer<br />
service and their ability to develop<br />
strong customer loyalty.”<br />
32 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Our brand can now expand in ways<br />
that weren’t possible before, as this<br />
model works anywhere. Depending on<br />
the location and situation, franchisees<br />
can build a standalone Gold’s Gym<br />
Express or utilize it as part of a huband-spoke<br />
strategy.<br />
CBI: And the new financing arm,<br />
Gold’s Gym Capital—what was the<br />
rationale for creating it? Will it<br />
aid your new franchisees and your<br />
existing ones, as well?<br />
JS: Today, financing is the No. 1<br />
impediment to growth in the industry.<br />
We’ve hired Chuck lemar, the former<br />
president of Cybex Capital, to assist<br />
new and existing franchisees in<br />
obtaining financing for new operations,<br />
equipment financing, and renovations.<br />
CBI: You have an iconic, timetested<br />
brand—one of the few in<br />
the industry. How have you<br />
managed to broaden your market,<br />
while maintaining brand integrity?<br />
JS: Our founder, Joe Gold, was<br />
responsible for some of the earliest<br />
innovations in equipment and training,<br />
and, today, our iconic brand means so<br />
much to so many people around the<br />
world. We have the highest consumer<br />
awareness of any brand in the industry.<br />
More than ever, we’re focused on<br />
creating new offerings to help our<br />
members achieve their goals. We’ll<br />
continue to push the envelope on<br />
technology and innovation, whether<br />
that’s through our signature Cardio<br />
Cinema, our best-in-class customerretention<br />
program, our new Max Burn<br />
Zone and les Mills CX30 programs, or<br />
our new functional-training programs.<br />
Our “Know your Own Strength”<br />
campaign, which rolled out two years<br />
ago, this year evolved to become our<br />
“Stronger Than” campaign. It revolves<br />
around the notion of “redefining<br />
strength.” Strength refers not just to<br />
muscle, but also to inner strength, or<br />
the strength to get through tough<br />
times. This campaign has resonated<br />
strongly with consumers since we<br />
rolled it out in January.<br />
CBI: Speaking of tough times,<br />
we’ve all just been through a<br />
painful economic downturn. How<br />
has the recession affected your<br />
corporate revenues and profitability<br />
since it began in 2007? How do<br />
you see a general economic<br />
rebound taking shape?<br />
JS: After a couple of flat years in ’07<br />
and ’08, GGI posted the two most<br />
successful years in the history of the<br />
company in 2009 and 2010. I’m confident<br />
that we’ll continue to see strong<br />
growth moving forward as we continue<br />
to implement our business plan. We<br />
still have very high unemployment<br />
around the country, and the weakness<br />
of the dollar is a concern, but I<br />
believe we’re on track for a slow,<br />
extended recovery.<br />
I think the right question to ask is,
“What’s the new normal?”(See “The<br />
New Normal,” April CBI, pg. 42). I<br />
believe we’ve gone through a period<br />
that only our grandparents understand.<br />
A lot of people have been hurt. We’ve all<br />
made changes in the way we live.<br />
CBI: In your view, how has the<br />
downturn affected the fitness<br />
industry? Will things ever get<br />
back to ‘normal’, or are fundamental<br />
changes occurring? If<br />
so, what are they?<br />
JS: The industry is experiencing<br />
changes that will be with us for a long<br />
time. For example, short-term, the<br />
lack of financing has slowed franchise<br />
growth dramatically in all segments.<br />
As the economy improves, financing<br />
will loosen, but I’d be surprised if<br />
the easy lending days of the past<br />
ever return.<br />
The recession hurt the retail industry,<br />
creating a window for low-cost<br />
operators to step through. A lot of<br />
retail space is currently available,<br />
and the cost to enter the market in<br />
this segment is low. Franchises are<br />
attractive investments for equity<br />
groups, for multi-unit franchise<br />
operators, and for displaced corporate<br />
executives who can use funds<br />
from their large 401(k)s.<br />
low-cost gyms will improve just<br />
as the economy segment of the hotel<br />
industry has. They’ll continue to put<br />
pressure on full-amenity gym operators<br />
to keep their products looking<br />
good and their service standards high.<br />
CBI: What was the overall mood<br />
like when you attended <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
30th Anniversary International<br />
Convention and Trade Show in<br />
San Francisco? How did you make<br />
use of your time there?<br />
JS: This was my second <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
convention. It was great to see how ><br />
Pro FormA: GOlD’S GyM<br />
INTERNATIONAl, INC.<br />
| CBI Interview |<br />
• Number of Gold’s Gym full-service<br />
franchises in the U.S. and elsewhere: 623<br />
• Number of Gold’s Express franchises:<br />
3-5 open by August 2011<br />
• Total number of members in 2010:<br />
3.5 million<br />
• Member breakdown:<br />
53% female, 47% male<br />
• Cost to build/own a full-service Gold’s Gym<br />
(35,000-100,000 square feet): $963,000-<br />
$3.9 million; $25,000 franchise fee; royalty<br />
of 3% of annual gross revenues; National<br />
Ad Fund fee of 2% of annual gross revenues<br />
• Cost to build/own a Gold’s Gym Express<br />
(10,000-25,000 square feet): $895,000<br />
to $1.9 million; $25,000 franchise fee;<br />
royalty of 5% of annual gross revenues;<br />
National Ad Fund fee of 2% of annual gross<br />
revenues —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 33
| CBI Interview |<br />
much passion there is for this business<br />
among the attendees. These<br />
events provide us with an opportunity<br />
to talk to our franchisees, vendors,<br />
and investors about the new things<br />
that are happening at GGI. There’s a<br />
lot of enthusiasm for our new initiatives,<br />
and <strong>IHRSA</strong> was the perfect<br />
venue to capitalize on it.<br />
CBI: Looking ahead, what are your<br />
plans for 2011 and 2012? How many<br />
new clubs do you expect to open in<br />
the U.S. and internationally?<br />
JS: We anticipate having 20-30 new<br />
domestic clubs in 2011 and up to<br />
100 by the end of 2012. About 20%<br />
will be full-service clubs, and the<br />
remainder will be Gold’s Gym Express<br />
clubs. International development is<br />
also moving at a fast clip. Our master<br />
franchisees in India, the United Arab<br />
Emirates (UAE), the Philippines, and<br />
other places are ahead of schedule.<br />
34 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
India, alone, may exceed 100 new clubs<br />
over this time period. During the past<br />
few years, we’ve also opened Gold’s<br />
Gym clubs in Spain, Poland, and Venezuela,<br />
and, now, we’re drawing interest<br />
from other areas of the world.<br />
CBI: And, finally, on a more<br />
personal note: in what ways has<br />
fitness made a lasting, indelible<br />
impact on your life?<br />
JS: I joined my first gym, a European<br />
Health Spa, when I was 21, and I’ve<br />
been a gym member ever since.<br />
However, over time, all of the business<br />
dinners, traveling, and entertaining<br />
in the hotel industry took their toll.<br />
Thankfully, I see the Gold’s opportunity<br />
as a message from God to get back in<br />
shape! Todd Scartozzi, our chief operating<br />
officer (COO), and I work out<br />
every day at a Gold’s franchise near<br />
our office in Irving, Texas, and I use<br />
our Plano facility on weekends.<br />
new GGI ‘Express’ concept<br />
I’m especially proud of my oldest<br />
son, Mitchell, who’s transformed his<br />
life through fitness. When he went to<br />
college, Mitchell was 6'4" and<br />
weighed about 260 pounds. He joined<br />
a Gold’s Gym near campus, where he<br />
met a trainer, Courtney Palmer, who<br />
was our fitness manager. Courtney put<br />
Mitchell on the path to success, and<br />
he’s now 210 pounds, toned and<br />
muscular, and an inspiration to me,<br />
my wife, and our two other sons. —|<br />
– Patricia Amend, PAmend@aol.com
800. 989.0201<br />
&<br />
balance<br />
form<br />
celare.com
Map locations indicate firms’<br />
corporate headquarters<br />
24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc.<br />
Anytime Fitness<br />
Bally Total Fitness<br />
Brick Bodies<br />
Club One, Inc.<br />
ClubCorp (part of KSl<br />
Resorts)<br />
Curves International, Inc.<br />
elements fitness<br />
Fitness Together Holdings<br />
Gold’s Gym International, Inc.<br />
Jazzercise, Inc.<br />
l&T Health and Fitness<br />
lA Fitness International, llC<br />
lady of America Franchise<br />
Corporation<br />
leisure Sports, Inc.<br />
life Time Fitness, Inc.<br />
lifeStart Wellness Network<br />
lifestyle Family Fitness<br />
lucille Roberts Health Clubs<br />
MediFit Corporate<br />
Services, Inc.<br />
Millennium Partners Sports<br />
Club Management llC<br />
Planet Fitness<br />
Renaissance, Inc.<br />
The Rush Fitness Complex<br />
Snap Fitness<br />
Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Inc.<br />
Stroller Strides, llC<br />
Town Sports International<br />
Holdings, Inc.<br />
Western Athletic Clubs (part<br />
of KSl Resorts)<br />
The <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
GloBAl<br />
25<br />
36 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Organizacion Britania<br />
Goodlife Fitness Clubs
ElIXIA Nordic AS<br />
Fitness World<br />
HealthCity<br />
Bannatyne Fitness, ltd.<br />
David lloyd leisure, ltd.<br />
Fitness First Group, ltd.<br />
lA Fitness, Plc.<br />
A! Bodytech Participações<br />
BIO RITMO<br />
Bodytech<br />
Companhia Athletica<br />
New Fitness Centers, SA<br />
dba/ Gold’s Gym Peru<br />
Sportlife<br />
Nuffield Health Fitness &<br />
Wellbeing Centres<br />
B-Fit<br />
Club Med Gym<br />
Virgin Active<br />
Holmes Place<br />
McFit GmbH<br />
Kieser Training AG<br />
Fernwood Women’s<br />
Health Clubs<br />
power house sports international<br />
Central Sports Co., ltd.<br />
Konami Sports & life Co., ltd.<br />
PURE FITNESS<br />
World Gym Taiwan<br />
The economic<br />
recovery iS uneven,<br />
buT iT’S gaThering momenTum<br />
By Patricia Amend<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 37
The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25<br />
t’s now official.<br />
The health club industry—comprised, in large part, of thousands of dedicated, hard-working, highly professional<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> members—is truly recession-resilient. Figures for 2010 confirm that the U.S. industry has successfully navigated<br />
one of the worst and most trying economic downturns of the last century. Many club operators in other parts of the<br />
world have also stayed the course, but, admittedly, some continue to struggle in this most uneven of recoveries.<br />
A year ago, CBI noted that the industry had breathed a collective sigh of relief, as there was a real sense that things<br />
were finally beginning to improve, despite the fact that a full recovery remained elusive. That positive sentiment is<br />
even stronger now.<br />
“We can be proud that many people in this industry worked very hard to improve their clubs under difficult<br />
circumstances,” observes Rick Caro, the president of Management Vision, Inc., a consulting firm based in New York<br />
City. “In 2010, the number of net members increased, and attrition is under control again—closer to the 2008 numbers,<br />
following a difficult 2009. Nondues revenue came back; EBITDA margins are now closer to 2008 levels, though<br />
not as high as in 2007; and we saw the first growth in members in several years.”<br />
Results from <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s annual membership survey, conducted in January, indicate that U.S. club membership<br />
reached 50.2 million in 2010, a healthy 10.8% increase over 45.3 million in 2009. That jump is even more impressive<br />
considering the fact that the number of Americans belonging to a club was flat—between 45 and 46 million—<br />
from 2006 to 2009. In addition, the total number of health club consumers—i.e., members and nonmember users<br />
and visitors—reached 58 million in 2010, up 10.4% from 52.6 million in 2009.<br />
Finally, total U.S. industry revenues were $20.3 billion in 2010, up 4% over the previous year, and the number of<br />
clubs totaled 29,890, a slight increase from 29,750 in 2009. Worldwide, the industry generated an estimated $70<br />
billion in revenues, the result of the efforts of more than 128,000 clubs.<br />
Turning The corner<br />
“I’m definitely seeing more optimism on the part of club owners, compared to the ‘bunker mentality’ of the last two<br />
years, and, I think, for good reason,” says Duane Stullich, managing director at FocalPoint Partners, an investment<br />
banking firm based in Los Angeles. “Operators with balance-sheet issues who took the steps needed to fix them have<br />
created opportunities for growth. Crunch Fitness is a good example of this.”<br />
“Groups including LA Fitness, Urban Active, and XSport continue to build highly attractive, multisport boxes and<br />
maintain large memberships at reasonable membership prices,” says Pete Moore, the managing partner at Integrity<br />
Square, a boutique investment firm based in New York City that focuses on the active-lifestyle, health, and wellness<br />
sector. “Equinox and Life Time Fitness, on the high end, are exceeding expectations. And Planet Fitness and WOW!<br />
Work Out World are performing extremely well at lower-priced memberships.”<br />
One of the principal factors contributing to the relatively stable number of clubs in<br />
the U.S., and the increase in the number of club members, both in the U.S. and world-<br />
wide, is the ongoing success story of Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness. By the end of<br />
2010, Anytime Fitness had a total of 1,496 facilities, a 20% increase over 2009, and<br />
placed No. 2 on the Number of Franchises list; Snap Fitness had 1,122, a 17%<br />
increase over ’09, and placed No. 3 on the list. Anytime Fitness’ five-year unit<br />
growth rate (2006-2010) was 397%, and Snap Fitness’ was 783%.<br />
Together, the two companies now serve some 1.3 million members.<br />
Still, there were no big deals in the U.S. last year for three principal<br />
reasons, Caro explains. “Strategic buyers haven’t been willing to pay<br />
the prices of three years ago, so potential sellers have been holding off.<br />
Debt financing has been hard to obtain for cash-based borrowers who couldn’t<br />
get the leverage that was available in 2008. It was also difficult for asset-basedborrowers<br />
because banks have tightened their requirements in general or because<br />
they have problems with this industry. However, due to changes in some SBA loan requirements, things may pick<br />
up by the end of this year.”<br />
“Fitness facilities definitely require cash-flow loans, which was a class of lending that dried up in 2009, but<br />
experienced some loosening in 2010,” notes Brent Knudsen, a managing partner at Partnership Capital Growth in<br />
San Francisco. “It’s now available primarily to larger, stronger operators such as LA Fitness, which raised a<br />
$300-million acquisition line earlier this year, and 24 Hour Fitness, which also restructured its debt recently. In<br />
addition, more local and regional operators have accessed improved credit facilities with lenders willing to support<br />
higher debt levels for growth and acquisitions.”<br />
“We can be proud<br />
that many people<br />
in this industry<br />
worked very hard<br />
to improve their<br />
clubs under difficult<br />
circumstances.”<br />
38 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g
vieW From euroPe<br />
Results from a survey conducted by the Leisure Database Company show a slight increase in the number of U.K.<br />
clubs, from 5,795 in 2009 to 5,885 in 2010, while membership rose from 7.3 million in 2009 to 7.4 million in 2010.<br />
However, Continental Europe was still restrained by the recession in 2010, with the main exception being<br />
Germany, points out David Giampaolo, the chief executive of Pi Capital, based in London. “Greece, Ireland, and<br />
Portugal had to be bailed out by the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Unemployment<br />
is high in most countries, and taxes are on the rise. I don’t think the industry has turned the corner yet,” he suggests.<br />
“However, there are some very successful exceptions, including Fitness First, Virgin Active, and Health City.”<br />
When it comes to debt financing, medium and large companies still enjoy access, Giampaolo says. “However, it’s<br />
neither easy nor cheap,” he adds. “Generally speaking, debt financing, in my opinion, will be a lot harder to obtain<br />
for years to come. Part of the reason for this is the fact that most banks need to shrink their balance sheets and<br />
increase their capital reserves. And there are other industries with a better credit history than fitness.”<br />
Still, the end of 2010 and the first half of 2011 were ripe with noteworthy deals. Health City acquired all 57 Fitness<br />
First facilities in the Benelux region, which, when combined with their takeover of the budget chain Basic Fit, brings<br />
Health City’s total count to 210 clubs.<br />
Virgin Active agreed to acquire Esporta’s 35 health and fitness operations and 20 racquet-sport clubs in the U.K.,<br />
which will give the company 124 sites in Britain, in addition to its locations in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa.<br />
Club Med Gym’s majority shareholder, the private-equity group 21 Partners, acquired Group Helvetique Silhouette.<br />
Club Med Gym operates 22 clubs in Paris, and 32 corporate or hotel facilities; Silhouette has 22 sports clubs in<br />
Geneva, Zurich, and Brussels. ><br />
NUMBER OF FACIlITIES OWNED—yEAR 2010<br />
Rank & Company number owned other Units Total Units<br />
1 Fitness First Group, ltd. 474 Franchised: 18 492<br />
2 24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc. 419 N/A 419<br />
3 LA Fitness International, LLC 360 N/A 360<br />
4 Bally Total Fitness 300+ N/A 300+<br />
5 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 216 Franchised: 48 264<br />
6 Konami Sports & life Co., ltd. 210 Managed: 149 359<br />
7 HealthCity 203 Franchised: 7 210<br />
8 Virgin Active 194 N/A 194<br />
9 B-Fit 164 N/A 164<br />
10 Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. 158 Managed: 4; Partly Owned: 2 164<br />
11 ClubCorp 139 Managed: 8 147<br />
12 Central Sports Co., ltd. 115 Managed: 40 155<br />
13 SATS Sports Club Sweden AB 113 licensed: 30; Franchised: 3 146<br />
14 Renaissance, Inc. 98 Managed: 6 104<br />
15a Life Time Fitness, Inc. 89 N/A 89<br />
15b David Lloyd Leisure, Ltd. 89 N/A 89<br />
16 LA Fitness, Plc. 80 N/A 80<br />
17 Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs 74 N/A 74<br />
18 Fitness World 64 N/A 64<br />
19 Gold’s Gym International, Inc. 63 Franchised: 637 700<br />
20 Bannatyne Fitness, Ltd. 60+ N/A 60<br />
21 Lifestyle Family Fitness 55 N/A 55<br />
22a Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres 52 Managed: 148 200+<br />
22b lucille Roberts Health Clubs 52 Franchised: 3 55<br />
23 L&T Health and Fitness 48 N/A 48<br />
24 Organizacion Britania 46 Managed: 5 51<br />
25a ELIXIA Nordic AS 45 N/A 45<br />
25b Bodytech 45 N/A 45<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 39
The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25<br />
The Altor Fund III signed an agreement to acquire ELIXIA Holding II AS, which operates 34 clubs in<br />
Norway, 11 in Finland, and two in Sweden.<br />
auSTralia leadS in aSia-PaciFic<br />
Once regarded as a relatively untapped market, this part of the world now claims a number of successful<br />
club companies, including Konami and Central Sports in Japan; Ozone Fitness and Shenzhen Catic Wellness<br />
in China; and Fitness First, which is based in the U.K.<br />
Now, in a major move, the Fitness First Group has applied for an initial public offering (IPO) on the<br />
Singapore exchange during the third quarter of this year. The company, which is owned by BC Partners,<br />
based in London, hopes to raise S$600 million ($481.4 million) to S$700 million ($561.6 million). Fitness<br />
First now owns or franchises nearly 500 clubs across 18 countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.<br />
“At the same time, over the past two years, club growth was slow or flat in markets affected by the<br />
downturn,” observes Melissa Rodriguez, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s research manager. “Thailand, in particular, endured a<br />
political crisis and violence that led to the loss of the True Fitness Zen Central club in Bangkok. Other<br />
countries, such as Indonesia, were relatively unaffected by the recession, which put Celebrity Fitness<br />
in a position to acquire California Fitness’ Malaysian operations. Just as they have in the U.S., some club<br />
companies in Asia-Pacific are now consolidating and improving their internal processes.<br />
“On the plus side,” continues Rodriguez, “more than 2.5 million people belonged to 2,800 clubs in the<br />
Australian market, which generated $2 billion in 2010. Women-only clubs, such as Curves, Contours<br />
Express, and Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs, a full-service chain, have also flourished. At the moment,<br />
Fitness First Australia claims an estimated one-third of the full-service market.”<br />
In Japan, the fitness market, with some 3,500 clubs, generated an estimated $5.1 billion in 2010. After<br />
three years of slight declines or slow growth, the first quarter of 2010 was marked by an uptrend, according<br />
to Club Business Japan. However, the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck in March and the<br />
23-foot tsunami that battered the coast have hurt the industry, Rodriguez says. “The FIA Japan has indicated<br />
that more than 100 clubs sustained damage, and 30 of them haven’t announced plans to reopen.”<br />
hat’s ahead for the industry in the near future? What trends bode well for clubs?<br />
Will deal-making resume in the U.S.?<br />
“We can all agree that 2010 was a challenging year as businesses were still<br />
recovering and valuations weren’t appealing with respect to exits,” says Knudsen.<br />
“However, with hold periods approaching five years for private-equity-backed<br />
fitness properties and business performance recovering, we believe that we’ll see a<br />
fair amount of deal activity in 2011 and 2012.”<br />
“I see a number of trends continuing to drive the industry,” concludes Stullich.<br />
“From the consumer’s point of view, I see more choices emerging as operators become<br />
more sophisticated about identifying and exploiting niches. With respect to consolidation,<br />
I do see significant investor interest and improving capital markets. There’s also<br />
the ongoing entrepreneurial spirit, the passion for health and fitness, and the favorable<br />
demographic trends—which is why I love this resilient industry.”<br />
– Patricia Amend, PAmend@aol.com<br />
Editor’s note: Data for this article was compiled, in part, from The 2011 <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global Report: The State<br />
of the Health Club Industry, which contains profiles of more than 240 companies. This comprehensive<br />
publication can now be purchased by logging on to www.ihrsa.org/store; the price is $29.95 for <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
members, and $69.95 for nonmembers.<br />
><br />
40 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g
NUMBER OF FRANCHISES—yEAR 2010<br />
Rank & Company number of Units other Units Total<br />
1 Curves International, Inc. 8,032 N/A 8,032<br />
2 Jazzercise, Inc. 7,800 Owned: 2 7,802<br />
3 Anytime Fitness 1,486 Owned: 10 1,496<br />
4 Snap Fitness 1,092 Owned: 30 1,122<br />
5 Gold’s Gym International, Inc. 637 Owned: 63 700<br />
6 Fitness Together Holdings 394 N/A 394<br />
7 Planet Fitness 374 Owned: 16 390<br />
8 Stroller Strides, llC 303 Owned: 1; licensed: 110 414<br />
9 lady of America Franchise Corporation 168 licensed: 30 198<br />
10 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 48 Owned: 216 264<br />
NUMBER OF MEMBERS—yEAR 2010<br />
Rank & Company Total<br />
1 24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc. 3,800,000<br />
2a Gold’s Gym International, Inc. 3,500,000<br />
2b Bally Total Fitness 3,500,000<br />
3 Planet Fitness 2,348,270<br />
4 Curves International, Inc. 1,900,000<br />
