The Club Insider Archives: October 2008
Naked Woman At My Door... and why that's a bad thing
Lessons learned in the fitness business from a life on the road
By: Norm Cates
Norm Cates"The Dash". That's what Thomas Plummer's book is really all about. It's not really about a "Naked Woman At My Door" as Plummer's provocative title might indicate.
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The Atlantic Clubs' Owner Pat Laus Honored With The Lou Gehrig Humanitarian Award
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesI am happy to inform you that Pat Laus, the owner of The Atlantic Clubs in Manasquan and Red Bank, New Jersey was honored in New York City in September with the Lou Gehrig Humanitarian Award.
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The "Insider Speaks"
Hey... How Weak is Our Economy... Really?
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesOn Friday, October 3rd, were you worried about whether the House of Representatives would approve the "salvation bill" that, two days before, had been approved, full of pork, by the U.S. Senate in a vote of 74 to 25? Well, as I sit here... the House of Representatives approved it (a bill now with a price tag of $850 billion) by a vote of 263 to 171, after they had rejected the previous, and first version, on Monday, September 29th.
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Membership Opportunities
By: Ray Gordon
Ray GordonIn today's competitive market, fueled by the recent emergence of really low priced clubs competing for your members, professional clubs needs to stand out in the community with special programs that are highly successful. Every recent report on the weight epidemic in the United States places an emphasis on lack of proper exercise and oversized portions as major contributors to the weight problem.
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Maximum Money in Minimum Time
Taking Your Profits Up During a Down Economy
By: Donna Krech
Donna KrechAre you choosing to participate in the current down economy? That may sound like a strange question, but given that there are owners just like you thriving in this economy, doesn't it stand to reason that there is a way (actually, there are many ways) to not participate in this weakening economy? Don't answer just yet. Let me tell you about some of those ways first...
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Incentivize for Success
By: Jeffrey Keller
Jeffrey KellerMy wife works for a very large national therapy contracting company. Just recently, she received a nice company logoed, multipurpose laptop bag from her employer. She has never received something like that from an employer before, and as intended, she felt very appreciated when she received the unexpected gift. But despite the employee appreciation that comes from an employer gesture like this, companies need to think long and hard about their goals and actions and how they can best use their money to incentivize their employees to achieve maximum performance.
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Now Is The Time
By: Shawn Vint
Shawn VintWe are living in those rarest of times, forced by circumstance to question long held assumptions about many things. In such times, it becomes imperative to make decisions based on evidences we see versus what we are being told. In such times, it becomes even more important for us, and our families, to stay fit, healthy and ready for change.
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Tools for Predicting Your Program and Profit Center Success
Part I
By: Laurie Cingle
Laurie CingleThe number one source of revenue in most clubs is dues. Personal training income is number two. As a club manager or owner, it makes sense that you do whatever you can to protect your dues line and to grow your personal training business.
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Why The Right Health Club Interior Sells More Memberships
By: Bruce Carter
Bruce CarterHaving given seminars in the fitness industry over the years, a question I commonly ask is, "Do most people love or hate exercise?" The answer is always the same. Most people hate exercise. It is also accepted that some people love exercise, but most don't.
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Programming Tip of the Month
Training For Good Customer Service Must Be Done Over And Over Again - Now Is The Time To Rev It Up!
By: Sandy Coffman
Sandy CoffmanAny business --especially ours-- would be crazy not to think of the influence that the state of our country and world has on our market and our business today. The economic crisis is now and will continue to effect the mood and actions of our customers as well as our staff. I can't think of a more important time to "kick it up a notch!"
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IHRSA To Focus On Quality Clubs Again!
As previously announced in Club Business International magazine, IHRSA is working on a promising initiative to create a voluntary certification process for fitness facilities that will strengthen our industry and raise our standing as quality providers of safe and healthy exercise. The initiative is spearheaded by NSF International, a world leader in standards development for public health and safety.
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Happy Birthday To Jack LaLanne... Now 94!
Happy Birthday to Jack LaLanne, as he and his lovely wife, Elaine, and others celebrated his 94th birthday on September 26, 2008. Jack LaLanne, also known as the "Godfather of Fitness", has been a mover, shaker and motivator of Americans for over 72 years! Jack is a pioneer who opened the first modern health spa in the United States in 1936, and in 1951, brought exercise to TV.
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Fiserv's CheckFree Compete Adds Innovative Features to Enhance Health Club Operations
BROOKFIELD WI - CheckFree Health & Fitness, now a part of Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading provider of information technology services to the financial industry, today announced that the next version of its CheckFree Compete software is now available for health and fitness clubs of all sizes.
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Fitness Fundraisers' Innovative New Program Connects Clubs With Local Fundraising Organizations For Mutual Benefit
FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ - Fitness Fundraisers, LLC is tapping into the cutting-edge marketing and informational medium of fundraising to create health and economic synergy in communities by bringing together local fitness facilities and fundraising organizations.
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Norm's Notes for October 2008
By: Norm Cates
Norm CatesHello everybody! This is your friendly Club Insider Publisher Since 1993 checking in for 180 months now.
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