5 Fitness First Group, ltd. 1,317,170<br />
6a McFit GmbH 975,000<br />
6b Virgin Active 975,000<br />
7 Anytime Fitness 940,000<br />
8 Konami Sports & life Co., ltd. 801,000<br />
9 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 670,533<br />
10 life Time Fitness, Inc. 612,556<br />
11 Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. 493,000<br />
12 Snap Fitness 400,000<br />
13 Renaissance, Inc. 355,000<br />
14a Organizacion Britania 350,000<br />
14b ClubCorp 350,000<br />
15 SATS Sports Club Sweden AB 275,000<br />
16 Fitness World 254,000<br />
17 lady of America Franchise Corporation 240,000<br />
18 lucille Roberts Health Clubs 233,300<br />
19 lifestyle Family Fitness 212,969<br />
20 Nuffield Health Fitness &<br />
Wellbeing Centres 170,000<br />
21 ElIXIA Nordic AS 162,000<br />
22 World Gym Taiwan 159,000<br />
23 Club One, Inc. 151,250<br />
24 Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Inc. 125,000<br />
25 Jazzercise, Inc. 119,250<br />
REVENUES—yEAR 2010<br />
Rank & Company Revenues $ millions<br />
1 Konami Sports & life Co., ltd. 1,052<br />
2 24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc. 1,000 +<br />
3 Fitness First Group, ltd. 984<br />
4 life Time Fitness, Inc. 913<br />
5 Virgin Active 709<br />
6 Central Sports Co., ltd. 565<br />
7 Bally Total Fitness 480<br />
8 Renaissance, Inc. 466<br />
9 Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. 462<br />
10 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 341<br />
11 SATS Sports Club Sweden AB 247<br />
12 McFit GmbH 212<br />
13 Holmes Place 193<br />
14 Kieser Training AG 191<br />
15 ElIXIA Nordic AS 168<br />
16 Planet Fitness 157<br />
17 Western Athletic Clubs 111<br />
18a lifestyle Family Fitness 102<br />
18b Fitness Together Holdings 102<br />
19 Jazzercise, Inc. 96<br />
20 Millennium Partners Sports Club<br />
Management, llC 92<br />
21 Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Inc. 90<br />
22a Fitness World 80<br />
22b Club One, Inc. 80<br />
23 A! Bodytech Participações 78<br />
24 Curves International, Inc. 76<br />
25 leisure Sports, Inc. 73<br />
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The <strong>IHRSA</strong> Global 25<br />
REVENUE GROWTH<br />
2010 Revenues 2009 Revenues Change<br />
Rank & Company $ millions $ millions $ millions % Change<br />
1 Virgin Active 709 623 86 14%<br />
2 life Time Fitness, Inc. 913 837 76 9%<br />
3 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 341 275 66 24%<br />
4 Fitness First Group, ltd. 984 943 41 4%<br />
5 Fitness World 80 45 35 78%<br />
6 McFit GmbH 212 179 33 18%<br />
7 Planet Fitness 157 130 27 21%<br />
8 Holmes Place 193 171 22 13%<br />
9 Kieser Training AG 191 170 21 12%<br />
10 BIO RITMO 65 45 20 44%<br />
11 ElIXIA Nordic AS 168 148 20 14%<br />
12 Renaissance, Inc. 466 447 19 4%<br />
13 Organizacion Britania 50 33 17 52%<br />
14 elements fitness 22 9 13 144%<br />
15 A! Bodytech Participações 78 65 13 20%<br />
16 Bally Total Fitness 480 469 11 2%<br />
17 World Gym Taiwan 47 38 9 24%<br />
18 leisure Sports, Inc. 73 64 9 14%<br />
19 Companhia Athletica 49 43 6 14%<br />
20 The Rush Fitness Complex 46 41 5 12%<br />
21 Western Athletic Clubs 111 106 5 5%<br />
22 Brick Bodies 20 16 4 25%<br />
23 Sportlife 25 21 4 19%<br />
24 MediFit Corporate Services, Inc. 35 31 4 13%<br />
25 SATS Sports Club Sweden AB 247 243 4 2%<br />
TOP TEN FIVE-yEAR REVENUE GROWTH<br />
2010 Revenues 2006 Revenues Increase<br />
Rank & Company $ millions $ millions $ millions % Change<br />
1 life Time Fitness, Inc. 913 512 401 78%<br />
2 Virgin Active 709 329 380 115%<br />
3 Fitness First Group, ltd. 984 717 267 37%<br />
4 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 341 127 214 169%<br />
5 Central Sports Co., ltd. 565 422 143 34%<br />
6 Planet Fitness 157 30 127 423%<br />
7 Holmes Place 193 79 114 144%<br />
8 McFit GmbH 212 105 107 102%<br />
9 ElIXIA Nordic AS 168 73 95 130%<br />
10 SATS Sports Club Sweden AB 247 158 89 56%<br />
42 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g
UNIT GROWTH<br />
Rank & Company 2010 Units 2009 Units Unit Increase % Change<br />
1 Jazzercise, Inc. 7,802 7,472 330 4%<br />
2 Anytime Fitness 1,496 1,250 246 20%<br />
3 Snap Fitness 1,122 956 166 17%<br />
4 Stroller Strides, llC 414 305 109 36%<br />
5 HealthCity 210 114 96 84%<br />
6 Planet Fitness 390 300 90 30%<br />
7 B-Fit 164 80 84 105%<br />
8 Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres 200+ 157 43 27%<br />
9 lA Fitness International, llC 360 324 36 11%<br />
10 Konami Sports & life Co., ltd. 359 327 32 10%<br />
11 Club Med Gym 53 22 31 141%<br />
12 elements fitness 39 12 27 225%<br />
13 Fitness World 64 39 25 64%<br />
14 MediFit Corporate Services, Inc. 224 203 21 10%<br />
15 PURE FITNESS 32 16 16 100%<br />
16 power house sports international 20 6 14 233%<br />
17 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 264 250 14 6%<br />
18 New Fitness Centers, SA dba/ Gold’s Gym Peru 22 10 12 120%<br />
19 lifeStart Wellness Network 30 20 10 50%<br />
20 BIO RITMO 34 24 10 42%<br />
21 leisure Sports, Inc. 16 7 9 129%<br />
22 McFit GmbH 134 125 9 7%<br />
23 Bodytech 45 36 9 25%<br />
24 World Gym Taiwan 22 15 7 47%<br />
25 Virgin Active 194 187 7 4%<br />
TOP TEN FIVE-yEAR UNIT GROWTH<br />
Rank & Company 2010 Units 2006 Units<br />
Units<br />
Increased % Change<br />
1 Jazzercise, Inc. 7,802 6,285 1,517 24%<br />
2 Anytime Fitness 1,496 301 1,195 397%<br />
3 Snap Fitness 1,122 127 995 783%<br />
4 Planet Fitness 390 106 284 268%<br />
5 Stroller Strides, llC 414 151 263 174%<br />
6 lA Fitness International, llC 360 175 185 106%<br />
7 B-Fit 164 10 154 1540%<br />
8 Goodlife Fitness Clubs 264 121 143 118%<br />
9 Fitness Together Holdings 394 300 94 31%<br />
10 Konami Sports & life Co., ltd. 359 276 83 30%<br />
STIPUlATIONS<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>’s Global 25 listings are designed to provide basic<br />
information about some of the world’s largest and/or fastest-<br />
growing club companies, but they are not definitive. Many of<br />
the firms that should appear on these charts do not because<br />
they were unwilling or unable to provide all of the informa-<br />
tion requested by CBI’s deadline. The figures reported were<br />
obtained from the companies themselves or from public,<br />
published resources, and, in most cases involving major<br />
firms, represent the one-year period ending on December<br />
31, 2010. None of the figures, it should be noted, have been<br />
independently corroborated. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 43
Group Exercise<br />
44 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Fitness-Studio onE overlooks<br />
the Black Forest<br />
hen Les Mills International set the stage for its Ultimate<br />
Studio Search in January, it sought to discover the finest<br />
group-fitness studios in the world. In the process, the<br />
industry-wide competition shone a spotlight on the vital<br />
role that design can play in creating memorable—even<br />
magical—group-ex experiences.<br />
“We wanted to make the point that not every club has a sterile, intimidating<br />
group-ex environment,” explains Phillip Mills, Les Mills’ chief<br />
executive. “Many clubs go well beyond the traditional approach to create<br />
the engrossing theatre space a great studio can be.”<br />
The search is over, the votes are in, and the bar has been set. The two<br />
winning clubs, which were selected by an all-star panel of judges, are
First Coast Fitness has a<br />
distinctive theatrical flair<br />
Extraordinaire!<br />
Ultimate Studio Search discovers<br />
infinite design possiblities<br />
located on opposite sides of the planet: Fitness-<br />
Studio ONE in Germany, and First Coast Fitness in<br />
Florida. In recognition of their efforts, they each<br />
win trips for two to Auckland, New Zealand, the<br />
home of Les Mills.<br />
“The top entries demonstrate that great studio<br />
design can inspire your instructors and members,<br />
and transform your business,” observes Mills. “If you<br />
invest in the tremendous power of group fitness, it<br />
can pay huge dividends. I think our two winners set a<br />
very high standard for the industry to strive for, and<br />
it will be fascinating to see how other clubs respond.”<br />
About 14 years ago, Fitness-Studio ONE owner<br />
Frank Schmid bought an aging fitness club in the<br />
historic village of Dornstetten, nestled in the German<br />
Black Forest. The club offered some old-school step<br />
and aerobics classes, but the tiny 646-square-foot<br />
group fitness room had a wooden pillar in the<br />
middle and accommodated only 10-12 class members<br />
at a time. Amenities were basic and, in a town of<br />
10,000 citizens, the club was at the mercy of two<br />
modern gyms that had just opened nearby.<br />
“In such a competitive fitness market, my main<br />
goal was just to survive,” Schmid reflects.<br />
The first part of his journey was to introduce the<br />
Les Mills GFM (Group Fitness Management)<br />
approach and systematize the studio side of his<br />
business. As more and more people began to cram<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 45<br />
>
Group Exercise Extraordinaire!<br />
Fitness-Studio one wins in<br />
Dornstetten, Germany<br />
into his tiny gym, Schmid realized he needed to<br />
move to a larger venue.<br />
Today, Fitness-Studio ONE occupies a former<br />
car dealership, which has been remodeled into a<br />
state-of-the-art facility. Its group fitness studio<br />
affords breathtaking views and a perfect environment<br />
that motivates up to 45 class members. The<br />
studio’s front and sides are made completely of<br />
glass to provide an impressive view of the Black<br />
Forest and give members the feeling of taking<br />
classes in the middle of nature.<br />
“The fitness room is air-conditioned and flood-<br />
lit to help our people push to the limit and fight for<br />
their fitness, but also to have fun and relax,” he says.<br />
“Our mission was to create a new dimension of group<br />
fitness magic, every time. We want each participant<br />
to be a part of a very special fitness adventure,<br />
effecting a positive life change. And the success of<br />
my members means the success of my studio.”<br />
The studio’s compelling design impressed the<br />
competition’s judges.<br />
“The use of natural light and the view in and out<br />
of the studio make an important statement about<br />
the future of what great studios can be,” enthuses<br />
renowned health club designer Rudy Fabiano, of<br />
Fabiano Designs, an <strong>IHRSA</strong> associate member in<br />
Montclair, New Jersey.<br />
“I love this guy’s story,” adds Mills. “He has succeeded<br />
in a hugely competitive market by emphasizing<br />
group-ex. He invested in, and committed to, giving<br />
his members an outstanding environment for their<br />
workouts, and they’ve clearly responded to that.”<br />
46 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
First Coast Fitness takes prize<br />
in St. Johns, Florida<br />
Similarly, half a world away in St Johns, Florida,<br />
First Coast Fitness goes the extra mile to give members<br />
the best possible setting for their workouts.<br />
Perhaps the most impressive feature of this groupfitness-only<br />
club is a 2,000-square-foot Zenterra<br />
Bamboo fitness floor, designed specifically for yoga<br />
and group exercise. It’s manufactured by Fitness<br />
Flooring, Inc., an Indianapolis-based <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
associate member. A high stage contributes to the<br />
“theatre” effect and a sophisticated lighting system<br />
creates an array of spectacular effects.<br />
“Lighting has really enhanced our participants’<br />
experience,” says owner Annda Kinsey. “Everyone<br />
feels comfortable to explore their own fitness levels<br />
and every class feels like a party!”<br />
Ultimate Studio Search judge Scott Jeffrey, the chief<br />
creative officer at Interbrand Design Forum, in Dayton,<br />
Ohio, felt a personal connection with this room.<br />
“When I think of working out, I do so in the hopes<br />
of transforming my body,” he said. “First Coast<br />
creates a dynamic environment that’s exciting, and<br />
would entice me to go on a regular basis and,<br />
perhaps more importantly, stay on a regimen! In<br />
addition, the darker environment gives me the<br />
feeling that I’m part of a group, yet provides a<br />
modest amount of privacy if I’m not satisfied with<br />
my individual results.”<br />
And that, after all, is the essence of a great<br />
group fitness space: allowing participants to feel<br />
comfortable expressing themselves and inspiring<br />
them to create fitness magic. Congratulations to<br />
Fitness-Studio ONE and First Coast Fitness! —|
moSt-HoNorABlE mENtioNS<br />
to judge entries submitted to the les Mills Ultimate Studio Search, les Mills CEO Phillip Mills<br />
enlisted the expertise of Donna Cyrus, senior vice president of programming for Crunch<br />
Fitness; Rudy Fabiano, the president and design director at Fabiano Designs; and Scott Jeffrey,<br />
the chief creative officer for Interbrand Design Forum. They singled out several non-winning<br />
studios as appropriate examplars for the industry:<br />
Fitness Concepts, New York - “I love the high ceilings and the antique stained-glass windows.<br />
It creates a wonderful organic feel with varying light throughout the day.” — Mills<br />
City Club, Fort Worth, texas - “The sound boards’ wavy design not only addresses the sound<br />
echo issues in a racquet ball court, but gives the ambience of clouds in the sky.” — Cyrus<br />
level Up, Kuching, malaysia - “The electrically charged atmosphere would encourage me<br />
to go all-out in the spin class. I could imagine the energy created by my spinning ‘powering’ the<br />
room.” — Jeffrey<br />
Go Fitness, Cancun, mexico - “They were able to take the energy of the classes and tie that into<br />
the entire club.” — Cyrus<br />
liFE Clubs, New York - “This is a fabulous sound and light system, and decor.” — Mills<br />
Other companies on the judges’ short list were: Fitness Centre Pura Vita, Emden, Germany;<br />
Zone Health and Fitness, Salisbury Plain, Australia; Powerhouse Utica, Utica, New york; Energy<br />
Gym, Selbyville, Delaware; and Re-Creation Carnegie, Melbourne, Australia. —|<br />
Zone Health & Fitness<br />
PUSHiNG DESiGN BoUNDAriES<br />
While none of the les mills gyms in New<br />
Zealand were eligible to participate in the<br />
Ultimate Studio Search, these facilities are<br />
no less committed to design excellence.<br />
The company’s most recent addition,<br />
les Mills Britomart, in downtown Auckland,<br />
is ideally situated to draw commuter and<br />
residential foot traffic, while complementing<br />
its bigger brother, les Mills<br />
Auckland—which has 10,000 group-<br />
Powerhouse Gym<br />
fitness visits a week—just up the road.<br />
Built adjacent to the city’s central<br />
railway station, its location on prime<br />
real estate means space is tight and<br />
smart design is crucial. To maximize<br />
capacity, the stage is set across the<br />
corner of the main group-fitness studio,<br />
effectively creating a diamond-shaped<br />
layout. To protect personal space, the<br />
studio carpet has been specially woven<br />
City Club<br />
LIFE Clubs<br />
Pura Vita<br />
with circles—approximately four feet in<br />
diameter—defining the ideal individual<br />
workout area.<br />
On the other hand, each bike in the<br />
RPM studio is deliberately set as close<br />
to each other as possible, within close<br />
proximity to the stage, to replicate the<br />
experience of pack riding and make it<br />
easy for people to engage with instructors<br />
and one another. —|<br />
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locker room<br />
largesse<br />
TOP DESIGNERS<br />
OFFER VAlUABlE<br />
TIPS ON ‘OPENING’<br />
UP SMAll SPACES<br />
the average locker room presents a particular design conundrum. It is, by nature,<br />
an intimate area, but operators still need to provide the perception of space.<br />
“Spatial sensitivity—or the general desire for more personal space—is<br />
increasing,” reports Rudy Fabiano, AIA, the president of Fabiano Designs, in<br />
Montclair, New Jersey. “By making one’s personal space seem larger, we can<br />
achieve the desired result of making the overall space seem bigger as well. For<br />
example, larger showers create a feeling of grandness. Likewise, increasing the<br />
width of hallways and passageways creates a sense of spaciousness as members<br />
move through the locker room. Remember, people in towels don’t really want to touch one<br />
another, so the perception of space in this area of the club is critical.”<br />
Even small, tucked-away details can help open things up. “Built-ins and casework—in lieu<br />
of loose, spread-out furnishings—can bring more space back into the room,” says Michael<br />
Prifti, FAIA, a principal at BLT Architects, in Philadelphia. “Millwork items also add a sense of<br />
luxury and a feeling of roominess.”<br />
According to the architects and designers that CBI spoke with, virtually every aspect of the<br />
locker room can be enlarged … without necessarily adding a square foot of space.<br />
COlOR PROVIDES CONTEXT<br />
“Strategically placing lighter color tones in the open and common areas will increase the sense<br />
of openness in contrast to the smaller, individually focused spaces,” points out Robert Braun<br />
48 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Symphony House Health Club<br />
By Jon Feld<br />
>
Spaciousness reigns in Fabiano-designed locker room<br />
of Club H Fitness at Hell’s Kitchen in new York City<br />
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Locker Room Largesse<br />
RA, LEED AP, of Langdon Wilson International, based in Los Angeles. “Selectively placing color and<br />
incorporating complementary hues or changes in saturation can enhance the user’s spatial perception.”<br />
Bob McDonald, senior principal at the Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative, in Denver, adds: “The more light,<br />
bright, and airy you can make a space, the more open it’s going to feel. That’s not to say that a few rich<br />
accents of darker wood or stone aren’t appropriate. If applied sparingly and with care, these can add a<br />
luxurious feel at a reasonable cost. It’s especially important to keep floor tile, partitions, and ceiling<br />
surfaces a lighter color, as these reflect lots of light and will ensure that what might be a tight space feels<br />
as open as possible.”<br />
SHEDDING lIGHT ON SPACE<br />
In the context of creating spatial depth, lighting has as much to do with setting the tone of the locker room<br />
as color.<br />
“Lighting may be among the more important ways to create a more spacious feel within a locker room,”<br />
says J. Thomas Seymour, AIA, of PSA-Dewberry, Inc., in Peoria, Illinois. He notes that concealed, indirect<br />
lighting placed above lockers provides a smooth, uniform feel.<br />
“Up-lighting—a method of indirect lighting in which the lights shine up<br />
to the ceiling—also works well in a locker room setting,” says Bruce Carter,<br />
the president of Optimal Design, in Weston, Florida. “Individual recessed<br />
can lighting gives a locker room a soft ‘spa-like’ atmosphere. Wall sconces<br />
can have the same effect, and work especially well in the entrance to a<br />
locker room.”<br />
When possible, balancing natural and artificial lighting can make a<br />
measurable difference, both aesthetically and economically. “Energy cost<br />
and lighting controls are supporting greater flexibility in the quality of<br />
artificial and natural light,” says Braun. “We’re beginning to see skylights<br />
and light monitors that allow for diffused day-lighting in locker rooms.<br />
Working with different light sources adds animation to the space while providing controlled conditions in<br />
the vanity, shower, and locker areas.”<br />
“Spatial sensitivity—<br />
or the general desire<br />
for more personal<br />
space—is increasing.”<br />
GO WITH THE FlOW<br />
The overall flow—the layout and configuration of the locker room’s components—can make or break a<br />
club’s design, notes McDonald.<br />
optimal Design chose upscale materials, opulent<br />
design for a world Gym in Trumball, Connecticut<br />
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Color and translucent doors ‘open up’ shower area<br />
at Club H Fitness, in Jersey City, new Jersey
BLT Architects set this locker room<br />
apart with natural wood, light colors,<br />
open displays, and airy artwork<br />
“It’s important to consolidate all of the enclosed spaces as much as possible. For example, grouping<br />
together the wet areas of the locker rooms—the toilets, sinks, and showers—not only improves the<br />
efficiency of the plumbing work, but also allows the non-enclosed spaces—the lounge, locker, and vanity<br />
areas—to be in a more contiguous relationship. This type of grouping eliminates the need for floor-toceiling<br />
walls, creating one big space, with the lockers appearing almost as pieces of furniture within the<br />
room. The effect is an overall feeling of a larger, more gracious interior.”<br />
More space-enhancing tips:<br />
• High ceilings can add an illusion of grandeur, even when floor space is limited.<br />
• Don’t just keep the doors open; get rid of them! Entryways can be designed in a way that eliminates<br />
sight lines and ensures privacy. In addition to feeling more open and inviting, this approach is more userfriendly<br />
for members lugging a heavy gym bag or other gear.<br />
• Balance circulation space with locker count. “If you have adequate room for a person to stand at the<br />
vanities, another to pass by, and yet another to stand at a grooming station, your locker room will not feel<br />
as cramped,” counsels McDonald.<br />
And if you’re uncertain about how your fixtures or areas should be set up, common sense should<br />
prevail, says Fabiano. “For example, the toilets and showers should not be visible to the rest of the locker<br />
room areas. Today, toilets are no longer stalls, but individual rooms with doors. You need to make the<br />
personal spaces personal.”<br />
MORE ON THE FlOOR<br />
In addition to providing durability and safe footing, locker room flooring can help create the sensation of space.<br />
“Spaciousness can be emphasized by minimizing the number of different flooring materials, as well as<br />
organizing them in such a way that circulation areas are clearly defined,” Seymour says. “Minimizing bold<br />
patterning will also help create a more open and spacious feel.”<br />
McDonald adds: “If the space is chopped up with all kinds of different flooring, it can look patchy and<br />
diminutive. By carefully planning where the different flooring materials occur, and how one transitions<br />
to the other, the room can appear more flowing and unimpeded.”<br />
Braun offers a final bit of advice for club owners, whether they’re remodeling or building from scratch:<br />
consider the big picture. “Contrast the small support spaces with the concentrated common area,” he<br />
suggests. “Use ceiling heights, lighting, and finishes that differ from the individual, focused spaces. Interlink<br />
the spaces to flow together expanding on the whole, versus a series of small detached alcoves.” —|<br />
– Jon Feld, jfeld@inc.com<br />
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PRoDUCT<br />
Feature Headline goes here no Continued<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
A-1 tExtilES &<br />
HoSPitAlitY ProDUCtS<br />
One of the biggest monthly replacement<br />
items in athletic clubs is<br />
towels. The complete line of Golden<br />
Mills towels, available from A-1<br />
Textiles, is manufactured to withstand<br />
constant washing, bleaching,<br />
and over-drying, yet remains soft,<br />
white, and absorbent for club<br />
members. Offering six shipping<br />
points nationwide and seven<br />
different levels of quality and price,<br />
A-1 Textiles has the perfect towel<br />
to cover the needs of every club.<br />
Contact: 800-351-1819,<br />
www.a1athletictowels.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 73. —|<br />
HollmAN<br />
For prospective members, the most important stop along the health club tour is often the locker room. They seek a<br />
rewarding post-workout retreat that’s clean, spacious, and well-appointed. <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s associate-member companies<br />
provide a range of products that cater to your members’ need for refreshment and rejuvenation—fluffy towels,<br />
decadent massage, luxurious soaps and lotions, and, of course, the all-important lockers!<br />
CElárE BY DiGiloCK<br />
52 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Celáre lockers offer clubs the opportunity<br />
to reinvent the locker-room experience. Its<br />
functional frames and immaculate doors<br />
combine beauty with precision engineering.<br />
All Celáre materials meet the latest sustainability<br />
standards and are equipped with a<br />
comprehensive ventilation system, which<br />
provides true airflow. Celáre offers interchangeable<br />
doors in glass and metal, in a<br />
variety of colors and sizes. Secured by<br />
Digilock, Celáre lockers can accommodate<br />
both day-use or assigned-use locker rooms.<br />
Contact: 800-989-0201, www.celare.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 35. —|<br />
Hollman is an LEED/FSC-certified manufacturer of luxury custom wood, veneer, and plastic laminate<br />
lockers. It offers a durable UV-cured finish that’s 100% water-borne, anti-microbial, and<br />
formaldehyde-free. Hollman lockers are fabricated utilizing the latest technology, guaranteeing<br />
a warp- and fade-resistant product, backed by an excellent reputation and customer service,<br />
since 1976.<br />
Contact: 800-433-3630, www.hollman.com. Please see our ad on page 76. —|<br />
GoJo iNDUStriES, iNC.<br />
rEADY CArE iNDUStriES<br />
Healthy people are inherently aware of what they use on<br />
their bodies and the environment. In its new campaign,<br />
“Healthy bodies, healthy skin,” Ready Care offers clients<br />
an opportunity to use a free locking “eco-unit” in their<br />
showers, and then purchase natural products. Its products<br />
are biodegradable; they assimilate into the earth without<br />
damaging it. Natural products provide nutrients that allow<br />
for beautiful hair and skin, and a reduction of fine lines.<br />
Contact: 800-477-7283, www.readycare.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 54. —|<br />
For more than 60 years, GOJO has demonstrated excellence and expertise in creating<br />
the best hygiene solutions for club members. From PUREll Instant Hand Sanitizer to<br />
GOJO soaps and dispensers, the company offers the brands members know and trust.<br />
Its hassle-free program makes it easy for operators to maintain a high-performance,<br />
high-impact hygiene regimen that helps make their facility the club most preferred by<br />
members and staff.<br />
Contact: 800-321-9647, www.gojo.com. Please see our ad on page 14. —|
iDEAl ProDUCtS, iNC.<br />
Ideal has manufactured wood and<br />
plastic laminate lockers and benches<br />
and distributed them worldwide since<br />
1982. The company also helps clubs<br />
resolve issues with locker-room layout<br />
and design. Its current programs<br />
support the political, economic, and<br />
ecological environment: all of its products<br />
are “100% Made in USA” and all of the materials used to construct lockers<br />
are made locally. Its substrate materials come from 100% recycled and rapidly<br />
renewable sources.<br />
Contact: 800-884-3325, www.idealockers.com. Please see our ad on page 82. —|<br />
GYmWiPES/2xl<br />
GymWipes is an industry leader in fitness-equipment<br />
surface cleaning. Specially formulated and disposable,<br />
its wipes are designed to easily clean and sanitize all<br />
fitness equipment surfaces. The GymWipes product<br />
line ranges from EPA-registered disinfecting/sanitizing<br />
formulas that protect against 50-plus pathogens,<br />
including CA-MRSA, HIV, and H1N1, to anti-microbial<br />
cleansing formulas for affordable cleansing options.<br />
All formulas contain no phenol, alcohol, or bleach,<br />
and are freshly scented. Buckets, refills, and<br />
attractive dispensers and stands are available.<br />
Contact: 888 977-3726, www.gymwipes.com. Please see our ad on page 73. —|<br />
oJmAr<br />
SAlSBUrY iNDUStriES<br />
Constructed of industrial-grade particleboard and covered<br />
with plastic laminate, Salsbury’s Designer lockers are<br />
offered in blue, gray, black, maple, cherry, and mahogany.<br />
Designer lockers are available in widths of 12" and 15".<br />
Units measure 6' high and 18" deep, regardless of widths,<br />
and are available in single-tier, double-tier, triple-tier,<br />
six-tier box, and the double-tier “S” styles.<br />
Contact: 800-LoCkers, www.lockers.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 74. —|<br />
A good lock system means simplicity and reliability for<br />
clubs and their customers. Ojmar combines the most<br />
reliable technology with extensive market experience<br />
to offer operators a series of products, which can adapt<br />
to the needs of an entire facility. Its full range of lock<br />
solutions are ideal for wet and humid locker rooms.<br />
Contact: 888-795-5588, www.ojmar.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 78. —|<br />
For more information, or to contact<br />
any of these companies, log on to<br />
www.ihrsa.org/products<br />
HYDromASSAGE<br />
PRoDUCT<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
For over 20 years, HydroMassage has been<br />
trusted by doctors and industry leaders, such<br />
as Gold’s Gym, lifestyle Family Fitness, Mayo<br />
Clinic, U.S. Olympic Training Center, and<br />
Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. Hydro-<br />
Massage provides an outstanding massage<br />
that’s convenient and affordable enough for<br />
members to enjoy every day, but does not<br />
require clubs to hire a massage therapist.<br />
From a financial standpoint, HydroMassage<br />
creates a new profit center for clubs:<br />
members will pay an extra $10-$20 per<br />
month for a HydroMassage package.<br />
Contact: 800-699-1008, www.HydroMassage.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 70. —|<br />
PEtrA HYGiENiC SYStEmS<br />
Petra Hygienic Systems is one of the largest<br />
locker-room-amenity suppliers in North<br />
America. With over 20 years of formulating,<br />
manufacturing, and distribution experience,<br />
Petra is positioned to serve the health and<br />
fitness industry from coast to coast. Its skinand<br />
hair-care products are designed specifically<br />
for active individuals; its budget-friendly<br />
towels pamper club members; and its<br />
economical and effective Anti-Bacterial<br />
Equipwipes provide a clean workout environment.<br />
Contact: 800-463-2516, www.petrasoap.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 72. —|<br />
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Group activity at Gainesville<br />
Health and Fitness Center<br />
By filling the gap<br />
between group exercise<br />
and one-on-one, SGPT<br />
provides an important<br />
missing link<br />
SG<br />
PT<br />
A Magic<br />
ACRONyM<br />
By Jean Suffin<br />
Due to a number of factors—not<br />
the least of which is an ailing<br />
economy—there’s been a distinct<br />
surge in the popularity of<br />
small-group personal training<br />
(SGPT), and, experts predict, it’s going to<br />
continue to grow.<br />
SGPT is neither one-on-one personal<br />
training, nor is it group exercise.<br />
It’s a unique class format that straddles<br />
the two, falling conveniently in between.<br />
“SGPT has been around since personal<br />
training expanded to the general market in<br />
the late 1980s,” points out Michael Motta,<br />
the president of Plus One Health Management,<br />
Inc., a corporate wellness consulting<br />
firm based in New York City. “Going back<br />
even further, the small-group circuit training<br />
protocols that The European Health<br />
Spa promoted in the ’70s could also be classified<br />
as a very basic form of SGPT.”<br />
Historically, the approach has tended to<br />
emerge, naturally, nearly organically, in<br />
sports-training environments. ><br />
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SGPT: A magic Acronym<br />
“Team sports and training<br />
for them takes a group<br />
of people on a collective<br />
journey, during which they<br />
interact, evolve, grow, and<br />
develop together on a shared<br />
mission,” observes Steve<br />
Jack, the director of Steve<br />
Jack, Ltd., based in London.<br />
“Wouldn’t it be interesting to<br />
consider what clubs might Steve Jack<br />
look like today if our industry<br />
had evolved from team sports rather than from<br />
bodybuilding?”<br />
SGPT: the concept<br />
It’s really only during the past five or so years, since bootcamp-style<br />
classes have come into their own, that many<br />
clubs have begun offering SGPT. Because the format is so<br />
flexible and dependent upon the creativity of the trainer,<br />
individual programs may vary dramatically, but certain<br />
elements remain consistent: class size, frequency, and a<br />
strong focus on each participant’s progress.<br />
Group effort at a Plus one Health<br />
management facility<br />
56 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
“The type of workout is<br />
limited but by the imagination<br />
of the trainer and the<br />
needs, goals, and objectives<br />
of the group,” explains Motta.<br />
“With the right instructor<br />
and equipment, even a small<br />
indoor cycling class could be<br />
considered a SGPT session.”<br />
By definition, small groups<br />
michael motta<br />
range in size from four to 20<br />
participants engaging in the<br />
same activity simultaneously, or in different activities in<br />
a circuit-style format. Unlike group exercise classes,<br />
which don’t limit the number of participants, and are<br />
open to all members, at any time, on a drop-in basis,<br />
SGPT typically requires that students take part two to<br />
three times a week over a series of weeks. Because a<br />
commitment is necessary—and, in fact, is what members<br />
are paying for—they tend to form tight, cohesive groups,<br />
and receive personalized attention that they wouldn’t<br />
enjoy in a standard group class.<br />
“If less than five people are involved, you could, conceivably,<br />
still use the traditional one-on-one moniker,”
Steve Jack’s SGPT classes in<br />
London are sports-oriented<br />
suggests Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and<br />
spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise<br />
(ACE), “whereas anything greater than five people lends<br />
itself to a group program.”<br />
More than 10 members is unusual, notes Sandy Todd<br />
Webster, the editor-in-chief of the IDEA Fitness Journal.<br />
“Ten is about the limit, insofar as equipment and instructor<br />
efficacy are concerned. Instructors have to have<br />
enough small equipment for all of the participants, and<br />
be able to teach, simultaneously, to individuals at different<br />
levels, while ensuring safety, good form, and high<br />
motivation,” she explains.<br />
The Gainesville Health and Fitness Center (GHFC),<br />
which has three locations in Gainesville, Florida, limits<br />
their group classes to 10 people, with the exception of<br />
their boot camp, which is held outside. “We don’t want to<br />
cross the line into group exercise,” says Melissa Lynn Forgione,<br />
the chain’s group-personal-training coordinator.<br />
Most SGPT classes utilize props and equipment, which,<br />
McCall advises, can be employed as a unique selling point.<br />
“Why would someone be willing to pay for a small-group<br />
program?” he asks. “Well, you get to use equipment that<br />
isn’t normally available on the floor. It’s kind of like the<br />
VIPs in a nightclub—they get to go into the roped-off<br />
section. You’re giving your clients a special area to hang<br />
out in and special equipment for them to use.”<br />
“Our members don’t have access to certain equipment<br />
on the exercise floor—things such as TRX, kettlebells,<br />
and all of the other toys—and they probably wouldn’t<br />
have the confidence to use them on their own,” says Pam<br />
Harrison, a GHFC personal trainer.<br />
Visible and measurable progress is the third critical<br />
component of the SGPT class format. To facilitate and<br />
document it, McCall suggests that assessments be conducted<br />
both at the beginning and end of the series. “Each<br />
workout should be a little more difficult than the previous<br />
one, and there should be a progression toward a<br />
certain training goal,” he recommends.<br />
Constant improvement is one of the many reasons<br />
that members stick with, and return to, SGPT classes,<br />
and what makes them such a success. Because they’re<br />
motivated by the group environment, the friendships<br />
Steve Jack’s Team Dynamics<br />
studio is SGPT-specific<br />
SGPT fosters, and the camaraderie it creates, the<br />
participants see results. “Through small groups, the club<br />
becomes, in reality, that third place the industry is<br />
always talking about. It’s not the office, and it’s not<br />
home—it’s the club, and people get really connected to<br />
it,” confirms McCall.<br />
SGPT: the challenges<br />
For individuals who can’t afford one-on-one personal<br />
training or, conversely, aren’t motivated by the anonymity<br />
of a group exercise class, SGPT provides a solution.<br />
“SGPT is a great niche for those folks who are ready for<br />
the next step,” says Harrison. In fact, she notes, most of<br />
the members who are attracted to SGPT are ones who’ve<br />
never been interested in one-on-one. “It’s a different<br />
animal altogether,” she explains. “That’s not the way<br />
these people are wired; it’s not their personality.”<br />
One of the challenges for clubs, however, is distinguishing<br />
SGPT from its standard group-exercise options<br />
and justifying the extra fee.<br />
“Group exercise is our biggest competitor—it’s not<br />
outside clubs that compete with SGPT so much as it is<br />
our own group-exercise offerings,” observes Forgione.<br />
“Our group-ex teachers are phenomenal, and they’re<br />
free, so it’s hard to get members to see the difference.”<br />
Effective marketing is one of the ways to accomplish<br />
that. “Create materials that are professional, of high<br />
quality, and that communicate the concept effectively,”<br />
counsels Darren Jacobson, the head of product for Virgin<br />
Active South Africa. “SGPT is about trust, relationships,<br />
and achieving results, so make sure your marketing<br />
materials reflect this.”<br />
Another challenge posed by SGPT is training to different<br />
levels of participant experience. Often one class has<br />
to accommodate both beginners and high-level athletes<br />
simultaneously, and, in such a situation, a trainer has to<br />
be hyper-vigilant to provide a more personal experience.<br />
This, in turn, makes identifying and training SGPT trainers<br />
critical.<br />
“Not every one-on-one superstar makes a good group<br />
trainer,” says Harrison, “and, when it comes to SGPT,<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 57
SGPT: A magic Acronym<br />
outdoor SGPT class at<br />
Gainesville Health and Fitness<br />
the right staff will either make you or break you.” At<br />
Gainesville, the group exercise instructors must receive<br />
one of three approved personal training certifications<br />
before moving into SGPT. Then, after that, they’re<br />
trained internally.<br />
At this point, there aren’t many certifications specific<br />
to SGPT, although there are a few on the horizon, so it’s<br />
generally up to clubs to get trainers up to speed. “Our<br />
trainers get specific extra training in-house,” reports<br />
Mike Wunsch, the director of training and program<br />
design at Results Fitness, in Santa Clarita, California.<br />
Wunsch suggests that, to engage members at different<br />
levels, circuit-based classes may work well. He advises<br />
picking an exercise of medium difficulty that’s adjustable<br />
in level. “With the circuit, a trainer has all of the<br />
exercises on a worksheet in front of them, along with the<br />
variations. There are no last-minute decisions, and<br />
nothing is done ‘on the fly,’” he points out.<br />
In choosing an SGPT trainer, clubs are advised to look<br />
for someone who’s concerned about, and appropriately<br />
trained, on safety measures; a creative programmer;<br />
adept at teaching to different levels; able to foster inclusiveness;<br />
and possessing an engaging and motivating<br />
personality. Few club programs place such high<br />
demands on a trainer’s skills as SGPT.<br />
Often, explains McCall, the best SGPT trainers have a<br />
team sports coaching background. “If you’ve coached<br />
a team, you can give directions and lead a number of<br />
people through a workout at the same time.”<br />
58 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Results Fitness students enjoy<br />
rope-undulation exercise<br />
“Through small groups, the club becomes, in reality, that<br />
third place the industry is always talking about. It’s not the<br />
office, and it’s not home—it’s the club, and people get really<br />
connected to it.”<br />
SGPT: the payoff<br />
When a club is staffed with talented trainers and stocked<br />
with appropriate equipment, the profitability of SGPT<br />
classes is a virtual given. Members are happy because<br />
they’re saving money and seeing results; trainers are<br />
happy because their earnings are climbing; and the club<br />
is happy because it’s offering a program with a high<br />
return on investment.<br />
At Gainesville, members can choose from any of six<br />
small-group options, all designed to be<br />
consistent with the club’s brand. These<br />
Custom Fit offerings include Body Ultimate,<br />
Boot Camp, Dance Definition, Pilates,<br />
Wedding Ready, and Yamuna Body<br />
Rolling. Members can purchase a single<br />
session for $25 or a 10-pack for $199<br />
($19.90 per session) with no time limit.<br />
Results Fitness offers two options. The first involves<br />
SGPT and semiprivate sessions (less than four participants)<br />
for $267 per month. The second offers SGPT only,<br />
on an unlimited basis, for $147 per month. Because<br />
SGPT attracts more people, the club more than makes up<br />
the difference in fees through increased sales volume.<br />
“When we first switched from one-on-one to smallgroup,<br />
we thought that members’ results might not be<br />
as dramatic, since we weren’t providing that extra<br />
attention,” Wunsch explains. “But we thought, ‘We can<br />
give a person a cheaper membership, serve more clients,<br />
and make more money, and there’d only be a slight<br />
reduction in results.’ What we discovered was that we<br />
had better results, which was very unexpected.”<br />
Since Results Fitness introduced SGPT, Wunsch notes<br />
with satisfaction, its membership renewal rate has<br />
increased by 70%. —|<br />
– Jean Suffin, jean@fit-etc.com
Small group personal training (SGPT) helps clubs satisfy the needs of members who opt not to participate in large<br />
group-exercise classes or one-on-one training. This type of offering combines the camaraderie of the former with the<br />
personalized attention of the latter. Recognizing this important niche, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s associate-member companies offer a<br />
range of SGPT programs and products that will guarantee success for members and clubs.<br />
lES millS iNtErNAtioNAl<br />
les Mills CX30 offers a short, sharp<br />
workout that’ll inspire members to the<br />
next level of fitness, while strengthening<br />
and toning their bodies. The 30-minute<br />
core workout hones in on the torso and<br />
sling muscles and helps improve functional<br />
strength. It’s based on scientific<br />
research and combines the best of<br />
personal training with the energy of a<br />
group fitness class. Each class is based<br />
on a choreographed routine that’s<br />
refreshed every three months and set<br />
to chart-topping music.<br />
Contact: www.lesmills.com/pro.<br />
Please see our ad on page 16. —|<br />
CroSSCorE, iNC.<br />
CrossCore180 “Turn your Game Around” is<br />
a breakthrough in bodyweight training for<br />
sports and fitness conditioning. The patentpending<br />
suspended pulley adds improved<br />
balance through imbalance to any sportsspecific<br />
exercise. The pulley can also be<br />
locked in place via a magnetic pin for improved stability, when needed. Attach<br />
gymnastics rings, resistance bands, and even kettlebells for enhanced versatility.<br />
The CrossCore180 can be used at home, at the gym, or out in the field, and fits<br />
conveniently into a small carry-along bag.<br />
Contact: 800-288-3047, www.crosscore-usa.com. Please see our ad on page 66. —|<br />
iNtErNAtioNAl SPortS<br />
SCiENCES ASSoCiAtioN<br />
For decades, ISSA has focused on<br />
two industry strengths: education<br />
and support. National DETC<br />
accreditation, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, confirmed these<br />
strengths and opened the door to ISSA’s fully accredited associate’s degree in<br />
exercise science. ISSA certification courses are at the core of the degree, allowing<br />
candidates to progress from entry-level certification to advanced credentials<br />
to a degree. Comprehensive curriculum and ongoing support ensure that ISSA<br />
trainers are fully prepared to help clients reach their goals.<br />
Contact: 800-892-4772, www.issaonline.edu/clubs. Please see our ad on page 65. —|<br />
VitFit<br />
VitFit is a customized training program that provides exercise regimens to users via the Internet or<br />
through a club’s Web portal. The experience is made personal with programs built around the user’s<br />
fitness level and mp3 downloads to coach them in real-time at the gym, on the road, or at home. VitFit<br />
supports club trainers, motivates members, and keeps exercisers on track with their training. VitFit<br />
offers dynamic programming for trainers, portable fitness for members, and ancillary revenue for clubs.<br />
Contact: 215-280-8210, www.myvitfit.com. Please see our ad on page 72. —|<br />
PRoDUCT<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
NAtioNAl FEDErAtioN oF<br />
ProFESSioNAl trAiNErS (NFPt)<br />
NFPT has been<br />
certifying fitness<br />
professionals<br />
since 1988,<br />
offering an<br />
NCCA-accredited<br />
Certified Personal<br />
Trainer (CPT) credential. NFPT’s education<br />
curriculum provides a comprehensive<br />
approach to fundamental exercise science<br />
concepts with prep tools that facilitate individuals’<br />
full understanding of the material. Exam<br />
dates are set by appointment at more than<br />
300 locations, and certification maintenance<br />
allows for free Continuing Education Credits<br />
(CECs). NFPT can guide trainers step-by-step<br />
down the path to success by providing startto-finish<br />
support, convenience, and credibility.<br />
Contact: 800-729-6378, www.nfpt.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 34. —|<br />
AEroBiCS AND FitNESS<br />
ASSoCiAtioN oF AmEriCA (AFAA)<br />
For aspiring and<br />
experienced<br />
fitness professionals<br />
working<br />
one-on-one with<br />
clients, this three-day certification workshop<br />
includes lectures, practical demonstration,<br />
and both written and practical exams. This<br />
certification is also offered, as an option, through<br />
AFAA’s third-party authenticated Personal<br />
Trainer Certification Online Course. It covers<br />
exercise physiology, anatomy, kinesiology,<br />
and injury-prevention strategies, along with<br />
fitness-assessment testing procedures, nutrition<br />
fundamentals and weight management,<br />
special populations and medical considerations,<br />
communication skills, leadership and motivational<br />
coaching, exercise programming,<br />
and risk-factor assessment guidelines.<br />
Contact: 877-968-7263, www.afaa.com.<br />
Please see our ad on page 23. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U l y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 59
“In Every Industry, There is One Product or Service<br />
That Changes The Game Forever...”<br />
MYZONE is the only system in the world that<br />
has the capability of accurately tracking and<br />
reporting the activity of every single member in<br />
or outside your club.<br />
MYZONE offers unrivalled group and studio<br />
feedback enhancing your instructor’s and<br />
member’s club experience.<br />
MAKING MOVEMENT MEASURABLE<br />
www.myzone.org<br />
Welcome to...<br />
MYZONE is marketed<br />
and distributed in<br />
North America by<br />
TM<br />
MYZONE is the ‘pinnacle’ of customer<br />
interaction enabling you to have relevant<br />
discussions with your members about their<br />
physical activity levels 365 days of the year.<br />
MYZONE offers your club the opportunity to<br />
connect with any School, Business or Weight<br />
Loss Center in your community.<br />
“MYZONE comes with a money back guarantee!”
<strong>Innovations</strong>What’s New 63 | FIT Extra 67 | BuyersMart 83<br />
Paramount Fitness,<br />
Treadmill 7.85T —|<br />
Photo sponsored by Paramount Fitness<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 61
Where some treadmills are good in one or two areas,<br />
ours is a bit of an overachiever in all of them.<br />
Introducing Star Trac Coach <br />
It coaches. It motivates. It entertains.<br />
Star Trac Coach , a personalized treadmill workout led<br />
by a professional coach with over 1 million possible<br />
workouts to ensure a different workout every time. This<br />
revolutionary technology is exclusively available on Star<br />
Trac’s embedded screen E Series treadmills. Star Trac<br />
Coach takes the ordinary treadmill experience to a new<br />
level of engagement never seen before.<br />
For more information contact Star Trac at<br />
714.669.1660 (800.228.6635) or sales@startrac.com<br />
©2011 Star Trac. All rights reserved. Star Trac, the Star Trac logo, Soft Trac, Dynamic Heart Rate Control<br />
are registered trademarks of Core Industries. Star Trac Coach is a trademark of Core Industries. iPod is<br />
a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.<br />
Nike + iPod<br />
»
ABC Financial Services, Inc.<br />
» ABC Financial Services, Inc., has<br />
added seven feature upgrades to its<br />
popular DataTrak software. These<br />
include: automated e-mail to send<br />
reports and agreements to employees or members; electronic agreement<br />
entry with customized fields; wallet software that accommodates various<br />
forms of payment; a freestanding, in-club kiosk for membership or<br />
class registration; locker management to assign lockers, view history,<br />
and track maintenance needs; a customizable dashboard that features<br />
new loss-prevention and tools for graphs and charts; and MyiCLUBonline,<br />
which enables prospective members and renewals to sign up from<br />
home. For more information, contact the company at 800-551-9733;<br />
www.abcfinancial.com. —|<br />
Life Fitness’<br />
Virtual Trainer Website<br />
Life Fitness<br />
» Created in June 2008, the Life Fitness Virtual Trainer Website<br />
(www.virtualtrainer.lifefitness.com), now boasts 21,290 users, and is<br />
compatible with Facebook. The new “Buddies” feature enables exercisers<br />
to create and share cardio workout programs with their friends and<br />
family, add a profile picture, group their buddies, and view buddies’ alerts<br />
on their homepage. The site also allows exercisers to create personalized<br />
workouts for the company’s Elevation Series cardio products. Users<br />
can track and organize their workout results to view their progress,<br />
and personal trainers can develop customized workouts for their clients<br />
virally. For more information, contact the company at 800-735-3867;<br />
www.lifefitness.com. —|<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | What’s New<br />
Legend Fitness<br />
LeverEDGE, by<br />
Legend Fitness<br />
» LeverEDGE, the new<br />
plate-loaded, unilateral<br />
strength line from Legend<br />
Fitness, features thoroughly<br />
researched biomechanics,<br />
competitive pricing, and<br />
versatility. “We incorporated<br />
a lot of adjustability to<br />
accommodate a wide variety<br />
of users, while keeping<br />
the machine as simple as<br />
possible,” says Pierre<br />
Steenekamp, the president<br />
of Legend Fitness. Each machine in the LeverEDGE<br />
line breaks down to fit through a standard single<br />
doorway, and all models employ pillow-block bearings<br />
that are durable, yet easy to replace. Most LeverEDGE<br />
units feature a smaller footprint than comparable<br />
models. For more information, contact the company<br />
at 865-992-7097; www.legendfitness.com. —|<br />
Peaksware, LLC<br />
Peaksware’s<br />
TrainingPeaksGPS<br />
» Peaksware, LLC, has acquired<br />
SprintGPS, a suite of GPS<br />
activity-tracking applications<br />
for the iPhone from Screenmedia.<br />
Being rebranded as<br />
TrainingPeaksGPS, the suite<br />
includes several customizable<br />
applications: Run Tracker Pro,<br />
Cycle Tracker Pro, Walk<br />
Tracker Pro, Walk Tracker<br />
Free, and Pedometer Pro. On<br />
March 22 and 23, Peaksware<br />
donated all the proceeds from<br />
the specially priced 99-cent<br />
download cost equally to the American Cancer Society’s<br />
DetermiNation, Lymphoma and Leukemia Society’s<br />
Team in Training, and the National Multiple Sclerosis<br />
Society’s BikeMS, raising $5,000 for these programs.<br />
For more information, contact the company at<br />
720-406-1839; www.peaksware.com. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 63
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | What’s New<br />
Zumba Fitness, LLC<br />
Exhilarate with<br />
» Zumba Fitness, LLC, has launched Exhilarate,<br />
a seven-disc DVD collection that features<br />
Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba, along with<br />
instructors Gina Grant and Tanya Beardsley.<br />
Shot in music video format, each workout allows<br />
users to either Learn It, with verbal move-cueing<br />
from the hosts, or to Feel It, by turning off the<br />
verbal instructions to fully sense the music.<br />
The DVD set also introduces Mix, a compilation<br />
Zumba Fitness of workouts based on cultures and rhythms<br />
inspired by the global explosion of the Zumba<br />
Online TRX Directory<br />
brand. Each DVD includes bonus material as well. For more information,<br />
contact the company at 954-925-3755; www.zumba.com. —|<br />
Precor's Seated<br />
Leg Curl C007ES<br />
Precor, Inc.<br />
» Precor, Inc., has launched five dual-function machines to extend its<br />
Experience Strength S-line range. The new additions include a multipress,<br />
bicep curl/triceps extension, pull-down/seated row, leg extension/<br />
leg curl, and abdominal/back extension. “The S line has an economical<br />
footprint and is designed for facilities with limited space, and the dualfunction<br />
pieces allow for maximum user convenience,” notes Jez Whitling,<br />
the U.K. sales director at Precor. “Ease of use was top of mind when<br />
designing the dual units, so individuals can make adjustments and perform<br />
exercises while seated on the machine.” For more information, contact<br />
the company at 800-786-8404; www.precor.com. —|<br />
64 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
TRX<br />
» TRX, the creator of<br />
Suspension Training<br />
bodyweight exercise,<br />
has launched the<br />
online TRX Directory<br />
at www.trxdirectory.<br />
com. This directory<br />
is a database of<br />
30,000 trainers<br />
from 40 countries<br />
who are educated in<br />
TRX Suspension Training, along with a list of qualified<br />
host facilities of TRX Professional Education courses<br />
and TRX R4 licensed facilities. “We’ve been conducting<br />
thousands of education courses for professionals,<br />
and are excited to connect the public with these<br />
trainers to learn more about Suspension Training,”<br />
explains Randy Hetrick, the inventor and CEO of<br />
TRX. For more information, contact the company<br />
at 888-878-5348; www.trxtraining.com. —|<br />
Star Trac<br />
Star Trac’s next-generation<br />
Spinner<br />
» Star Trac introduced<br />
several new<br />
products at <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
recent 30th Anniversary<br />
International<br />
Convention and<br />
Trade Show. Among<br />
them is a new plateloadedstrengthtraining<br />
line called<br />
Leverage, which uses<br />
a unique lever and<br />
cam system to work efficiently with human biomechanics<br />
by matching the natural strength profiles of<br />
specific movements. Eight units are currently available.<br />
And, along with Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc., Star Trac<br />
presented the next generation of Spinner bikes, including<br />
the new Spinner NXT, Spinner Pro, and Spinner Blade,<br />
with a patent-pending drive train that enhances safety<br />
and reliability. For more information, contact the<br />
company at 800-228-6635; www.startrac.com. —|
Associate’s Degree<br />
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Introducing a continuum of education that celebrates the autonomy of the personal training<br />
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Sports Performance<br />
and Fitness Training<br />
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation…<br />
In order to mimic the natural mobility of your body and<br />
sport, it takes rotational movement – Period! Whatever<br />
your sport, whatever your fitness goal, the CrossCore180®<br />
offers the most advanced fitness training tool in one<br />
small package. The ability to train in static mode when<br />
the pin is engaged and rotational mode when the pin is<br />
pulled makes it safe for beginners and a rude awakening<br />
for even the most elite athlete.<br />
TURN YOUR GAME AROUND<br />
crosscore-usa.com<br />
Military, Mixed Martial<br />
Arts and Action Sports<br />
Eight years in development and originally developed for<br />
the military, the War Machine® is the perfect training tool<br />
for troops in the gym or out in the field. The War<br />
Machine® is built like a tank and adapts to any climate and<br />
terrain to provide training consistency no matter the<br />
location. Counterweights and resistance bands can be<br />
used when more than just bodyweight is desired. MMA<br />
fighters are also discovering how the exclusive rotational<br />
movement of the War Machine® is increasing their speed<br />
and endurance while helping reduce the chance of injuries.<br />
PULL THE PIN
Treadmills<br />
Hit Their Stride<br />
From basic to sophisticated, these ubiquitous units offer<br />
something for everyone<br />
At clubs worldwide, newcomers and longtime members<br />
alike gravitate toward the tried-and-true workhorses of<br />
the cardio floor: treadmills. For newbies, they offer instant<br />
access to exercise; for veteran exercisers, they’re like a<br />
reliable friend—one who’s constantly being upgraded with<br />
ever more innovative features.<br />
Among the most prevalent innovations is a greater emphasis on<br />
sophisticated technology. Many treadmills now come equipped with<br />
iPod docks, USB ports, LCD screens, and workout tracking—all of<br />
which help to motivate members, increasing exercise adherence and,<br />
importantly, member retention.<br />
Another trend that continues to emerge is “green” treadmills.<br />
“Our engineers are finding new ways to make our treadmills superefficient,<br />
creating self-generating equipment that feeds power<br />
back into the grid,” reports Amber Maechler, the marketing and<br />
communications director at SportsArt Fitness.<br />
SportsArt’s ECO-POWR is a 5-HP maintenance-free system that<br />
uses up to 32% less electricity than standard AC and DC motors—<br />
which can save an average club, running 12 treadmills a day, an<br />
estimated $3,000 per year.<br />
Woodway and Technogym, among others, also produce energyefficient<br />
treadmills.<br />
Another innovative advance is offered by the AlterG Anti-Gravity<br />
Treadmill, which takes technological advances to a new level—a new<br />
altitude, actually—giving the user the sensation of “running on air.” It<br />
employs differential air pressure technology to minimize impact by<br />
“unweighting” exercisers to as little as 20% of their body weight.<br />
“Originally used for rehabilitation, the AlterG suits fitness facilities<br />
because it allows many more people to use a treadmill who wouldn’t<br />
otherwise be able to,” contends Gabriel Griego, the vice president of<br />
marketing at AlterG, Inc.<br />
But, for club operators and members who want to keep it simple,<br />
there are still plenty of attractive options. “Many people just want to<br />
get on a treadmill and press start,” observes Dean Sbragia, CEO of<br />
Med-Fit Systems, Inc., which manufactures Nautilus.<br />
Take, for instance, Woodway’s new Curve treadmill, a non-motorized<br />
unit that recently appeared on NBC-TV’s The Biggest Loser: Couples.<br />
“The Curve delivers a dynamic workout with the user in control of the<br />
speed,” explains Michael Frank, Woodway’s associate marketing<br />
communications manager.<br />
For more, check out the following pages of F.I.T. Extra! —|<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
TREADMILLS<br />
BH NORTH AMERICA<br />
BH Fitness SK6900<br />
The BH Fitness SK6900 is an uncompromising<br />
commercial treadmill that balances<br />
both style and function. It features<br />
a powerful 4-HP AC motor, 12 mph top<br />
speed, 15% elevation, a 22" x 63" running<br />
surface, five Alpha-Numeric LED displays<br />
for statistical information, and a large red<br />
LED matrix window.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $6,699.00<br />
BH Fitness T8 Pro,<br />
BH Fitness T9 (shown)<br />
The BH Fitness T8 Pro is a high-power<br />
solution for light commercial facilities<br />
that need high-quality, affordable fitness<br />
equipment. It features advanced electronics,<br />
a powerful 3.5-HP motor, 12 mph<br />
top speed, 15% elevation, a 22" x 60"<br />
running surface, and five red alphanumeric<br />
LED displays, with a blue backlit LCD<br />
program profile display. Its warranty is<br />
lifetime on the frame, 10 years on the<br />
motor, five years on parts, and one year<br />
on labor. The BH Fitness T9 features an<br />
embedded cable-ready 15" touch-screen<br />
LCD television with built-in speakers,<br />
headphone jack, and MP3 capabilities.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: BH Fitness T8 Pro,<br />
$3.299.99; BH Fitness T9, $4,599.00<br />
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| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
BODy-SOLID, INC.<br />
T10HRC Commercial Treadmill<br />
by Endurance<br />
With its all-steel frame, generous<br />
20" x 60" running surface, and high-torque<br />
3-HP motor, the T10HRC treadmill by<br />
Endurance can hold its own in any commercial<br />
setting. It offers 25 user programs,<br />
heart-rate control, and an elevation range<br />
of 0%-15% to help the most determined<br />
fitness enthusiasts achieve their goals.<br />
The easy-to-read panel and push-button<br />
speed controls provide ease of operation<br />
and instant feedback information on a<br />
long list of features.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,999.00<br />
BRuDDEN TECHNOLOGy<br />
E750 Treadmill<br />
E750 is controlled by a 15" LCD touchscreen<br />
with an interactive, user-friendly<br />
interface that facilitates a quick, easy<br />
workout setup. Equipped with an intelligent<br />
system of shock-absorption control<br />
(SAC), E750 controls the impact caused<br />
by running or walking. The unique World<br />
Courses feature simulates more than 30<br />
different well-known running circuits,<br />
from Central Park to the Paris Marathon.<br />
CyBEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.<br />
SEE OUR AD ON THE INSIDE FRONT<br />
COVER & PAGE 1<br />
625T<br />
The CYBEX 625T is a value-packed<br />
treadmill that delivers the performance<br />
features that health clubs need to keep<br />
members happy and business healthy. For<br />
colleges and universities, this treadmill<br />
is designed to encourage serious athletes<br />
and casual exercisers alike to rediscover<br />
the simple joys of running, jogging, and<br />
walking. Built for performance, the<br />
CYBEX 625T is engineered to provide<br />
better stability and greater comfort<br />
than other treadmills.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $6,795.00<br />
750T<br />
68 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
The CYBEX Legacy 750T is a premium<br />
treadmill that’s fully equipped to deliver<br />
an exceptional user experience. It has<br />
a high-contrast display and enhanced<br />
easy-to-use technologies, as well as a<br />
high-performance AC drive capable of<br />
delivering 6 HP. The Legacy 750T also<br />
offers a compact design with a running<br />
surface of 22" x 62" and an ultra-lowprofile<br />
hood for a spacious feel.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $7,495.00<br />
NEW<br />
770T-CT<br />
The CYBEX 770T enriches the joys of running,<br />
jogging, and walking. The advanced<br />
770T boasts CYBEX’s ARMZ support bars,<br />
as well as the CardioTouch display, which<br />
puts every exercise and entertainment<br />
option at the user’s fingertips. The IS3<br />
Intelligent Suspension System matches<br />
the ergonomics of running—the deck is<br />
soft at landing, firm in the middle, and<br />
rigid at toe-off. With the 770T, elite runners<br />
can push the limits, while casual<br />
users can enjoy a comfortable walk.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $7,395.00<br />
LCX-425T<br />
The LCX-425T treadmill is designed to<br />
provide light-commercial facilities with<br />
the functionality and running area of<br />
larger commercial treadmills in a spacesaving<br />
package. Featuring a full 20" x 60"<br />
running surface, this treadmill boasts an<br />
ultra-low-profile hood to maximize the<br />
entire running area and minimize the<br />
footprint to just 72" long. Equipped with a<br />
3-HP motor, the LCX-425T incorporates<br />
a fully featured console that employs a<br />
simplified approach to make it extremely<br />
user-friendly.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $4,495.00
Pro3<br />
The durable Pro3 Treadmill features a<br />
clean style that complements any décor<br />
and a low step-up height that’s less<br />
intimidating for new exercisers. With<br />
plenty of programs to satisfy serious<br />
runners, the CYBEX Pro3 treadmill is<br />
simple to operate for even the occasional<br />
user. Programs can be changed on the<br />
fly so that exercisers can raise or lower<br />
intensity. Users will also appreciate the<br />
convenience of dual water bottle holders,<br />
utility tray, and Quick Start.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $6,795.00<br />
FASSI SPORT<br />
NEW<br />
FCPTMTX07<br />
The FCPTMTX07 treadmill from FASSO<br />
Sport features a 19" advanced graphics<br />
widescreen TFT touch-screen display,<br />
with 16.7 million colors, and 1440 x 900<br />
pixel resolution. A hand-scroll roller<br />
controls digital speed and incline adjustment,<br />
and a deck-heating sensor provides<br />
an alert when the belt and deck need<br />
lubrication. The treadmill is also<br />
certified by TUV.<br />
FITNESS MASTER, INC.<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 71<br />
NEW<br />
Aristo PT10 Treadmill<br />
For commercial and rehab use, the<br />
Steelflex Aristo PT-10 treadmill features<br />
a low start-up speed of 0.2 mph, a wide<br />
speed range, a reverse option, and an<br />
oversized user cooling fan. With an easyto-read,<br />
eight-window display with dotmatrix<br />
LED readouts, the treadmill also<br />
offers contact and wireless heart-rate<br />
monitoring, a USB feature that allows<br />
customer programming and tracking,<br />
cushion-grip side handrails along the<br />
full length of treadmill, and a large<br />
emergency panic/stop button.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $5,100.00<br />
FREEMOTION FITNESS<br />
FreeMotion Incline Trainer<br />
The FreeMotion Incline Trainer provides<br />
a comfortable, yet challenging, exercise<br />
experience. It’s powered by the Direct<br />
Rear Velocity System (DRVS), a rear-drive<br />
motor system that, combined with urethane<br />
deck isolators, provides additional<br />
cushioning to minimize impact. The<br />
Incline Trainer boasts a 22" x 60" running<br />
surface; incline capabilities of -3%-30%;<br />
QuickTouch functions for easy incline<br />
adjustments; and Workout TV. The LED<br />
console reports on time, incline, pace,<br />
distance, calories, heart rate, speed,<br />
and more.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
FreeMotion Treadmill<br />
The FreeMotion Treadmill, powered by<br />
the innovative Direct Rear Velocity System<br />
(DRVS), provides a smooth, consistent<br />
workout and a long, efficient motor life.<br />
This unique motor system pulls, rather<br />
than pushes, the tread belt, which provides<br />
direct, consistent belt tension and<br />
alleviates stress on the bearings and<br />
rollers. The treadmill features a 22" x 60"<br />
walking surface and an optional 12.1" LCD<br />
television with the Workout TV console.<br />
H/P/COSMOS SPORTS &<br />
MEDICAL GMBH<br />
h/p/cosmos mercury<br />
Incorporating a shock-absorbing running<br />
surface that measures 59" x 19.7", this<br />
premier treadmill can elevate to a maximum<br />
25% grade, and generate a speed range<br />
of 0-14 mph. The mercury offers smooth,<br />
quiet operation, and a comprehensive<br />
programmable control panel with safety<br />
components. It features: a maintenancefree,<br />
3-HP, continuous-duty drive motor<br />
backed by a 20-year warranty; a three-year<br />
warranty on all parts; and an RS 232 interface<br />
for a PC, printer, ECG machine, etc.<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 69
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
LANDICE TREADMILLS<br />
Profit Center Made Simple.<br />
Buy it and plug it in...<br />
how much easier can it get?<br />
HydroMassage ® is an unattended profit center that<br />
offers your members a fantastic massage every day.<br />
No additional staff<br />
No inventory to control<br />
No major renovations<br />
Most importantly, your members will pay an extra $10-20<br />
per month for a HydroMassage ® package.<br />
“Most importantly for me...the numbers just work.<br />
It’s flat-out a profit center. If you want to make money,<br />
add it to your facility.”<br />
Bart De Bruijn, Anytime Fitness - Largo, FL<br />
Call Now For Details On The Anniversary Special<br />
1.800.786.1930 - www.hydromassage.com/club<br />
L7 Club Pro Trainer<br />
Since 1967, Landice has been manufacturing<br />
state-of-the-art treadmills. Made<br />
in the USA, its treadmills are a result of<br />
years of manufacturing, design, and field<br />
experience in the harshest club environments.<br />
The Club Series represents the<br />
culmination of this experience. Using the<br />
latest in engineering technology, uncompromised<br />
materials, and old-fashioned<br />
American craftsmanship, these treadmills<br />
HydroMassage’s 22 nd<br />
Anniversary Special<br />
Get Started with<br />
HydroMassage for<br />
only $22/month<br />
call 1.800.786.1930 for details<br />
70 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
HydroMassage_0711_halfisland.indd 1 6/2/2011 2:31:22 PM<br />
offer the features and dependability today’s<br />
high-volume health clubs demand.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $3,495.00<br />
LIFE FITNESS<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 11<br />
Elevation 95T Achieve Treadmill<br />
The 95T Achieve treadmill from Life<br />
Fitness sets health clubs apart with its<br />
sophisticated design and intuitive interface.<br />
Everything about the 95T Achieve—<br />
from the DX3 Belt and Deck System and<br />
Flexdeck technology, to the open sightlines,<br />
to the Activity Zone that places<br />
the most frequently used controls at the<br />
user’s fingertips—is designed to deliver<br />
the ultimate cardio experience.<br />
Elevation Series 95T<br />
Inspire Treadmill<br />
The Life Fitness 95T Inspire Treadmill<br />
includes seamless iPod audio integration,<br />
a Virtual Trainer, USB connectivity, and<br />
Workout Landscape Perspectives. Its 7"<br />
integrated LCD screen allows users to<br />
make workout selections and manage<br />
their iPod music lists; 36 workout programs<br />
and six goal types offer variety.<br />
For premium personal entertainment,<br />
a 17" attachable HD-ready wide-screen<br />
TV is optional. The Elevation Series 95T<br />
Inspire Treadmill with Attachable TV<br />
features an HD-ready 17" diagonal<br />
wide-screen television.
Integrity Series 97Ti Treadmill<br />
The Integrity Series 97Ti Treadmill delivers<br />
unmatched durability with speeds up<br />
to 16 mph and a 3% decline to challenge<br />
everyone, including advanced exercisers.<br />
It offers a simplified, intuitive amber LED<br />
console with seamless iPod integration,<br />
so that exercisers can skip songs, adjust<br />
the volume, and change channels right<br />
on the console. Users can charge their<br />
iPods while they work out, and can also<br />
view iPod-delivered video content through<br />
an optional 17" HD-ready, attachable TV.<br />
MATRIX FITNESS<br />
SEE OUR AD ON THE FRENCH COVER<br />
7-Series Treadmills<br />
The Matrix T7xe features an integrated<br />
15" touch-screen display with FitTouch<br />
Technology, iPod compatibility, a wireless<br />
data transmitter, crossbar speed and<br />
controls, secondary data display window,<br />
and a personal fan. The 22" wide belt<br />
provides security and freedom while<br />
running, and the Ultimate Deck System<br />
holds up under the most extreme conditions.<br />
The T7x shares many of the same<br />
features as the T7xe, but comes with an<br />
integrated 7" LCD.<br />
T1xeLS<br />
The T1xeLS offers Vista Clear Television<br />
Technology—the most vibrant picture<br />
quality in the industry—on its integrated<br />
7" LCD loaded with workout options.<br />
From the 3.2-HP club-rated drive system<br />
to the ultimate reversible, maintenancefree<br />
deck, this treadmill is packed with<br />
features that are typically only available<br />
on higher-priced models. Each purchase<br />
from the LIVESTRONG by Matrix line<br />
ensures that a minimum of $4 million<br />
will support LIVESTRONG and the fight<br />
against cancer.<br />
T1xLS<br />
Appealing to users of all experience<br />
levels, the T1xLS features a large LED<br />
display for easy viewing with simple<br />
controls. The Ultimate Deck System and<br />
3.2-HP Johnson Integrated Drive system<br />
provide years of superior, worry-free<br />
performance and durability. The low 7.5"<br />
step-on height allows for easy accessibility.<br />
The T1xLS is also designed to accommodate<br />
the optional Matrix FITCONNEXION<br />
integrated entertainment system. Each<br />
purchase from the line of LIVESTRONG<br />
by Matrix ensures that a minimum of<br />
$4 million will go to LIVESTRONG and<br />
the fight against cancer.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
FMI Fitness MasterCBI July Ad OL.pdf 1 5/25/2011 10:01:51 AM<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 71
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
T3x<br />
Sharing the same platform as the T3xe,<br />
the Matrix T3x is designed with simplicity<br />
in mind. Users of all experience levels<br />
will easily navigate the controls of its<br />
intuitive console. Featuring several<br />
training programs, including manual,<br />
rolling hills, fat burn, 5k, target heart<br />
rate, Gerkin protocol, and Army, Navy,<br />
Air Force, and Marine PFT and PRT<br />
tests, the T3x has plenty of options<br />
for user motivation.<br />
T3xe<br />
-IntRoDuCIng-<br />
A N T I B A C T E R I A L<br />
EQUIP<br />
Antibacterial Formula Disinfects, Cleans and Deodorizes<br />
Safe to use on all fitness equipment<br />
Alcohol , Bleach and Phenol Free<br />
EPA Registered<br />
Multiple dispensing systems available<br />
1-800-463-2516 • INFO@PETRASOAP.COM • WWW.PETRASOAP.COM<br />
72 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
The T3xe blends ease-of-use and entertainment<br />
to deliver a superior workout<br />
experience. Complete with an engaging<br />
graphical user interface and Vista Clear<br />
Television Technology, the T3xe provides<br />
a greater variety of workout options. The<br />
4.2-HP AC drive and Ultimate Deck system<br />
provide years of superior performance<br />
and durability. The user-friendly console<br />
offers multiple training programs to keep<br />
users motivated to reach their fitness goals.<br />
WIPES<br />
WIPES<br />
CLEANER & DISINFECTANT B Y P E T R A<br />
CAll TOdAy FOR MORE INFORMATION & SAMPlES:<br />
T5x<br />
The Matrix T5x features an intuitive LED<br />
console designed to minimize intimidation<br />
for new users, while providing a complete<br />
workout selection to challenge advanced<br />
exercisers. A 22" wide belt enhances<br />
security while running, and the Ultimate<br />
Deck and Dynamic Response Drive systems<br />
offer maintenance-free performance and<br />
durability. The T5x features an integrated<br />
personal fan and a wireless data transmitter<br />
for product-performance monitoring.The<br />
treadmill also accommodates the optional<br />
FITXCONNEXION integrated entertainment<br />
system.<br />
VitFit
MILON INDuSTRIES GMBH<br />
Clubrunner<br />
The Clubrunner treadmill features a<br />
specially designed shock-absorption<br />
system that has been scientifically<br />
validated as well as 13 programs to keep<br />
exercisers motivated and deliver results.<br />
The Clubrunner uses milon’s proven<br />
Smart Card system. Boasting central<br />
lubrication, the treadmill is almost<br />
maintenance-free. milon is a German<br />
manufacturer and complete supplier of<br />
electronic fitness and medical training<br />
equipment. It produces all of its own<br />
products and has a dedicated distribution<br />
and service network.<br />
MOTuS uSA<br />
M900T Advanced Interactive<br />
Interface Treadmill<br />
The sophisticated M900T Series treadmill<br />
incorporates soft-touch consoles and<br />
touch-sensitive buttons with blue LEDs<br />
for easy scrolling of statistics. A variety<br />
of custom and pre-programmed courses<br />
are at the user’s fingertips. Features<br />
include antimicrobial handlebars; spacious<br />
accessory trays; Quick Start functions;<br />
heart-rate monitoring; and the<br />
company’s innovative OneTouch buttons<br />
for instant speed and incline adjustments.<br />
Smooth, minimal-impact workouts are<br />
delivered via Hyundai precision electronics<br />
and a 5.7-HP Mitsubishi AC drive motor.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
NEW<br />
RESIDUE<br />
FREE<br />
FORMULA!<br />
NAuTILuS<br />
Nautilus T916 Treadmill<br />
The T916 premium treadmill is equipped<br />
with a custom 4.8-HP AC motor with the<br />
patented Quinton Hyperdrive system,<br />
delivering maximum torque. The system<br />
powers a 22" x 63" running surface at<br />
speeds of 0.5 mph-12 mph and at elevations<br />
up to 15%. It also offers Nautilus’<br />
REACT Absorption Control System; a low<br />
step-up height of 7.5"; Remote Operation<br />
Control (ROC) bar with TouchSensor<br />
technology; 14 exercise programs; and a<br />
welded steel frame.<br />
Defeat CA-MRSA,<br />
H1N1 and HIV<br />
■ Lowest Cost, Most Effective<br />
■ Made with 100%<br />
renewable resources<br />
■ Approved by leading<br />
equipment manufacturers<br />
Let the Revolution Begin!<br />
(888) 977-3726 ■ www.2xlcorp.com<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 73
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
PARAMOuNT FITNESS<br />
CORPORATION<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 26<br />
7.85T and 7.55T Treadmills<br />
The Paramount 7.85T and 7.55T treadmills<br />
offer health clubs a progressive design;<br />
durable performance; a wide 22" x 64"<br />
running surface with cushioned footfall<br />
and firm push-off; and up to 21 training<br />
programs with a motivational color LCD<br />
screen. A USB port allows facilities to<br />
upgrade software easily and insert their<br />
personalized messages into the display.<br />
User-centric features include a backlit<br />
Touch Sensor console, numeric keypad,<br />
heart-rate monitor, exercise data-tracking<br />
software, and state-of-the-art entertainment<br />
options.<br />
PRECOR, INC.<br />
74 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
NEW<br />
TRM 823 (shown), TRM 833<br />
Durability meets a low-impact workout<br />
in the TRM 823 and TRM 833 treadmills.<br />
As with all Precor models, these new<br />
models come standard with Integrated<br />
Footplant Technology (IFT) and Ground<br />
Effects (GFX). The TRM 823 and TRM 833<br />
are built with exceptional durability, and<br />
ensure users comfort, ease-of-use, and<br />
a dynamic and rewarding workout to help<br />
them meet all of their exercise goals.<br />
NEW<br />
TRM 885<br />
The TRM 885 is a top-of-the-line treadmill,<br />
renowned for its performance and<br />
durability. A 3-degree decline option and<br />
maximum speed of 16 mph are unique to<br />
the TRM 885. Equipped with Integrated<br />
Footplant Technology (IFT) and Ground<br />
Effects (GFX), the TRM 885 delivers a<br />
smooth and natural feel when running or<br />
walking. The TRM 885 features a touchscreen<br />
console, just like a high-end phone,<br />
and a simple, intuitive interface that draws<br />
members deeper into their workout.<br />
PROMAXIMA FITNESS<br />
S16TX and S16T STEX Treadmill<br />
The STEX S16TX treadmill includes an<br />
integrated LCD with HDTV. Both the<br />
S16TX and S16T include a 4-HP AC<br />
continuous-duty motor; a speed range<br />
of 0.5-14 mph; elevation from 0-16%; a<br />
20" x 60" four-ply, self-lubricating belt;<br />
a shock-cushioning deck system; and fitness<br />
test protocols, such as Gerkin, Navy<br />
PFT, Marine PFT, Army PFT, Air Force<br />
PFT, and Fit Test. Also included are the<br />
Intelligent Touch Heart Rate System and<br />
a six-segment display.
S25TX and S25T STEX Treadmill<br />
The STEX S25TX treadmill boasts an<br />
integrated LCD with HDTV. Both the<br />
S25TX and the S25T include a 5.5-HP AC<br />
continuous-duty motor; a speed range<br />
of 0.5-15.5 mph; elevation from 0-20%;<br />
a 22" x 64" four-ply, self-lubricating belt;<br />
a shock-cushioning deck system; the<br />
Intelligent Touch Heart Rate System;<br />
and a six-segment display. Fitness test<br />
protocols include Gerkin, Navy PFT,<br />
Marine PFT, Army PFT, Air Force PFT,<br />
and Fit Test. Generous warranties<br />
cover both treadmills.<br />
SCIFIT<br />
AC5000 Treadmill (shown),<br />
AC5000M Treadmill<br />
SCIFIT’s AC5000 Treadmill uses a 3-HP<br />
motor to provide durability and a smooth,<br />
comfortable feel. It offers a slow starting<br />
speed of .1 mph; an incline up to 15%; an<br />
oversized walking/running surface; and<br />
a 500-pound user-weight capacity to<br />
accommodate all exercisers. Side handrail<br />
switches for speed and elevation<br />
make it easy to adjust the workout without<br />
breaking stride. Special features of<br />
the AC5000M (medical) Treadmill include<br />
extended handrails, an elevation of -3%<br />
to 12%, and a reverse speed up to 4 mph,<br />
making it ideal for rehabilitation.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
SPORTSART FITNESS<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 77<br />
NEW<br />
T652 Treadmill<br />
The T652 treadmill features a 5-HP<br />
Eco-Powr motor that uses 32% less<br />
electricity than traditional treadmill motors;<br />
delivers a speed range of .1-15 mph; and<br />
has a user weight capacity of 500 pounds.<br />
The 22" x 62" running surface is easy on<br />
the joints, and telemetry and contact<br />
heart rate, along with multiple pre-set<br />
programs, allow exercisers to achieve<br />
maximum benefits. The treadmill comes<br />
with WFI Firefighters’ Wellness Fitness<br />
Initiative programming and optional<br />
iPod connectivity.<br />
Do you need a hand<br />
managing your facility?<br />
With AAC, running your<br />
facility has never been easier.<br />
Affiliated Acceptance continually strives to keep you easily<br />
connected with your facilities. We offer everything you need to keep<br />
your facility running smoothly. By providing billing, software and<br />
collection services, we know you will find our full service program<br />
meets all of your business needs.<br />
Call our sales team today to start making your life easier.<br />
AFFILIATED ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION<br />
800.233.8483 • sales@affiliated.org • www.affiliated.org<br />
Join our community!<br />
Scan this QR code with your<br />
smartphone to find out more.<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 75
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
T680 Treadmill<br />
The T680 treadmill is equipped with the<br />
ECO-POWR (Extreme Conservation and<br />
Output) System, a maintenance-free,<br />
self-regulating, brushless drive system<br />
that delivers long-term savings by using<br />
up to 32% less electricity. It also boasts<br />
the comfortable, joint-friendly My-Flex<br />
cushioning system, as well as the proprietary<br />
CardioAdvisor heart-rate-training<br />
system. The unit’s entertainment-ready<br />
15.4" LCD screen can display full-screen<br />
workout data, full-screen video, or a<br />
split-screen combination.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $7,799.00<br />
H O L L M A N<br />
L o c k e r s & C o u r t s<br />
STAR TRAC<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 62<br />
E-TRx Treadmill<br />
The E-TRx has been built with the<br />
benefit of Star Trac’s 20-plus years of<br />
treadmill innovation. The E-TRx offers<br />
optional upgrades, including: Made for<br />
iPod connectivity, USB charging station,<br />
integrated 900 MHz wireless controller,<br />
and 15" HD personal viewing screen.<br />
The treadmill comes with dual-adjustable<br />
personal fans; a Hot Bar with onefinger<br />
speed and elevation controls;<br />
contact heart-rate grips; and 20%<br />
maximum elevation.<br />
E-TRxe Treadmill<br />
The E-TRxe features Made for iPod<br />
technology, a USB charging station, an<br />
integrated 900 MHz wireless controller,<br />
and a 15" HD personal viewing screen.<br />
The treadmill also comes with dualadjustable<br />
personal fans; a Hot Bar with<br />
one-finger speed and elevation controls;<br />
contact heart-rate grips; and 20%<br />
maximum elevation.<br />
Chosen by The Dallas Cowboys, Equinox, LA Fitness, Gold’s Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Lifetime<br />
Fitness and the Spectrum Clubs as the superior locker and court supplier.<br />
76 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
If you can imagine it; we can build it!<br />
1-800-433-3630<br />
www.hollman.com
E-TRxi Treadmill<br />
The E-TRxi treadmill is built on the culmination<br />
of Star Trac’s 20-plus years of<br />
treadmill innovation and the company’s<br />
flexible E Series entertainment offering.<br />
It features an integrated 15" HD personal<br />
viewing screen with intuitively placed<br />
channel and volume controls; Made for<br />
iPod technology; a USB charging station;<br />
centered, dual-adjustable personal fans;<br />
an easily accessible Hot Bar with onefinger<br />
speed and elevation controls; an<br />
integrated stop button; contact heartrate<br />
grips; and 20% maximum elevation.<br />
coming soon...the Green System – revolutionary<br />
energy-generating fi tness equipment<br />
To fi nd out how much you can save, log on to<br />
http://green.sportsartamerica.com<br />
Built.<br />
Going green not only helps the environment,<br />
it also reduces energy and builds business for your club.<br />
T652 Treadmill<br />
View detailed specs for this<br />
and more ellipticals,<br />
treadmills and cycles at<br />
www.sportsartamerica.com<br />
Star Trac Coach<br />
The Star Trac Coach is a personalized<br />
treadmill workout led by a professional<br />
Coach. Over 1 million possible running<br />
and walking workouts ensure users’<br />
workouts will be different every time.<br />
This patent-pending technology is exclusively<br />
available on Star Trac’s E series<br />
embedded-screen treadmills.<br />
*iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
S-TRc Treadmill<br />
The STRc is a customized model for use<br />
in unsupervised facilities. The treadmill<br />
is equipped with user-focused features,<br />
such as hourglass-shaped handrails;<br />
a 5" step-up height; a stop clip; larger<br />
buttons and fewer scrolling letters for<br />
easier viewing; 13 programs; personal<br />
cooling fans; and multiple cup holders.<br />
An integrated 15" HD personal viewing<br />
screen is optional.<br />
LIFETIME ECO-POWR motor warranty<br />
3% decline to 15% incline range<br />
Optional iPod ® connectivity<br />
22” x 61” running surface<br />
Multiple language settings<br />
Fitness tests for fi re, military and medical<br />
SportsArt’s ECO-POWR treadmills<br />
use 32% less energy than traditional<br />
treadmills, saving club owners<br />
thousands on electricity bills.<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 77
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
S-TRx Treadmill<br />
The S-TRx treadmill is designed for<br />
light-commercial facilities seeking a<br />
commercial-quality treadmill without<br />
a commercial price. The treadmill is<br />
equipped with user-focused features,<br />
such as hourglass-shaped handrails;<br />
a 5" step-up height; a stop clip; larger<br />
buttons and fewer scrolling letters for<br />
easier viewing; 13 programs; personal<br />
cooling fans; and multiple cup holders.<br />
An integrated 15" HD personal viewing<br />
screen is optional.<br />
TECHNOGyM<br />
SEE OUR AD ON THE BACK COVER<br />
Excite Med Run<br />
78 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Excite Med Run combines cardiovascular<br />
wellness with performance training,<br />
testing, medical treatment, and rehabilitation<br />
applications. Med Run is UL, CE,<br />
and TUV Medical Certified and incorporates<br />
submaximal, maximal, and military<br />
testing features. Excite Med’s Cardio<br />
Memory software enables real-time<br />
acquisition, visualization, and storage of<br />
all relevant training and test data. Med<br />
Run safety accessory options include a 6"<br />
rear safety step; a minimum speed of<br />
0.25 mph; height-adjustable underarm<br />
supports; and adjustable handrails.<br />
Excite+ Jog Now 700<br />
Technogym’s Excite+ Jog combines<br />
space efficiency and style with enhanced<br />
usability, safety, and entertainment features.<br />
Jog offers numerous accessibility<br />
features, such as the patent-pending In<br />
Motion light, a low 0.25 mph minimum<br />
speed, a step-up height of 8", and heartrate<br />
program access through the hand<br />
sensors. Jog features a high-contrast<br />
LED display or the VISIOWEB display,<br />
an interactive cardiovascular interface<br />
that offers touch-screen entertainment,<br />
as well as Web-browsing, marketing<br />
capacity, and intuitive navigation.<br />
Excite+ Run Now 900<br />
Technogym’s Run Now treadmill offers<br />
exceptional energy savings, along with<br />
engaging new workout interfaces and<br />
enhanced safety features. An independent<br />
TUV study found Run Now uses 40%<br />
less energy than other treadmills. Run<br />
Now also incorporates a high-contrast<br />
LED interface or the Web-compatible<br />
VISIOWEB display, an entertainment,<br />
marketing, and education digital platform.<br />
Safety features include the new In<br />
Motion light that indicates when the belt<br />
is in motion, Runner Detection Function,<br />
and laser-etched belt markings.
TRuE FITNESS<br />
SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 81<br />
CS500 Treadmill<br />
The CS500 treadmill features a new<br />
console design that provides a sleek,<br />
cohesive look, along with versatile display<br />
options. Among them: the classic<br />
two-window LCD, featuring basic iPod<br />
compatibility; and the 15" LCD with<br />
touch-screen technology, offering<br />
advanced iPod compatibility. With its<br />
space-efficient design, low-profile<br />
frame, and accessible 7" step-up height,<br />
the CS500 is equipped with a 4-HP<br />
Endura-Drive motor to ensure smooth<br />
operation. It also features one-touch<br />
HRC Cruise Control.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $5,999.00<br />
CS550 Treadmill<br />
The CS550 treadmill features a new<br />
console design that provides a sleek,<br />
cohesive look, along with versatile<br />
display options: the 11" LCD offers<br />
basic iPod compatibility, and the 15" LCD<br />
with touch-screen technology features<br />
advanced iPod compatibility. With its<br />
space-efficient design, low-profile frame,<br />
and accessible 7" step-up height, the<br />
CS550 is equipped with a 5-HP Max-Drive<br />
motor with a self-cooling system. It also<br />
features one-touch HRC Cruise Control.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $7,099.00<br />
CS800 Treadmill<br />
The CS800 treadmill features a new<br />
console design that provides a sleek,<br />
cohesive look, along with versatile display<br />
options: the 11" LCD offers basic<br />
iPod compatibility, and the 15" LCD with<br />
touch-screen technology features<br />
advanced iPod compatibility. The CS800<br />
is built on a commercial, 11-gauge,<br />
robotically welded, steel frame that<br />
provides uncompromising stability. It<br />
utilizes the patented SOFT system, and<br />
is equipped with a 5-HP Max-Drive<br />
motor with a self-cooling system.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $7,799.00<br />
LC1100 Treadmill<br />
The TRUE LC1100 treadmill is engineered<br />
to outperform and outlast other equipment<br />
in its class. A performance-driven machine,<br />
the LC1100 is powered by a heavy-duty<br />
Endura-Drive AC motor that delivers<br />
TRUE’s signature smooth and quiet<br />
acceleration, plus its proven reliability.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $5,099.00<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
PATRIOT<br />
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Find us on<br />
Scan QR Code<br />
with your Smart<br />
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CBI ©07/11 U-Haul Int'l<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 79
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
PS100 Treadmill<br />
The TRUE PS Series treadmill was<br />
engineered to be a real workhorse, but<br />
designed to look like a true thoroughbred.<br />
Built on a commercial-grade frame<br />
and outfitted with the sturdiest and most<br />
durable components in its class, the PS<br />
Series treadmill will remain attractive<br />
and reliable for years to come.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $2,699.00<br />
PS900 Treadmill<br />
Making Great Trainers for Over 35 Years...<br />
Let NETA make you great!<br />
www.NETAfit.org<br />
800.237.6242<br />
80 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
The TRUE PS900 treadmill has been<br />
engineered to provide performance and<br />
durability. This workhorse is driven by<br />
a powerful 4-HP DC self-cooling motor<br />
that delivers TRUE’s signature smooth<br />
and quiet acceleration, plus its proven<br />
reliability.<br />
Manufacturer’s list price: $3,699.00<br />
VISION FITNESS<br />
SEE MATRIX<br />
T9700HRT, T9700S<br />
The T9700 Series features heavy-gauge,<br />
welded steel frames; 3-HP continuousduty<br />
motors; low-maintenance Seigling<br />
Cool-Weave belts; club-rated PWM motor<br />
controllers with fuseless current-limit<br />
and dynamic short-circuit protection;<br />
and 2.5" rollers that allow the belts to<br />
operate under low tension, generating<br />
minimal friction and heat. The T9700HRT<br />
offers motivational programming with<br />
heart-rate training. The T9700S doesn’t<br />
include programming—just touch the<br />
Start button and get going. All are<br />
assembled in an ISO 9001-certified<br />
manufacturing facility.<br />
NETA<br />
CERTIFICATIONS<br />
NCCA Accredited and<br />
nationally recognized.<br />
Personal Trainer<br />
Group Exercise<br />
HANDS-ON<br />
INSTRUCTION<br />
By the best trainers<br />
in the fitness industry.<br />
WORKSHOP<br />
LOCATIONS<br />
Conveniently located<br />
near you.<br />
Call for a FREE brochure<br />
®
T9800HRT, T9800S<br />
Vision Fitness’ robust T9800 Series<br />
treadmills will withstand hours of use<br />
in commercial settings. Large 3" rollers,<br />
a powerful AC drive system, and a spacious<br />
22" x 60" running surface make these<br />
treadmills comfortable for exercisers<br />
and require very little maintenance. The<br />
T9800HRT offers 16 programs, including<br />
the exclusive SPRINT 8, four heart-ratetraining,<br />
and five user programs. The<br />
T9800S, a simpler model, does not include<br />
programming; exercisers simply touch<br />
the Start button to begin.<br />
©2011 TRUE FITNESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.<br />
WOODWAy uSA<br />
CURVE<br />
The CURVE manual treadmill allows<br />
users to exercise in dynamic way. The<br />
innovative Curve design enables exercisers<br />
of all sizes to instantly achieve their desired<br />
speed simply by increasing their pace,<br />
much like running outside. Because the<br />
treadmill has no motor, the user is doing<br />
all the work, and is thereby burning 30%<br />
more calories, which benefits both the<br />
exerciser as well as the health club’s<br />
electricity bill.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | FIT Extra Treadmills<br />
EcoMill<br />
The WOODWAY EcoMill uses zero<br />
electricity, and actually creates power<br />
utilizing the user’s energy output. The<br />
display board is powered by the exerciser<br />
spinning the belt, and has a USB outlet<br />
that charges a phone or iPod during<br />
workouts. WOODWAY’s electromagnetic<br />
braking system effectively controls and<br />
maintains a consistent speed throughout,<br />
and the EcoMill has an initial maximum<br />
speed setting of 1.0 mph to prevent overacceleration.<br />
A battery back-up system<br />
ensures uninterrupted display functions<br />
during exercise sessions.<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 81
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100% American Made Lockers<br />
Ideal manufactures lockers in the U.S.A. with parts and materials<br />
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I N S U R A N C E C O R P O R AT I O N<br />
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LAU_SIF_Ad_7.125x4.75.indd 1 6/7/11 10:44 AM
»<br />
Product Profiles<br />
Special Advertising Section<br />
The BuyersMart is an effective shopping tool—one<br />
that allows you to find out about a wide range of<br />
products and services without leaving the comfort<br />
of your club. The following companies are also listed<br />
on www.ihrsa.org/buyersmart, where an advanced<br />
search function enables you to find the companies<br />
and products you are looking for easily. For detailed<br />
contact information, please refer to the advertiser<br />
index at the end of this section.<br />
SPOTLIGHT<br />
Supreme Audio<br />
The Leader in Sound and Entertainment Systems for Gyms<br />
New…“The Entertainer” 3-Band (FM, 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz) Wireless Entertainment<br />
System by SupremeVision. Receivers and transmitters are 100% compatible<br />
with all your current entertainment system components! FREE “Professional<br />
Audio Buyer's Guide” featuring SupremeProAudio, Samson, Shure, Telex and<br />
Audio-Technica wireless microphones, variable speed CD players and tape<br />
decks, speakers and amplifiers. Wireless entertainment systems, personal<br />
LCD screens digital signage and studio lighting. Largest selection of components<br />
with 100% secure online shopping. Competitive prices. Free Lifetime<br />
Technical Support. Our experience has made the difference since 1975!<br />
» For more information, please contact us at P.O. Box 550,<br />
Marlborough, NH 03455, call Jane Plaugher, V.P.- General Manager<br />
at 800-445-7398 or visit www.SupremeAudio.com.<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | BuyersMart<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 83<br />
®
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | BuyersMart<br />
ABC Financial<br />
84 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Special Advertising Section<br />
Aeromat/EcoWise Fitness Products<br />
Aran Stainless ASF International<br />
Big Ass Fans<br />
» www.bigassfans.com;<br />
877-244-3267<br />
THE Ultimate Spray Bottle Holder<br />
No more broken holders or<br />
misplaced spray bottles. Stainless<br />
steel. Proudly made in the U.S.A<br />
» www.aranstainless.com;<br />
aran1@consolidated.net;<br />
1-800-228-2726<br />
The 8-to-10-ft diameter Isis ® is a silent,<br />
customizable fan for fitness spaces with<br />
ceilings as low as 12 feet. Just one 8-ft<br />
Isis covers more area than nine small<br />
ceiling fans while using only one-third of<br />
the energy. The airflow from Isis creates<br />
an evaporative cooling effect that lowers<br />
perceived temperatures and improves<br />
the comfort level of members.<br />
Aeromat/EcoWise<br />
2070 Zanker Road<br />
San Jose, CA 95131<br />
Toll-Free: 877-278-6158<br />
Fax: 707-221-4040<br />
info@aeromats.com<br />
www.aeromats.com<br />
www.ecowisefitness.com<br />
Aeromat/EcoWise Fitness Products specializes in supplying<br />
high quality mats and related fitness products to the fitness,<br />
sporting and rehabilitation industries, and offers the market<br />
both product innovations and brand name recognition.<br />
» For a dealer near you, call today!<br />
Call toll-free: 877-278-6158 or visit www.aeromats.com<br />
or www.ecowisefitness.com.<br />
CI Solutions
HEX Tanning<br />
Tune Belt<br />
Special Advertising Section<br />
245cbi<br />
505245_Buyersmart_July_09_FINAL.indd 1 5/19/09 2:35:07 PM<br />
For free samples & pricing<br />
Call: 1-800-860-1175<br />
visit: www.tunebelt.com<br />
Page Advertiser<br />
Cardio Entertainment Accessories &<br />
Instructor Supplies<br />
• Armbands for iPhones, iPods & More<br />
• Microphone Belts & Batteries<br />
• Ten Quality Headphones<br />
84 » ABC Financial Services, Inc.<br />
www.abcfinancial.com | 800-551-9733<br />
84 » Aeromat/EcoWise Fitness Products<br />
www.aeromats.com | 877-278-6158<br />
84 » A-RAN Stainless Fabricators<br />
www.aranstainless.com | 800-228-2726<br />
84 » ASF International<br />
www.asfinternational.com | 800-227-3859<br />
84 » Big Ass Fans<br />
www.bigassfans.com | 877-244-3267<br />
Ojmar<br />
| <strong>Innovations</strong> | BuyersMart<br />
Ojmar Locking Systems for Lockers—<br />
A good lock system means simplicity<br />
and reliability for you and your customers.<br />
Ojmar combines the most reliable<br />
technology with extensive market<br />
experience to offer you a series of<br />
products which can adapt to the needs<br />
of an entire facility. Ideal for Wet and<br />
Humid Locker rooms Ojmar has a full<br />
range of lock solutions for your facility. Our aim is to make<br />
the complicated simple.<br />
» Contact us at jameso@ojmar.com or toll free<br />
888-795-5588.<br />
See your ad here!<br />
Contact Meg Burnham at mb@ihrsa.org<br />
to advertise in BuyersMart.<br />
Page Advertiser<br />
84 » CI Solutions<br />
www.cisolutions.biz | 800-599-7385<br />
85 » HEX Tanning and Marketing Concepts<br />
www.hextanning.com | 800-556-3201<br />
85 » Ojmar US<br />
www.ojmar.com | 888-795-5588<br />
83 » Supreme Audio - Fitness Audio<br />
www.supremeaudio.com | 800-445-7398<br />
85 » Tune Belt, Inc.<br />
www.tunebelt.com | 800-860-1175<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 85
CAPTURE THE CRAZE OF<br />
GROUP FUNCTIONAL TRAINING<br />
CLASSES IN YOUR CLUB!<br />
Introducing the complete Functional Training Station<br />
(FTS) designed by PÚRMOTION . Perform countless<br />
functional strength exercises in one dedicated area. Great<br />
for individual workouts, with personal trainers, or in a<br />
group training setting.<br />
Get clients on their feet, developing total body strength<br />
and stability while using bodyweight for resistance<br />
along with PÚRMOTION’s unique, patent pending<br />
training products. Promote exercise that emphasizes<br />
developing real life functional strength while keeping it safe<br />
and FUN! Workshops, education, and marketing materials<br />
are available for integrating the FTS and conducting group<br />
training in your facility.<br />
<br />
LEASE FOR<br />
AS LOW AS<br />
$199/MO FOR<br />
60 MONTHS<br />
WAC.<br />
“The PurMotion FTS has been incredible for our<br />
one-on-one and small group training services and<br />
revenues. Our members in the club cannot help but<br />
notice and watch what our staff is doing with their<br />
clients and our clients are getting fantastic results, and<br />
just as important, having FUN while they work out! I<br />
highly recommend the FTS!”<br />
- Robert Rettmann, MS, Vice President of Education,<br />
The Rush Fitness Complex<br />
VISIT WWW.PURMOTION.NET<br />
FOR MORE DETAILS!<br />
TOLL FREE 877.798.9078
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Report<br />
First Set 89 | In Brief 90 | Ask the Entrepreneurs 94<br />
Member News 96 | Calendar 101 | Coming Soon 101<br />
The results of a study presented recently at the<br />
annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies<br />
concluded that children and teenagers with cystic<br />
fibrosis may benefit from an individually tailored<br />
exercise program. This inherited life-threatening<br />
disease affects the respiratory and digestive systems.<br />
Patients in the study profited from improved lung<br />
function, overall health, self-perception, and<br />
emotional well-being. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 87
Welcome New <strong>IHRSA</strong> Associate Members.<br />
Time to get Down to Business!<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> welcomes this month's new<br />
Associate Members. These leading<br />
companies offer the products and<br />
services your business needs to<br />
succeed in the rapidly competitive<br />
club market.<br />
For information on up-to-date products<br />
and services in the health club industry,<br />
go to ihrsa.org/products.<br />
Fit in Fit<br />
514/706-6000<br />
www.fitinfit.com<br />
Induro Cycling Studios, Inc.<br />
816/561-0088<br />
www.indurocycling.com<br />
International Sports &<br />
Fitness Trainers<br />
Association, Inc.<br />
863-949-4271<br />
www.isfta.com<br />
Jet Sport Industrial Co, LTD.<br />
886 4 2491 7666<br />
LAR Audio Systems<br />
716/285-0555<br />
www.laraudio.com<br />
Netsertive<br />
919/323-8385<br />
www.netsertive.com<br />
Resolute Physio Sport<br />
719/661-9499<br />
www.resoluteps.com<br />
reZeneration, Inc.<br />
310/890-3305<br />
www.CoreTransformer.tv<br />
Royal Blue Textiles<br />
310/888-0156<br />
www.royalblueintl.com<br />
TheGymShoppe.com<br />
201/984-5079<br />
www.TheGymShoppe.com<br />
US Sport Tech, LLC<br />
201/773-8218<br />
www.usstech.com<br />
Zebra Mats<br />
763/315-4920<br />
www.zebramats.com<br />
International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association | Seaport Center, 70 Fargo Street, Boston, MA 02210 USA
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub<br />
Association is a not-for-profit trade association<br />
open to investor-owned and member-owned<br />
fitness, racquet and athletic facilities. Associate<br />
memberships are available to manufacturers<br />
or suppliers of products and services of use<br />
to <strong>IHRSA</strong> members.<br />
800-228-4772 USA & Canada<br />
617-951-0055 International<br />
617-951-0056 FAX<br />
www.ihrsa.org<br />
www.healthclubs.com<br />
E-mail: info@ihrsa.org<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Board of Directors<br />
Art Curtis: Chairperson<br />
Millennium Partners<br />
Sports Club Management, LLC<br />
617-476-8910<br />
Mike Raymond: Curves International<br />
254-399-9285<br />
Susan Cooper: BodyBusiness Health Club & Spa<br />
512-459-9424<br />
Sandy Hoeffer: Clubsource<br />
Development Partners<br />
415-459-1500<br />
David Hardy: Franvest Capital Partners<br />
780-953-4273<br />
Kilian Fisher: <strong>IHRSA</strong> Europe Council<br />
+353 89-4322125<br />
Chuck Runyon: Anytime Fitness<br />
651-438-5000<br />
Kay Yuspeh: Elite Fitness & Racquet Clubs<br />
262-786-0880<br />
Bill McBride: Club One<br />
415-477-3000<br />
Richard Bilton: Companhia Athletica<br />
+55 11-5181-2000<br />
Carol Nalevanko: DMB Sports Clubs<br />
480-609-6979<br />
Brent Darden: TELOS Fitness Center<br />
972-458-2582<br />
Scott Gillespie: Saco Sport & Fitness<br />
207-284-5953<br />
David Patchell-Evans: Ex-officio<br />
GoodLife Fitness Clubs<br />
519-661-0190 ext. 238<br />
SPECIAL ADVISOR<br />
EUROPE<br />
Christian Pierar: De Fitness Organisatie<br />
+32 9-232-5036<br />
® Innovate<br />
Art Curtis<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Chairperson<br />
Out<br />
of Slow Growth!<br />
The great recession may be over, but things<br />
certainly aren’t back to normal—or, at least, the<br />
normal that we knew before 2008. Now, we’re<br />
trying to understand how we can help our clubs<br />
prosper given a slow-growth environment in<br />
which buying behaviors have changed dramatically.<br />
Those of you who’ve fared the best during the prolonged economic<br />
downturn probably did so by playing good defense. However, in<br />
a new book, Accelerating Out of the Great Recession, How<br />
to Win in a Slow-Growth Economy, authors David Rhodes<br />
and Daniel Stelter, of the Boston Consulting Group, argue that<br />
defense isn’t enough to prevail in a slow-growth economy. To<br />
win, you have to go on the offensive.<br />
One of the most effective ways to do so, they remind us, is to<br />
focus on innovation.<br />
A study conducted recently by Accept Corp. found that there<br />
were several characteristics common to highly innovative companies,<br />
as well ones shared by the least innovative.<br />
The top innovators understood how to:<br />
• Balance investments in breakthrough advances with spending on incremental<br />
innovations in existing processes, products, and services.<br />
• Prioritize by focusing on projects that aligned both with market needs and the<br />
company’s overall business strategy.<br />
• Analyze customer feedback effectively, right from the start, so they could make<br />
adjustments or drop an idea early on if it wasn’t well received and, then, move<br />
on to the next idea.<br />
On the other hand, the poor innovators:<br />
• Didn’t listen to customers or truly understand their wants and needs.<br />
• Didn’t collaborate with their customers and other stakeholders, including staff<br />
and suppliers, when developing new ideas.<br />
• Were misaligned, with poor communication between senior management and<br />
line staff, resulting in resources being spent on the wrong ideas, or leading to<br />
poor execution of viable ideas.<br />
• Were uncertain because of a lack of clear criteria and decision-making<br />
processes. As a result, decisions were made on the basis of internal politics and<br />
subjectivity rather than an idea’s actual merit.<br />
• Executed ideas ineffectively. They found it difficult to allocate resources to<br />
match a new market opportunity, and, simultaneously, to keep their eye on the<br />
ball with respect to their core products and services.<br />
So, how does your business stack up in terms of innovation? —|<br />
– Art Curtis, acurtis@millenniumptrs.com<br />
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | First Set<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 8 9
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | In Brief<br />
Employee or<br />
Independent<br />
Contractor?<br />
How to<br />
Satisfy the<br />
IRS<br />
When hiring an aerobics instructor or tennis pro, many health club<br />
operators consider making use of an independent contractor, especially<br />
for teaching a specific class or exercise. On the one hand, doing<br />
so costs less money and reduces the possibility of exposure to liability<br />
claims related to negligent acts by employees while on the job.<br />
But, on the other, it can prove problematic.<br />
At the close of 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will complete its<br />
National Research Program, which involves the random selection and auditing<br />
of 6,000 employers. For years, the IRS has intentionally made it more difficult to<br />
classify workers as independent contractors (independents). For that reason, club<br />
operators who decide to treat workers as independents risk being audited and<br />
found in violation of the IRS tax code, which has costly repercussions. (Some<br />
sources say an improperly classified worker costs an employer an average of<br />
$3,000 in back taxes). Therefore, a growing number of club operators have been<br />
reluctant to take on workers as independents.<br />
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that hiring them at your club is inadvisable; it<br />
just means that, in order to do so, you should take great care and cover all bases.<br />
Here’s a summary of what you need to know when it comes to hiring independents<br />
rather than regular employees:<br />
Who is, and who isn’t, an independent contractor?<br />
While there’s no clear-cut answer to this question, the key factors that distinguish<br />
employees from independents are: (1) the degree to which the club company controls<br />
the job the worker performs and how they do it—for instance, employees take their<br />
orders from club management, while independent contractors use their own<br />
discretion as to how they perform a task or provide a service; (2) if financial<br />
aspects of the worker’s job are controlled by the company (i.e., how the<br />
worker is paid, expense reimbursement); and (3) whether there are written<br />
contracts or employee-type benefits, such as health insurance or vacation pay.<br />
Some factors may suggest that the worker is an employee, while others may<br />
indicate they’re an independent. According to the IRS, “there’s no ‘magic’ or set<br />
number that ‘makes’ the worker an employee or an independent contractor.”<br />
Therefore, it’s in your best interest to examine the entire relationship between<br />
your business and an individual worker and consider how much right you have<br />
to control the way in which they perform the designated service or task.<br />
How do other clubs classify aerobics, fitness, and racquet sport instructors?<br />
The majority of <strong>IHRSA</strong> clubs compensate their aerobics, fitness, and racquet<br />
sports instructors as employees. However, about 31% pay their racquet sports<br />
instructors as contractors; 22% classify their aerobics instructors as contractors;<br />
and 10% compensate their fitness instructors as contractors.<br />
What if I’m not sure?<br />
The conservative approach is to compensate workers as employees to avoid the<br />
risk of an audit and back taxes. If you remain unsure, you can ask the IRS for a<br />
determination by filing Form SS-8. The IRS will use the information provided to<br />
determine how certain workers should be classified.<br />
The IRS does allow for relief from federal tax obligations for businesses as long<br />
as three requirements are met: (1) you had a reasonable basis for not treating<br />
workers as employees (i.e., advice from a lawyer, a court case, or an IRS ruling);<br />
(2) you treated all previous and similar workers the same way; and (3) you filed<br />
a 1099-MISC form for each worker.<br />
If your club is audited, strengthen your case for hiring independents by doing<br />
your homework. Research IRS rulings on situations similar to your own, and,<br />
most importantly, be sure to commit to writing each of the factors you used to<br />
determine whether to classify workers as employees or independents. —|<br />
.org<br />
9 0 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
To read <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s complete briefing paper on independent contractors, log on to<br />
www.ihrsa.org/briefing-papers.
webinars ad-0711CBI:webinars .5pg ad-0711CBI 5/24/11 10:25 AM Page 1<br />
HARNESS THE POWER<br />
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will fill an essential need — and your club — at the same time.<br />
■ The Winning Triad: Personal Training, Health Clubs & Medicine<br />
Thursday, July 14 | 2:00pm-3:30pm (EDT)<br />
Presented by Phil Kaplan, President & Owner, Fitness 21<br />
Register Today: 3 Easy Ways!<br />
• Email membership@ihrsa.org<br />
• Call 800-228-4772 (US/Canada)<br />
• Visit ihrsa.org/webinars<br />
The <strong>IHRSA</strong> STORE<br />
Your professional resource center<br />
Home | Club Operations Resources | DVDs | MP3s | Webinars | Industry Data and Research | Magazines | Wearables/Merchandise<br />
Digital DVDs and eBooks at Your Fingertips!<br />
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u JaSmIn KIRSTeIn<br />
My Sportlady<br />
Introducing: Jasmin Kirstein<br />
and Robert Brewster<br />
As the newly elected members of <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
board of directors begin taking their seats,<br />
you might well be wondering, who are they?<br />
Well, we'd be delighted to introduce Jasmin<br />
Kirstein, the owner of My Sportlady, in Munich,<br />
Germany, and Robert Brewster, the president<br />
of The Alaska Club, in Anchorage, Alaska.<br />
Preface: In the early 1980s,<br />
Jasmin Kirstein worked as a<br />
model, and, during a visit to<br />
Boston, discovered Healthworks.<br />
Inspired by this innovative<br />
women’s club, Kirstein<br />
returned to her native Germany<br />
to open the first-ever fitness<br />
facility for women in Munich.<br />
In 1984, she launched My<br />
Sportlady, a 3,000-square-foot<br />
unit that offers women a<br />
holistic approach to fitness<br />
and well-being.<br />
Shortly after opening the<br />
club, Kirstein’s daughter was<br />
diagnosed with leukemia, but<br />
the new entrepreneur was<br />
able to continue developing<br />
her business while caring<br />
for her child. Fortunately,<br />
her daughter prevailed over<br />
the disease and inspired<br />
Kirstein to open her club’s<br />
doors—for free or at reduced<br />
rates—to struggling mothers.<br />
The original facility has<br />
since been expanded to nearly<br />
20,000 square feet, and now<br />
has a sister operation in<br />
Taufkirchen. Kirstein also<br />
launched the My Sportlady<br />
Trust Fund, which supports<br />
women and children both<br />
locally and in other countries.<br />
Her efforts led to her being<br />
awarded the 2010 Julie<br />
Main Woman Leadership<br />
Scholarship for excellence,<br />
professionalism, courage,<br />
and perseverance.<br />
Preview: “I learned so much<br />
through <strong>IHRSA</strong>,” Kirstein<br />
reflects. “The association<br />
made it possible for me to<br />
face the risk of opening a<br />
studio, and encouraged me<br />
to go further. So now, it’s<br />
time for me to give back.”<br />
As a member of <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
board, Kirstein would like<br />
to develop ideas designed<br />
to attract new members to<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>, and help create an<br />
educational component that<br />
encourages women in leadership<br />
positions. She’d also<br />
like to help grow <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
international membership.<br />
“The industry has to<br />
recognize that it needs to<br />
provide club members with<br />
additional benefits, some-<br />
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Board Profiles<br />
Jasmin Kirstein Robert Brewster<br />
thing more than just exercise,”<br />
she says. “We have to listen<br />
to our members, and make<br />
them feel welcome again,<br />
and again, and again.” —|<br />
u ROBeRT BReWSTeR<br />
The Alaska Club<br />
Preface: Robert Brewster has<br />
a lifelong history of participation<br />
in competitive sports,<br />
primarily cross-country skiing,<br />
for which he received a gold<br />
medal in the 30-km freestyle<br />
at the World Masters Cross<br />
Country Ski Championships<br />
in 1983. Over the past 28 years,<br />
he’s managed a diverse<br />
assortment of health clubs,<br />
including multipurpose,<br />
tennis-only, sport-specific,<br />
high-end gyms, and lowprice/high-volume<br />
units.<br />
Today, Brewster serves<br />
as the president of The Alaska<br />
Club (TAC), a company that<br />
operates a network of 18<br />
multipurpose facilities;<br />
Acceleration Alaska, a sportstraining<br />
center; and Alaska<br />
Fitness Equipment, a commercial<br />
equipment distribu-<br />
tion company. His broad<br />
experience, longstanding<br />
relationship with <strong>IHRSA</strong>,<br />
and participation in the REX<br />
Roundtables for Executives<br />
have provided him with<br />
a clear understanding of<br />
the unique circumstances<br />
confronting the industry.<br />
Preview: “The perspectives<br />
I’ve gained will help me identify<br />
critical industry problems,<br />
effective solutions, and the<br />
resources that clubs need to<br />
prosper,” says Brewster.<br />
During his time on <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s<br />
board, Brewster intends to<br />
focus on ensuring the association’s<br />
financial stability<br />
through revenue diversification<br />
and resource management,<br />
and on strengthening its<br />
public policy and advocacy<br />
efforts to protect <strong>IHRSA</strong><br />
members from unfair competition<br />
and burdensome<br />
government regulation.<br />
“I’m excited at the prospect<br />
of being able to help<br />
shape direction and policy<br />
at this important moment in<br />
the association’s development,”<br />
he explains. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 9 3
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Ask the Entrepreneurs<br />
9 4 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Accessing Valuable Insights<br />
How do you solicit feedback from your club’s members?<br />
u mIcHael HOeBeR JenKInS, Owner<br />
Body Kinetics, LLC, Mill Valley & Novato, California<br />
We solicit feedback from our members via an annual club survey that we send out each January.<br />
We e-mail it to members and also make it available at the front desk. The survey asks what<br />
new equipment, facility changes, and/or programming the client would like to see. We charge<br />
a $25-$35 enhancement fee each year and use the proceeds to implement the most-requested<br />
changes. This usually involves adding new pieces of equipment or improving a particular area<br />
of the club. Our members are very happy with the changes, and can clearly see that their money<br />
is being used for their benefit. —|<br />
u cOlleen BRaun, Owner<br />
Anytime Fitness, Madelia & Springfield, Minnesota<br />
We randomly distribute a brief questionnaire asking members about their experience at the<br />
club and soliciting their suggestions about how we could improve. We also try to connect with<br />
them face-to-face, talking with them regularly on a personal basis as they work out, participate in<br />
classes, etc. In addition, we hold a weekly staff conference call and review the thoughts, ideas,<br />
and feedback that we’ve received. We then communicate the changes and solutions we intend<br />
to implement in our monthly newsletter. I’ve also considered developing a member advisory<br />
board, but we haven’t done that yet. —|<br />
u SImOn Gale, General Manager & Director of Instruction<br />
Yonkers Tennis Center, Yonkers, New York<br />
Our front-desk staff has established solid relationships with our customers, and, as a result,<br />
member feedback tends to come directly to them, and is then passed along to management.<br />
We also make a point of getting out from behind the desk and interacting with our clients in<br />
the lobby. Being a tennis club, we’ve had great success with our parent weeks, which involve<br />
parents coming down onto the courts and taking part in their child’s lesson. We answer any<br />
questions or concerns they may have about their child’s progress. By obtaining feedback from<br />
them and dealing with any concerns head-on, we avoid any end-of-season complaints that<br />
might result in a child’s quitting. —|<br />
Editor’s note: If you’d like to be profiled in this column, please contact Kristen Walsh, <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s senior editor, at kwalsh@ihrsa.org.
“With ACSM-certified staff, my club<br />
can provide higher quality service.<br />
That’s good for our members, and<br />
it’s good for business, too.”<br />
ONE CERTIFICATION<br />
OPENS THE DOOR TO<br />
MORE MEMBERS.<br />
ACSM certification means your staff will be uniquely qualified to work with a variety of people to<br />
improve health, fitness and wellness, even those with health risks. We’ll help by providing your<br />
staff with everything they need, from self-study materials to hands-on workshops worldwide.<br />
Go to www.acsm.org/cbi for everything you need to know about ACSM’s health, fitness and<br />
clinical certifications.<br />
ACSM CLUB CONNECTION PROGRAM<br />
The ACSM Club Connection Program makes educating and certifying your club’s fitness<br />
professionals easier and less expensive by providing study materials and valuable discounts<br />
on certification. To learn more, please call 1-800-486-5643.<br />
LEADING THE WAY<br />
CHECK OUT OUR<br />
ACSM Group Exercise<br />
Instructor Certification
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Member News<br />
Value Proposition Freemotion Fitness<br />
‘Innovation and education’ are the keys that have allowed this functional-strength<br />
company to expand into, and explore, the whole world of fitness equipment<br />
FreeMotion Fitness, based in<br />
Logan, Utah, was founded in<br />
1999 on the basis of what Pat<br />
McGinnis, the company’s<br />
president and COO, describes<br />
as a simple, yet bold observation:<br />
One-dimensional training doesn’t correspond<br />
to, doesn’t carry over into, a<br />
three-dimensional world—a place<br />
where twisting, turning, and moving in<br />
all planes is a fact of daily life.<br />
Guided and driven by that insight, the<br />
company has developed comprehensive<br />
lines of strength and cardiovascular<br />
equipment that focus on developing core<br />
strength for balance and stability, as<br />
well as products that are designed to<br />
strengthen individual isolated muscles.<br />
Spinning into a new Space<br />
“We’re no longer just a functional strength company,” posits Pat<br />
McGinnis, the president and COO of FreeMotion Fitness. While the<br />
firm has made major inroads into the cardio space over the past<br />
few years, it’s climbed to an entirely new level with the recent<br />
introduction of its FreeMotion Indoor Cycling Bikes.<br />
The company’s audacious goal with this particular product line,<br />
McGinnis says, is to “revolutionize” the way that people experience<br />
indoor cycling.<br />
The bike’s features are designed to deliver on the promise. The<br />
FreeMotion S Series of bikes boasts rust-resistant, zinc-coated<br />
steel frames; ergonomics to accommodate virtually any user,<br />
including an open, step-through design and multiple bar and seat<br />
adjustments; a drive system that mimics outdoor cycling; a magnetic-resistance<br />
system that delivers consistent resistance, with<br />
no brake pads to maintain; a perimeter-weighted flywheel, which<br />
means that, with the weight on the outer edge, the flywheel produces<br />
high inertia, which provides a smoother riding experience;<br />
and a console that features direct power measurement. —|<br />
9 6 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
It didn’t take long for the fitness<br />
manufacturing community to take notice<br />
of FreeMotion’s unique approach. In<br />
December 2000, ICON Health & Fitness,<br />
the equipment juggernaut that’s headquartered<br />
in Logan, acquired the<br />
company and positioned FreeMotion as<br />
its commercial division. Icon also owns<br />
the NordicTrack, ProForm, Weider,<br />
HealthRider, EPIC, Image, and Weslo<br />
brands, and licenses the Google, Gold’s<br />
Gym, and Jillian Michaels names.<br />
Today, FreeMotion enjoys all the<br />
benefits of being a wholly owned subsidiary<br />
of the world’s largest producer of exercise<br />
equipment, but remains independent<br />
with respect to its marketing, sales,<br />
research, development, and operations.<br />
Asked what sets<br />
FreeMotion apart,<br />
McGinnis responds<br />
immediately with<br />
two simple words:<br />
“Innovation,” he says,<br />
“and education.”<br />
Patents and<br />
partnerships<br />
S i n c e t h e f i r m ’ s<br />
inception, research<br />
and development<br />
have been an integral<br />
part of the business’<br />
DNA. In fact, notes<br />
McGinnis, R&D is one<br />
of the key corporate<br />
attributes FreeMotion<br />
has brought to ICON.<br />
“As far as I know, we<br />
spend more money<br />
on R&D than anyone<br />
else in the fitness<br />
industry,” he says.<br />
The facts suggest that<br />
» “While<br />
Pat McGinnis<br />
we<br />
have a complete<br />
education<br />
staff at our<br />
headquarters,<br />
we also have<br />
an established<br />
team of master<br />
trainers all<br />
over the world<br />
… Today, we do<br />
trainings on our<br />
equipment at<br />
all of our major<br />
installations.”
the claim is not mere hyperbole: The<br />
company holds more than 300 separate<br />
patents on things such as quick-touch<br />
speed and folding treadmills, and currently<br />
has more than 100 filings in the<br />
pipeline. Its recently introduced iFit Live<br />
is supported by no fewer than 20 patents.<br />
iFit Live stands as something of a<br />
testament to FreeMotion’s commitment<br />
to new-product development. The<br />
interactive system, which complements<br />
the company’s cardio equipment, offers<br />
users infinite workout options. For<br />
example, thanks to a partnership with<br />
Google Maps, they can follow routes<br />
in Boston, New York City, Paris, and<br />
Pasadena, California, including 5Ks,<br />
triathlons, and more. As the workout<br />
unfolds, iFit Live controls the speed and<br />
incline, or resistance, of the equipment<br />
to simulate the terrain and distance of<br />
the actual real-world route. “With<br />
Google Maps, you can see an overhead<br />
or street view of any place you’d like to<br />
run,” explains McGinnis. “Running in<br />
Central Park is my personal favorite.”<br />
iFit also allows exercisers to compete<br />
with friends; download and access data<br />
via their PCs and mobile devices; or<br />
choose to take part in specially designed<br />
workouts by The Biggest Loser’s Jillian<br />
Michaels, another program partner.<br />
eclectic educational options<br />
For FreeMotion, education is a multifaceted<br />
discipline involving the collection of<br />
original information and its dissemination<br />
along a number of different avenues.<br />
The company takes part in independent<br />
research on muscle movement and<br />
other important fitness-related issues;<br />
offers a wide range of downloadable<br />
exercise charts; produces product videos;<br />
and makes excellent use of its human<br />
capital. “While we have a complete education<br />
staff at our headquarters, we also<br />
have an established team of master<br />
trainers all over the world,” notes Jeremy<br />
Strom, the firm’s director of education.<br />
iFit Live technology takes users<br />
onto the Golden Gate Bridge<br />
“Our company grew, from the ground up,<br />
by educating the market about functional<br />
training with our cable cross, selectorized<br />
circuit, and incline workouts … and, today,<br />
we do trainings on our equipment at all<br />
of our major installations.”<br />
market-expansion moves<br />
On the development side, FreeMotion<br />
has worked hard to expand beyond its<br />
cable-strength origins by exploring<br />
many of the possibilities of cardio,<br />
including upright and recumbent bikes,<br />
standard and reflex treadmills, elliptical<br />
trainers, incline trainers, and striders.<br />
Now, similarly, on the sales and marketing<br />
side, it’s attempting to delve more deeply<br />
into vertical markets consisting of hotels,<br />
schools, wellness centers, multi-housing<br />
complexes, etc.<br />
In terms of demographic targets,<br />
FreeMotion has the active-aging population<br />
in its sights. “There are more than<br />
93,000 extended-living facilities,” points out<br />
McGinnis, “and most have some sort of<br />
wellness facility. We feel a deep corporate<br />
responsibility to help people remain<br />
healthy, fit, and active longer.” —|<br />
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Member News<br />
Pro Forma<br />
Year Founded:<br />
1999<br />
Growth:<br />
20% revenue growth,<br />
2010 to 2011; 20%-25%<br />
growth projected for 2011<br />
Facilities:<br />
21,000-square-foot<br />
prototype facility; 140,000<br />
square feet of ISO 9001<br />
manufacturing capacity<br />
Installation:<br />
more than 2,000 fitness<br />
facilities in 40 countries<br />
worldwide<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 9 7
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Member News<br />
aSSOcIaTe PROFIleS<br />
ACEOS Gmbh<br />
u The new Aeroman professional is a handy<br />
device that accurately and conveniently<br />
measures energy metabolism during<br />
exertion. With it, the previously time-consuming,<br />
uncomfortable, and sometimes<br />
imprecise methods for performance<br />
diagnostics become obsolete. It enables<br />
fitness professionals, athletic trainers,<br />
and physiotherapists to determine the<br />
fitness levels and optimum training zones<br />
of athletes more quickly, easily, and reliably.<br />
The Aeroman professional offers performance<br />
diagnostics that, to date, have only<br />
been available to professional athletes. For<br />
more information, contact the company at<br />
+49 (0) 911-477527-0; www.aeroman.com. —|<br />
The Coughlin Group, Inc.<br />
u The Coughlin Group, Inc., provides<br />
customized and comprehensive insurance<br />
coverage for large health clubs or small<br />
studios to protect them and their members,<br />
while keeping costs under control. Providing<br />
maximum coverage for the dollar,<br />
product offerings include comprehensive<br />
property and building; loss of income,<br />
extra expense, and equipment failure;<br />
professional, general, personal injury,<br />
and products liability; sexual and molestation<br />
abuse liability; crime, including<br />
theft, disappearance, and destruction;<br />
disaster coverage; earthquake; automobile,<br />
including non-owned and hired car;<br />
and liquor liability. For more information,<br />
contact the company at 800-542-0661;<br />
www.coughlingroup.com. —|<br />
aSSOcIaTe neWS<br />
American Council on Exercise<br />
u The American Council on Exercise (ACE)<br />
and Life Fitness are searching among more<br />
than 261,000 certified personal trainers<br />
for America’s Personal Trainers to Watch.<br />
To nominate a personal trainer who’s<br />
passionate and inspires others to change,<br />
visit www.lifefitness.com/personaltrainers.<br />
One grand prize winner will receive $5,000<br />
toward their personal training business, a<br />
piece of Life Fitness equipment, an ACE<br />
fitness-certification package with study<br />
materials and exam voucher, and national recognition as the winner of America's<br />
Personal Trainers to Watch. Ten finalists will also be honored, and winners will be<br />
announced in October. For more information, contact the company at 800-825-3636;<br />
www.acefitness.org. —|<br />
Merrithew Health & Fitness<br />
Marina Glogovac<br />
Motionsoft, Inc.<br />
9 8 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
u Motionsoft, Inc., has hired Brian O’Leary as vice<br />
president of enterprise sales, where he will guide<br />
the sales direction and execution of the launch<br />
of MoSo, Motionsoft’s cloud-based membership<br />
relationship management software. O’Leary has<br />
25 years of industry experience selling valueadded<br />
software and service solutions, and is a<br />
former Gold’s Gym club owner. He has been a<br />
featured speaker, presenter, and advisory board<br />
member for <strong>IHRSA</strong> chapters along the east coast.<br />
Most recently, he was a senior sales executive for<br />
another club management software and billing<br />
company. For more information, contact the<br />
company at 800-829-4321; www.motionsoft.net. —|<br />
u Merrithew Health & Fitness has hired Marina<br />
Glogovac as executive vice president of marketing<br />
and sales. With more than 20 years of experience<br />
in multi-channel sales, direct and brand marketing,<br />
eCommerce online marketing, strategy development,<br />
and general management, Glogovac most<br />
recently served as CEO of Lavalife Corp., Toronto,<br />
Canada, a world-leading provider of singles services,<br />
including online communities and products across<br />
several consumer communication channels.<br />
“We look forward to taking the company to the<br />
next level,” says Lindsay G. Merrithew, the<br />
company’s president and CEO. For more<br />
information, contact the company at<br />
800-910-0001; www.merrithew.com. —|<br />
Brian O’Leary
aSSOcIaTe PROFIleS<br />
Bodybuilding.com<br />
u Bodybuilding.com offers more than<br />
13,000 sports supplements, nutritional<br />
products, and fitness accessories to help<br />
7.5 million monthly visitors achieve their<br />
health, fitness, and aesthetic goals. The site<br />
includes 35,000 pages of free instructional<br />
and motivational information, including<br />
articles, videos, and expert online trainers;<br />
new content is added daily. The company<br />
also offers BodySpace, a large social media<br />
site for fitness-minded individuals; more<br />
than 800,000 members find and share<br />
workout, diet, and motivation tips. In addition,<br />
Bodybuilding.com runs the largest online<br />
discussion forum in the fitness industry.<br />
For more information, contact the company<br />
at 877-991-3411; www.bodybuilding.com. —|<br />
Astone Fitness, Ltd.<br />
u Unlike other bodyweight trainers and<br />
suspension gyms, The Human Trainer from<br />
Astone Fitness, Ltd., has a proprietary<br />
design that allows users to select and<br />
instantly swap the handles for other<br />
accessories, such as rings, foot cradles,<br />
cable pulley attachments, and ab straps.<br />
The Human Trainer also facilitates additional<br />
exercises, such as dips and widegrip<br />
overhead pull-ups, as well as training<br />
with separately anchored dual straps.<br />
According to Darren Shane, the company’s<br />
director of fitness, “The Human Trainer is<br />
the most versatile piece of fitness equipment<br />
on the planet.” For more information,<br />
contact the company at 866-497-9012;<br />
www.humantrainer.net. —|<br />
< aSSOcIaTe neWS<br />
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Member News<br />
Octane Fitness<br />
u In the midst of the 2009-2010 U.S.<br />
recession, Octane Fitness LLC introduced<br />
nine new standing and seated<br />
elliptical cross trainers, doubled its<br />
space, and hired nine new team members,<br />
with plans to add seven to nine<br />
more employees, and six new products,<br />
this year. “Our ability to deliver equipment<br />
that people want and products that<br />
meet their needs has helped us thrive,<br />
despite economic challenges,” explains<br />
Dennis Lee, Octane’s president and CEO. Octane’s new headquarters is located<br />
at 7601 Northland Drive North, Suite 100, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428. For more<br />
information, contact the company at 888-OCTANE-4; www.octanefitness.com. —|<br />
Technogym<br />
u Technogym’s mywellness key received the<br />
prestigious Health Innovation Award during<br />
the FIBO trade show held recently in Germany.<br />
The mywellnesskey is a portable device that<br />
measures an individual’s daily physical activity,<br />
and assigns a daily target based on one’s lifestyle.<br />
The unit provides immediate visual feedback<br />
through a bar that has to be filled—the more the<br />
user moves, the faster the bar fills, indicating if<br />
the target has been reached. Inside health clubs,<br />
the mywellnesskey allows clients to activate the<br />
Technogym machines on their personal training<br />
program and save the results, which helps them<br />
to achieve their daily target. For more information,<br />
contact the company at 800-804-0952; www.technogym.com. —|<br />
United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. (USPTA)<br />
u In 2010, United States Professional Tennis<br />
Association (USPTA) teaching professionals<br />
raised more than $5 million for charity<br />
through the association’s Lessons for Life<br />
program. Since Lessons for Life became<br />
its national charitable program, USPTA<br />
members have raised more than $45 million<br />
to support various organizations. Fundraisers<br />
include tournaments, pro-ams, auctions,<br />
black-tie dinners, and clinics, many of which<br />
are at country clubs and commercial clubs,<br />
where the majority of USPTA professionals direct tennis operations and<br />
programming. While Lessons for Life is officially celebrated in October, events<br />
may be hosted throughout the year. For more information, contact the company<br />
at 800-877-8248; www.uspta.org. —|<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | M O N T H 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 9 9
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Member News<br />
neW memBeRS<br />
Arizona<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
3990 S. Alma School Road<br />
Ste. 1<br />
Sun Lakes, AZ 85248<br />
480-855-5510<br />
Mr. David Grueneich<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
16650 E. Palisades Blvd.<br />
Ste. 109<br />
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268<br />
480-837-5151<br />
Mr. Josh Allison<br />
PeRSOnal TRaInInG<br />
InSTITuTe<br />
7625 N. Oracle Road<br />
Tucson, AZ 85704<br />
520-297-8280<br />
Arkansas<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
5313 Hwy. 5 N<br />
Ste. 300<br />
Bryant, AR 72022<br />
501-213-0526<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
206 Garden Oaks Drive<br />
Camden, AR 71701<br />
870-836-7100<br />
Mr. Tom Reynolds<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
1301 Hwy. 62 E<br />
Mountain Home, AR 72653<br />
870-580-0941<br />
Mr. Chris Kimball<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
1007 S. Mt. Olive St.<br />
Siloam Springs, AR 72761<br />
479-373-1122<br />
Mr. Nikolas Hicks<br />
California<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
4270 Riverwalk Pkwy.<br />
Stes. 112-116<br />
Riverside, CA 92505<br />
951-977-9607<br />
Mr. Benjamin McCarty<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
3191-B Mission Inn Ave.<br />
Riverside, CA 92507<br />
951-684-2874<br />
Mr. Benjamin McCarty<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
811 Via Suerte<br />
San Clemente, CA 92673<br />
949-276-8888<br />
Mr. Steve Sullivan<br />
In-SHaPe cITy *<br />
125 Sunset Ave.<br />
Suisun City, CA 94585<br />
707-439-4004<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
26536 Carmel Rancho Blvd.<br />
Carmel, CA 93923<br />
831-620-7100<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
6901 Ming Ave.<br />
Bakersfield, CA 93309<br />
661-833-3740<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
1140 N. Lemoore Ave.<br />
Lemoore, CA 93245<br />
559-925-4210<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
2821 Countryside Drive<br />
Turlock, CA 95380<br />
209-634-1035<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
2370 Fremont St.<br />
Monterey, CA 93940<br />
831-333-1853<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
1146 Forest Ave.<br />
Pacific Grove, CA 93950<br />
831-649-2348<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
3900 Pelandale<br />
Modesto, CA 95356<br />
209-552-7590<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
4300 Delta Gateway Blvd.<br />
Pittsburg, CA 94565<br />
925-752-7010<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
4230 California Ave.<br />
Bakersfield, CA 93309<br />
661-843-3100<br />
1 0 0 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Membership Eligibility Standards<br />
Members of the association must comply with <strong>IHRSA</strong>’s baseline health,<br />
safety, and ethical standards. To learn more, visit www.ihrsa.org/standards<br />
or contact <strong>IHRSA</strong> at 617-951-0055.<br />
In-SHaPe FITneSS *<br />
615 Elmira Road<br />
Vacaville, CA 95687<br />
707-455-5010<br />
PeRSOnal TRaInInG<br />
InSTITuTe<br />
16350 Ventura Blvd.<br />
Ste. C<br />
Encino, CA 91436<br />
818-783-4792<br />
Colorado<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
2740 Hwy. 50<br />
Grand Junction, CO 81503<br />
970-242-7200<br />
Mr. Eddie Elari<br />
Connecticut<br />
cluB FITneSS *<br />
107 Old Windsor Road<br />
Bloomfield, CT 06002<br />
860-286-9801<br />
Mr. Rick Pomygalski<br />
cluB FITneSS *<br />
640 Enfield St.<br />
Enfield, CT 06082<br />
860-253-9521<br />
Mr. Rick Pomygalski<br />
GOld’S Gym<br />
Scitico, CT<br />
860-763-1909<br />
Mr. Steven Suschanna<br />
GOld’S Gym *<br />
1001 Day Hill Road<br />
Windsor, CT 06095<br />
PeRSOnal TRaInInG<br />
InSTITuTe<br />
995 Boston Post Road<br />
Guilford, CT 06437<br />
203-533-4595<br />
Idaho<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
1251 Arrowhead Plaza<br />
Driggs, ID 83422<br />
208-354-9675<br />
Mr. Greg Rasmussen<br />
Illinois<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
1862 South West Ave.<br />
Freeport, IL 61032<br />
815-233-4334<br />
Mr. Karl Dimmer<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
5325 N. Second St.<br />
Loves Park, IL 61111<br />
815-639-9100<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
1003 W. Lane Road<br />
Ste. A<br />
Machesney Park, IL 61115<br />
815-633-3100<br />
Mr. Mike Langley<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
2705 N. Dirksen Pkwy.<br />
Springfield, IL 62702<br />
217-523-1541<br />
Mr. Tim Everett<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
506 N. Elida St.<br />
Winnebago, IL 61088<br />
815-335-8222<br />
Mr. Trent Eddy<br />
Indiana<br />
PeRSOnal TRaInInG<br />
InSTITuTe<br />
493 E. Dupont Road<br />
Fort Wayne, IN 46825<br />
260-338-2022<br />
Iowa<br />
anyTIme FITneSS<br />
3415 53rd Ave.<br />
Bettendorf, IA 52722<br />
563-332-3200 —|
.org<br />
To obtain complete details about, or to register for,<br />
all <strong>IHRSA</strong> events, log on to www.ihrsa.org/meetings.<br />
| <strong>IHRSA</strong> Report | Calendar<br />
Save the date | 2011 <strong>IHRSA</strong> Events cOmInG SOOn In<br />
July 14<br />
The Winning Triad: Personal<br />
Training, Health Clubs, and Medicine<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Webinar<br />
www.ihrsa.org/webinars<br />
SePTemBeR 1-3<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong>/Fitness Brasil Latin American<br />
Conference & Trade Show<br />
Transamerica Expo Center,<br />
São Paolo, Brazil<br />
www.ihrsa.org/meetings<br />
OcTOBeR 27-30<br />
11th Annual <strong>IHRSA</strong> European Congress<br />
Milan, Italy<br />
www.ihrsa.org/congress<br />
2011 Industry Events<br />
July 12-13<br />
FIA Flame Conference<br />
Telford, Shropshire, U.K.<br />
www.fia.org.uk<br />
July 14-16<br />
WellnessRio 2011<br />
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<br />
www.fitnessbrasil.com.br<br />
July 18-20<br />
Gold’s Gym Convention<br />
Las Vegas, Nevada<br />
www.goldsgym.com<br />
auGuST 11-14<br />
2011 IDEA World<br />
Fitness Convention<br />
Los Angeles, California<br />
www.ideafit.com<br />
auGuST 17-21<br />
Can-Fit-Pro Toronto<br />
Toronto, Ontario, Canada<br />
www.canfitpro.net<br />
SePTemBeR 7-10<br />
SPATEC Fall North America<br />
Dana Point, California<br />
www.mcleanevents<br />
international.com<br />
SePTemBeR 14-16<br />
Health & Fitness Business<br />
Conference & Expo 2011<br />
Las Vegas, Nevada<br />
www.healthand<br />
fitnessbiz.com<br />
SePTemBeR 20-22<br />
Leisure Industry Week (LIW)<br />
Birmingham, U.K.<br />
www.liw.co.uk<br />
SePTemBeR 22-25<br />
SIBEC North America<br />
Marina Del Ray, California<br />
www.mcleanevents<br />
international.com<br />
SePTemBeR 23-25<br />
WELLFIT Expo Romania<br />
Bucharest, Romania<br />
www.wellfitexpo.com<br />
SePTemBeR 24<br />
AGAP Annual Congress<br />
Lisbon, Portugal<br />
www.agap.pt<br />
OcTOBeR 6-8<br />
Fitness & Health<br />
Bureau Benelux<br />
Utrecht, The Netherlands<br />
www.fitnessandhealth<br />
benelux.nl<br />
mOnTHly<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> Online Education<br />
Monthly Webinar Series<br />
For details and topics, visit:<br />
www.ihrsa.org/webinars<br />
2012<br />
maRcH 14-17, 2012<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> 2012<br />
31st Annual International<br />
Convention and Trade Show<br />
Los Angeles, California<br />
www.ihrsa.org/convention —|<br />
OcTOBeR 6-9<br />
Inner IDEA Conference<br />
San Diego, California<br />
www.ideafit.com<br />
OcTOBeR 12-14<br />
Club Industry 2011<br />
Chicago, Illinois<br />
www.clubindustry<br />
show.com<br />
OcTOBeR 19-20<br />
ILAM Annual Conference<br />
& Exhibition 2011<br />
Ireland<br />
www.ilam.ie<br />
nOvemBeR 2-5<br />
SIBEC Europe<br />
Malta<br />
www.mcleanevents<br />
international.com<br />
decemBeR 1-3<br />
Athletic Business<br />
Conference & Expo<br />
Orlando, Florida<br />
www.athleticbusiness<br />
conference.com —|<br />
CLuB BuSINESS<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
u SaTS-ifaction: An exclusive Q&A<br />
with Orlav Thorstad, the new CEO<br />
of one of Europe’s most vital club<br />
companies<br />
u exercise Rx: A growing number<br />
of clubs are designing and offering<br />
fitness programs that target specific<br />
medical conditions<br />
u Gym-Pact act: These two Harvard<br />
grads-turned-entrepreneurs believe<br />
club members should pay more if<br />
they don’t exercise<br />
u Group-ex ease: Professionally<br />
produced group-exercise products<br />
take the pain out of launching<br />
successful new programs<br />
u added attractions: F.I.T. Extra<br />
showcases the aerobics accessories<br />
that make workouts even more fun<br />
and productive<br />
Out of Shape by Stan Tran<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 1 0 1
| Marketplace |<br />
Employment<br />
We want DYNAMIC individuals who will build<br />
and develop teams, drive sales, implement<br />
and improve business tactics, foster member<br />
relationships and want to make $$$!<br />
&general manager Lead & drive club activities.<br />
5-10 years of health club sales & management<br />
experience, financial management is a must.<br />
&sales director Drive sales, build & train sales teams.<br />
Implement marketing plans. 3-5 years of<br />
industry sales & management experience.<br />
&fitness director Train & develop personal<br />
training teams. Create a fitness culture that continues to<br />
define Sport&Health. 3-5 years of personal training & industry<br />
management experience.<br />
&benefits Competitive salaries, aggressive bonus &<br />
commission plans, great benefits package, 401(k) plan,<br />
relocation assistance, ongoing training.<br />
&long term career opportunities.<br />
&bonus Ask about our signing bonus!<br />
Apply today at<br />
sportandhealth.com/careers<br />
See your ad here!<br />
Rates start at just $245 per issue<br />
for <strong>IHRSA</strong> members.<br />
visit www.ihrsa.org/classifieds or<br />
e-mail classifieds@ihrsa.org for details.<br />
1 0 2 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
Business Opportunities<br />
Consulting<br />
See your ad here!<br />
Rates start at just $245 per issue<br />
for <strong>IHRSA</strong> members.<br />
visit www.ihrsa.org/classifieds or<br />
e-mail classifieds@ihrsa.org for details.<br />
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Page Advertiser<br />
73 » a-1 Textiles<br />
www.a1athletictowels.com | 800-351-1819<br />
13 » aBc Financial Services, Inc.<br />
www.abcfinancial.com | 800-551-9733<br />
23 » aerobics & Fitness association of<br />
america (aFaa)<br />
www.afaa.com | 877-968-7263<br />
75 » affiliated acceptance corporation<br />
www.affiliated.org | 800-233-8483<br />
95 » american college of Sports medicine (acSm)<br />
www.acsm.org | 800-486-5643<br />
2, 3 & 5 » aSF International<br />
www.asfinternational.com | 800-227-3859<br />
35 » celare by digilock<br />
www.celare.com | 707-766-6000<br />
91 » club Industry<br />
www.clubindustry.com | 610-238-9306<br />
66 » crosscore, Inc.<br />
www.crosscore-usa.com | 800-288-3047<br />
Inside Front<br />
cover & 1<br />
» cyBeX International, Inc.<br />
www.cybexinternational.com | 508-533-4300<br />
9 » Fiserv<br />
www.clubs.fiserv.com | 888-590-0026<br />
71 » Fitness master, Inc.<br />
www.fitnexonline.com | 866-434-8639<br />
14 » GOJO Industries<br />
www.gojo.com | 800-321-9647<br />
33 » Gold’s Gym International<br />
www.goldsgymfranchising.com | 214-296-5003<br />
73 » Gym Wipes-2Xl corporation<br />
www.2xlcorp.com | 888-977-3726<br />
92 » Healthy learning<br />
www.healthylearning.com | 888-229-5745<br />
76 » Hollman, Inc.<br />
www.hollman.com | 800-433-3630<br />
70 » Hydromassage<br />
www.hydromassage.com | 727-536-5566<br />
82 » Ideal Products<br />
www.idealockers.com | 800-88-IDEAL<br />
29 » iGo Figure<br />
www.igofigure.com | 866-532-9588<br />
65 » International Sports Sciences association<br />
www.issaonline.edu | 800-892-4772<br />
16 » les mills International<br />
www.lesmillsusa.com | 888-669-8876<br />
Page Advertiser<br />
11 » life Fitness<br />
www.lifefitness.com | 800-634-8637<br />
French<br />
cover<br />
» matrix Fitness<br />
www.matrix-fitness.com | 866-693-4863<br />
7 » motionSoft, Inc.<br />
www.motionsoft.net | 800-829-4321<br />
60 » myZone<br />
www.myzone.org | 312-870-4802<br />
80 » national exercise Trainers association (neTa)<br />
www.netafit.org | 800-237-6242<br />
34 » national Federation of Professional<br />
Trainers (nFPT)<br />
www.nfpt.com | 800-729-6378<br />
78 » Ojmar uS<br />
www.ojmar.com | 888-795-5588<br />
26 » Paramount Fitness corporation<br />
www.paramountfitness.com | 800-721-2121<br />
79 » Patriot creative Group<br />
www.patriotcreativegroup.com | 877-844-7446<br />
72 » Petra Hygienic Systems<br />
www.petrasoap.com | 800-463-2516<br />
86 » Purmotion, llc<br />
www.purmotion.net | 877-798-9078<br />
54 » Ready care Industries<br />
www.readycare.com | 800-477-4283<br />
Inside Back<br />
cover<br />
» Retro Fitness<br />
www.retrofranchising.com | 201-867-5309<br />
74 » Salsbury Industries<br />
www.lockers.com | 800-562-5377<br />
82 » Sports & Fitness Insurance corporation<br />
www.sportsfitness.com | 800-844-0536<br />
77 » Sportsart Fitness<br />
www.sportsartfitness.com | 800-709-1400<br />
62 » Star Trac<br />
www.startrac.com | 800-228-6635<br />
Back cover<br />
» TecHnOGym<br />
www.technogymusa.com | 303-875-0306<br />
81 » TRue Fitness<br />
www.truefitness.com | 877-712-7209<br />
19 » Twin Oaks Software<br />
www.tosd.com | 866-278-6750<br />
72 » vitFit<br />
www.myvitfit.com | 215-280-8210<br />
21 » Zumba Fitness, llc<br />
www.zumba.com/gyms | 954-925-3755<br />
| Ad Index |<br />
w w w . i h r s a . o r g | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l 1 0 3
Tracy Powell<br />
| Last Rep |<br />
The IHRSa<br />
Joining Forces Network<br />
One of the questions I’m frequently asked by <strong>IHRSA</strong> club operators<br />
is: “What can I do to give back to my community?” Here’s a unique<br />
and excellent answer: Log on to healthclubs.com right now and<br />
enroll your club(s) in the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network.<br />
On the afternoon of May 9, my good friend, Scott<br />
Goudeseune, the CEO of the American Council on<br />
Exercise (ACE), and I had the privilege of sharing<br />
the stage with First Lady Michelle Obama on the<br />
South Lawn of the White House as she introduced<br />
two exciting new programs, both designed to<br />
support the nation’s military families.<br />
The first, administered by our own association,<br />
is the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network (IJFN).<br />
“The International Health, Racquet and Sports Club<br />
Association has agreed to offer free memberships<br />
to immediate family members<br />
of actively deployed National<br />
Guard and Reserve members,”<br />
Mrs. Obama explained. “They’re<br />
aiming to offer more than<br />
100,000 free memberships—<br />
the equivalent of more than<br />
18 million free days of access<br />
to gyms and health clubs<br />
across the country….”<br />
Starting last month, on<br />
June 1, <strong>IHRSA</strong> facilities<br />
nationwide began offering<br />
Joe Moore<br />
free six-month memberships<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> President & CEO to the immediate family members<br />
of actively deployed<br />
reservists and National Guard<br />
members (certain restrictions apply). Full program<br />
details are available at www.healthclubs.com.<br />
ACE, for its part, has agreed to encourage<br />
personal trainers to provide at least 1 million hours<br />
of free instruction to the same group of families.<br />
Both programs are aligned with Mrs. Obama’s<br />
Let’s Move! and Joining Forces initiatives.<br />
Many clubs across the country have already<br />
answered the call, but, if you haven’t enrolled,<br />
let me assure you: Uncle Sam does want you!<br />
Now, given the fact that I’ve had the opportunity<br />
to meet both Barack and Michelle Obama, people<br />
1 0 4 C l u b B u s i n e s s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J U L Y 2 0 1 1 | w w w . i h r s a . o r g<br />
are asking me, “What are the president and first<br />
lady like?”<br />
I’m pleased to report that both of them work out<br />
regularly and are sincere about their commitment<br />
to active lifestyles. I met the president a few days<br />
after Seal Team 6 had completed its mission at the<br />
compound of Osama bin Laden, so he had a lot on<br />
his mind, but his personal trainer, Cornell McClellan,<br />
told me that, no matter how busy Obama is,<br />
and no matter how difficult the challenges he faces,<br />
he makes time for exercise.<br />
The president is the same man you see on<br />
television—smart, warm, and engaging, and, most<br />
definitely, a sports and fitness person. He’s been<br />
a member of several <strong>IHRSA</strong> facilities, and told<br />
me he’s very pleased that we’ve aligned our clubs<br />
with the first lady’s Let’s Move! and Joining<br />
Forces campaigns.<br />
And, yes, Mrs. Obama is the same woman you<br />
see on television—smart, warm, and engaging,<br />
and just as committed to exercise as her husband.<br />
She’s well informed about our industry, appreciates<br />
the work that clubs do, and understands the role<br />
that <strong>IHRSA</strong> plays in uniting the industry.<br />
During the presentation announcing the new<br />
<strong>IHRSA</strong> and ACE initiatives, she told her audience,<br />
composed largely of members of military families:<br />
“You might not be in uniform, but we all know that<br />
all of you make the same—if not more of—the sacrifice.<br />
We know that, when our troops serve, you<br />
all serve. And I think that it’s time that we started<br />
serving you in return. It’s time we started doing<br />
everything as a country that we can do to show our<br />
gratitude for your contributions to this nation.”<br />
How can you do your part in giving back to these<br />
military families?<br />
Log on to www.healthclubs.com right now to<br />
enroll in the <strong>IHRSA</strong> Joining Forces Network! —|<br />
– Joe Moore, jmoore@ihrsa.org
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